The following comes from an article by San Francisco auxiliary bishop Robert McElroy in the Oct. 21, 2013 issue of America magazine. The emailer who sent the article to Cal Catholic last week commented, “I have read that he is the most brilliant member of the American bench of bishops.”
“How many poor people there still are in the world! And what great
suffering they have to endure!” With these words the new pope
explained to international diplomats assembled at the Vatican on March
22 why he chose the name Francis at the moment of his election. And
since then Pope Francis has unswervingly pointed to the scandal of
poverty in a world of plenty as a piercing moral challenge for the
church and the whole human community.
In part, the pope’s message has called us to personal conversion,
speaking powerfully to each of us about how we let patterns of
materialism captivate our lives and distort our humanity. In a
disarming way, Francis seeks to make us all deeply uncomfortable, so
that in our discomfort we may recognize and confront the alienation
from our own humanity that occurs when we seek happiness in objects
rather than in relationship with God and others.
Francis’ message also has been an invitation to cultural conversion,
laying bare the three false cultures that materialism has created in
our world: the culture of comfort that makes us think only of
ourselves; the culture of waste that seizes the gifts of the created
order only to savor them for a moment and then discard them; and the
culture of indifference that desensitizes us to the suffering of
others, no matter how intense, no matter how sustained. Pope Francis’
words about the “globalization of indifference” echo the poignant
observation of Pope Benedict in his encyclical “Charity in Truth”
(2009): “As society becomes ever more globalized, it makes us
neighbors but does not make us brothers.”
And finally, the pope’s message has been one of structural reform in
the world. In June Francis explained: “A way has to be found to enable
everyone to benefit from the fruits of the earth, and not simply to
close the gap between the affluent and those who must be satisfied
with the crumbs falling from the table.” Francis has made clear that
the present economic slowdown cannot be an excuse for inaction.
Rather, there must immediately commence “a new stimulus to
international activity on behalf of the poor, inspired by something
more than mere goodwill, or, worse, promises which all too often have
not been kept.”
Both the substance and methodology of Pope Francis’ teachings on the
rights of the poor have enormous implications for the culture and
politics of the United States and for the church in this country.
These teachings demand a transformation of the existing Catholic
political conversation in our nation, a transformation reflecting
three themes: prioritizing the issue of poverty, focusing not only on
intrinsic evils but also on structural sin, and acting with prudence
when applying Catholic moral principles to specific legal enactments.
The depth of the moral responsibility of the United States to fight
global poverty arises from the tremendous power that our country
exerts in the world economy. More than any other nation, the United
States has the capacity to influence trading relationships, the
availability of capital and market conditions. If Francis’ vision of a
world with truly just trading and financial structures is to be
realized, then the United States and Europe must take a leading role
in reforming the existing rules that so often victimize incipient
markets in staggeringly poor countries.
In addition, the United States and the richest nations of the world
community have a moral responsibility to share from their plenty with
the poorest peoples in the human family. In 2002 the wealthy nations
of the world pledged to direct 0.7 percent of their gross domestic
product toward the alleviation of dire poverty by the year 2015. This
level of investment would largely eliminate severe poverty on the
planet. However, the United States and most of the other leading
economic powers have reneged on their commitment; today the United
States only gives 0.2 percent of its gross domestic product in
development assistance. As a result, millions of children die each
year from disease and malnutrition that could be prevented. This is
social sin, arising from individual decisions. This is the visible
presence of a “global culture of indifference” that lets us avert our
eyes while our governments consciously make choices to reinforce our
culture of comfort while ignoring the countless human lives lost as a
consequence.
Within the United States, we also turn our eyes away from the growing
domestic inequality that ruins lives and breaks spirits. Pope Francis
speaks directly to this: “While the income of a minority is increasing
exponentially, that of the majority is crumbling. This imbalance
results from ideologies which uphold the absolute autonomy of markets
and financial speculation, and thus deny the right of control to
states, which are themselves charged with providing for the common
good.” The United States, which for so much of its great history has
stood for economic mobility and a broad, comfortable middle class, now
reflects gross disparities in income and wealth and barriers to
mobility. The poor suffer a “benign neglect” in our political
conversations, and absorb brutal cuts in governmental aid, especially
at the state level.
If the Catholic Church is truly to be a “church for the poor” in the
United States, it must elevate the issue of poverty to the very top of
its political agenda, establishing poverty alongside abortion as the
pre-eminent moral issues the Catholic community pursues at this moment
in our nation’s history. Both abortion and poverty countenance the
deaths of millions of children in a world where government action
could end the slaughter. Both abortion and poverty, each in its own
way and to its own degree, constitute an assault on the very core of
the dignity of the human person, instrumentalizing life as part of a
throwaway culture. The cry of the unborn and the cry of the poor must
be at the core of Catholic political conversation in the coming years
because these realities dwarf other threats to human life and dignity
that confront us today….
To read the entire article, click here.
Since an election is coming up, no wonder McElroy wants us to go back to Bernardin’s seamless garment theory where INTRINSIC EVILS should be treated like everything else.
He forgot to mention whereby those voting for politicians who support the intrinsic evils of abortion and euthanasia must not receive Holy Communion.
“WORTHIINESS to RECIEVE HOLY COMMUNION – General Principles” by Cardinal Ratzinger (Pope Benedict);
https://www.priestsforlife.org/magisterium/bishops/04-07ratzingerommunion.htm
He forgot to mention “On the Service of Charity” by Pope Benedict –
https://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/motu_proprio/documents/hf_ben-xvi_motu-proprio_20121111_caritas_en.html
Which includes: ” In carrying out their charitable activity, therefore, the various Catholic organizations should not limit themselves merely to collecting and distributing funds, but should show special concern for individuals in need and exercise a valuable educational function within the Christian community, helping people to appreciate the importance of sharing, respect and love in the spirit of the Gospel of Christ. The Church’s charitable activity at all levels must avoid the risk of becoming just another form of organized social assistance. ”
He forgot to mention that all literate Catholics should be reading the Bible and CCC – at home.
I thought the Catholic Church was a Church for everyone who is interested in Saving their Soul.
And that UNITY was a goal.
When did McElroy start preaching disunity?
Has he read the 2014 California State Democratic Platform which includes at least 4 INTRINSIC Evils?
Has he read the CCC on:
Commutative Justice which means that National, State, & Local governments, (and the rest of us) are required to pay our bills, or no other form of justice is possible? CCC 2411
Does he know how much debt all of our governments are in?
When is he going to preach on paying just debts, and why was this not included?
Yes, I was just thinking as I read the article “why would he ever vote democratic if he cares about the poor or abortion?” The Dems want to put the poor on welfare…..The Pope wants the Poor to have the opportunity to WORK and keep more of what they earn. Big difference. Get rid of BIG GOVERNMENT interference.
Other than for the Vatican Bank, and his Encyclical Letter LUMEN FIDEI about Faith and the reading the CCC etc., Pope Francis has made NO FORMAL TEACHINGS.
What is McElroy trying to do? Use media sound clips as interpreted by journalists?
Has McElroy written about reading the Bible and Catechism of the Catholic Church so everyone will know their Faith in entirety, or is he selective based upon his own politics?
Btw, this article sounds like marxist “Liberation Theology” which violates Church teaching.
“Thou shall not steal.”
“Thou shall not covet thy Neighbor’s goods.”
CCC: ” 2411 Contracts are subject to commutative justice which regulates exchanges between persons and between institutions in accordance with a strict respect for their rights.
Commutative justice obliges strictly;
it requires safeguarding property rights,
paying debts, and fulfilling obligations freely contracted.
Without commutative justice, no other form of justice is possible.
One distinguishes commutative justice from legal justice which concerns what the citizen owes in fairness to the community,
and from distributive justice which regulates what the community owes its citizens in proportion to their contributions and needs.”
Stop lecturing the average church attending Catholic on the poor. Most families are so stressed because of higher medical, food, rent, energy costs. Taxes in CA are the at some of the highest in the USA. Our diocese has gone through a capital campaign and almost every Sunday there is a second collection. Are there areas to cut back. Sure, but the average parishioner needs to be catechized and renewed in their Catholic identity. Trusting the government to care for the poor without wasteful spending is lunacy. It is too big and corruption is rampant in the programs and in many of those reeving aid.
You are right, Lisag, about trusting the government. I must say Bishop McElroy has made some interesting statements regarding poverty, many of them true. One, though, that caught my attention is this one:
“If the Catholic Church is truly to be a ‘church for the poor’ in the United States, it must elevate the issue of poverty to the very top of its political agenda, establishing poverty alongside abortion as the pre-eminent moral issues the Catholic community pursues at this moment in our nation’s history. Both abortion and poverty countenance the deaths of millions of children in a world where government action could end the slaughter”.
“Government action”, then, could end poverty in the U.S.? Yeah, Bishop, and one day pigs might fly! Let’s look at the “Government action” that has characterized its efforts to battle poverty in the past half century. President Johnson, in the mid sixties, instigated with much fanfare the “Great Society” program by which the federal government would end poverty. It consisted of pouring lavish amounts of money into various schemes with little or no accountability demanded from the recipients. Dependencies were created. The poor simply came to look on Uncle Sam as their permanent source of sustenance, and were not motivated to become self-sufficient.
The average American might be less stressed about higher food costs if they weren’t overweight or obese, as the average American is. Besides that, i sometimes wonder if folks actually READ the blog post they comment upon. The Bishop is talking about a Church in America that is committed to the issue of poverty WORLDWIDE. Please read his very first sentence! And read about how he talks about other countries. So pleas stop with all this drivel about poverty in America – you miss his point ENTIRELY.
Drivel? Charity begins at home, YFC. Much like virtue begins with the individual striving to live the very basics of the Gospel – all of it. Those called to the married state who are generously having the children that God sends them are VERY concerned about food bills, YFC, as they have children to feed.
That said, in light of the current state of our own people, perhaps the sermonizing should focus on temperance, mortification, and chastity. We are not all St. Francis of Assisi. And while preaching such lofty precepts is inspiring, it trips the average Christian up to believe that they should work on the big picture first (a very visible picture that is often not within their realm of control) instead of working on the myriad little things in their own life. That’s pride.
It’s a great distraction, however.
Apparently this Bishop would rather teach Marxism, than the Church teachings of SUBSIDIARITY.
He needs to go back and read the “Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition” in entirety – if he ever even read it in the first place.
Is this why some Bishops do not tell literate Catholics to read the CCC? – So these Bishops can push their own brand of politics, rather than Church teachings which are balanced ?
America Magazine should be banned. It is as heretical and political as the “National Catholic REPORTER” – which has been banned.
Good Catholics in the USA will adhere to the CCC, not to McElroy.
For this guy to equate the MURDER and Torture of innocents (abortion),
with poverty is insanity.
He clearly wants to change our form of government.
What is McElroy personally doing to supply needed food and clothing to the desperate in foreign Countries?
Has he been pushing people to donate to the “Church in Need” or “Caritas International” ? – Nope instead he pushes his own politics. What a Church leader!
And the DEMOCRATIC PARTY of DEATH – (ABORTION & EUTHANASIA) is alive and well in the consciences of some Bishops.
Not in the consciences of SOME Bishops, but in the consciences of MOST of the Bishops, especially of those who are members of the Party of Death! They have no real shame!
May God have mercy on an amoral Amerika and His Church!
Viva Cristo Rey!
Yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher, Founding Director
Concerned Roman Catholics of America, Inc
Why doesn’t this Bishop condemn the Obama Administration for the exporting of abortion, and same sex marriage by – – – Obama’s WITHHOLDING foreign aid to the POOR in Countries that do not agree with his positions in favor of the murder of the most innocent, and homosexual acts ?
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/obama-administration-39blackmails39-developing-countries-into-adopting-39se
and
https://aclj.org/abortion/obama-violates-law-forcing-abortion-rights-on-kenya
Where are the US Bishops on this ? Too busy ignoring intrinsic evils with furthering their own political goals?
wow, so true!
When I see the ridicule with which every single commentator has for this Auxilliary, seven by this count, with not one single supportive comment, it makes me realize that I must be in good company. This poor pastor is merely passing on the faith as it was taught by Christ our Lord himself, yet one would think he was speaking the verbiage of the pharisees.
When any Bishop teaches that
1) abortion – the murder and torture of innocents, should be treated the same as helping the poor.
2) Does not even tell his own flock the best way to help the poor –
he is a pharisee by bending the Faith to suit his personal beliefs of letting the government do it all (based upon his own writing).
Amen, Alice.
The Federal Government has a program called Community Development Block Grants (CBGD). It sends our federal tax dollars to cities to provide money for groups that help the poor. One problem. By the time the money gets to the cities 65% of it has gone to pay the federal employees who processed the grants. Then an estimated 10% of the money goes to the city employees who process the grants. Approximately 25% is left for the poor. Our Lord and Redeemer told us to give money to the poor. He didn’t tell us to give money to overpaid and over pensioned government employees. Obviously, these bishops are in the dark when it comes to how government operates.
Amen! John Feeney.
For the sake of their own salvation, I hope and pray that they are in the dark when it comes to how government operates, otherwise they are complicit with murder and fraud!
May God have mercy on an amoral Amerika and His Church!
Viva Cristo Rey!
Yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher, Founding Director
Concerned Roman Catholics of America, Inc
I think ALL clergy should be required to declare who they voted for in the last two presidential elections and WHY.
With all due respect to the Bishop, I am going to go with Jesus Christ here instead…
“The poor you will ALWAYS have with you.”
“My Kingdom is NOT of this world.”
“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?”
Instead maybe it is the place of the poor and their suffering to INSPIRE CHARITY CONVERSION AND SHARING rather than inspiring SYSTEMS TO COLLECT AND REDISTRIBUTE. Jesus never said, “If a man needs a cloak, take your brothers and give it to him”
JoJo I agree with you. Good comments and don’t give up fighting the good fight.
PS – If this Bishop’s comments were correct, all the Apostles did not do their duty — to join the tax collectors to “spread it around” — rather than convicting and converting them. Taking by government force is no charity. Calling it charity is no virtue. This Bishop needs to go back to school and a good school at that.
PPS – Many are aware that this Bishop eats well, dresses well, lives well, and does not live in a mud hut to send money to the poor. His life belies his words.
JoJo don’t judge his person, you can judge if for facts, that you don’t think he is teaching true Catholic teachings but do not judge him because of how he lives. He is still a Bishop OK. Don’t write him off just based on this article. Your arguments would serve best if they are focused on Jesus as you have already demonstrated in some of your comments but to judge him by how he dresses, that is all irrelevant and that argument would only turn people off because it is irrelevant.
Remember JoJo he is human. It seems like you need to have a direct word with him, why not write directly to him, give him your contact info.
Perhaps Abeca – but it is no judgment of a person (Bishop or otherwise) to show a difference between what they say and what they do.
This is not being judgmental (which the popular culture uses as a cudgel against right judgment) but rather rightly judging reality — the DUTY of a Christian.
JoJo you were judging his person, I bet you don’t know him personally. You can judge him by how he teaches the faith or if he lacks it, fine but I already told you what I didn’t agree with you on, I won’t bother repeating myself, if you don’t get it re-read it again and pray about it.
Thanks for your reply and time. Good day sir. : )
Abeca you are mixed up but that is ok.
If you do not judge behavior versus words, in yourself and in others, you are robbing yourself of reality.
Some people see a conspiracy no matter who talks about what to whom! Not every article, important as it is, must be about abortion. There are other subjects to discuss as well. This Bishop thinks what we must raise the issue of poverty in the world to a new level of consciousness. Is that wrong? The Gospel states that we should give everything we have to the poor. Most of us don’t come close to doing that, but that is what Jesus said to do. We have a long way to go before we accuse someone of being a Marxist or Liberation theologist. I didn’t find anything in this article that is not true Catholic doctrine. Our Pope Francis is trying to redirect the discussion. He needs to. In out country, five to ten families control the wealth of the nation. There is no more middle class. The one percent have more money than the other 99%. That can’t be ok. We need this discussion without rancor and accusations. The less we discuss things on this site rationally, the less we will sound like talk-radio.
Bob One,,, and his typical leftist garbage…we have spent $ 5 trillion in welfare benefits since the founding of the so called great society. We have created generations of people dependent on government, they are mendicant and contribute nothing to society. They consume but do not produce. I find it people like you and this Bishop condemn poverty and at the same time condemn those who have managed to avoid it, calling us greedy whatever. Since you believe in the occupy wall street garbage, put your money where you mouth why don’t you and liberal friends put together your own monies and start giving it away to the poor.
Bob One – – – Go back and read the article. The Bishop himself brought up abortion, and said we should treat the taking of human life(abortion), just like helping the poor.
He said it; he brought it up – as silly as it is.
Once someone is dead, they are not even given the opportunity to be poor.
Thou shall not steal.
Thou shall not covet thy neighbor’s goods.
The Church forbids all types of collectivism. (CCC 1885).
If you are starving Bob One, go to your Catholic parish and they will help you or point you in the right direction.
If you are not starving, – stop being a divisive, Saul Alinsky, Marxist, Democrat. Your politics and the personal politics of McElroy are not Church teaching.
Pope Francis has made no formal statements except regarding the Vatican bank and reading the CCC etc., in Lumen Fidei.
Check out the Vatican web site.
We do not follow news media sound bites that are interpreted into English by journalists. – That is not Magisterium teaching.
Using the Bible, show me where Jesus said that there must be a strong middle class. Your divisive Democratic tactics will not work here.
Bob one I was trying to give you the benefit of the doubt, I read your post. It was sounding good, and you almost gained my acceptance except for this comment you made ” In out country, five to ten families control the wealth of the nation. There is no more middle class.”. “The one percent have more money than the other 99%. That can’t be ok.”
You are hyping it up, you are no different than those you accuse of being harsh on these articles. There is no more middle class? Really? The last time I figured that out is because the liberals are the ones destroying the middle class! But we are still here, struggling to make it.
Also your propaganda to say that ten families control the wealth? Wow such fear mongering views you are trying to sell. What you are doing is actually more harmful and i will tell you why. You are psychologically implanting feelings into people that should not be implanted, you are not doing it intentionally but you are. Implanting feelings of Envy, jealousy etc into action by current political theologies but you are mislead because you think they are Catholic, just because someone sold it as being a Catholic issue..you sound just like a person who supports the democrat party. You are missing the real issues that lead to Christ. Those few words of yours just gave me a huge red flag.
Continued: Just saying, I don’t beat around the bush, nor do I like wishy washy stuff. Like they say, you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, greed, envy etc has always been around. The church is there to admonish those sins and not use propaganda’s that suit people who want to expand their agendas even as far as to use the church for those purposes, shameful. I know you are a good intended sir but come one, help the poor, yes, do it privately and follow the church on those teachings but don’t be a hypocrite on the other salvation issues.
Sorry no pun intended so don’t get easily offended, Thanks.
now back to this one: “The one percent have more money than the other 99%. That can’t be OK.”
Look Bob One, what are you suggesting with that comment? It doesn’t help your argument. It just sounds Marxist or Liberation talk. Just what the church has always tried to avoid from the beginning. If you want to follow the church teachings, don’t try to water down the true intentions that are much deeper, they are about salvation. Fix your eye’s on Jesus! The church is not against capitalism, but what the real issue is what is in a person’s heart. What drove them to certain ambitions that created their greed. I know very wealthy people who are super generous on their own, they don’t need a government to punish them or tell them what to do, but they have their Christian faith that moves their heart to give to worthy causes that pleases JESUS! Not man!
Interesting comments. Where in the CCC is it stated that one should not listen to the guidance of the Holy Father? The Roman Catholic Church does not teach that the ramblings of Rush and Sean are sound doctrine.
The Holy Father has not taught anything formal yet, except for on the Vatican Bank and Lumen Fidei which has to do with the CCC, etc..
Check it out for yourself on the Vatican web site. – Encyclicals, Motu Proprio’s etc – formal teachings we are required to adhere to.
Sound bites interpreted by journalists are not the Catholic Faith, and unless in conformance with the CCC in entirety are ignorable.
The same is true of any Bishop or Priest who teaches anything that conflicts with the CCC – ignore it.
Popes are human beings too. Even St. Peter sinned.
Read the Bible, and the “Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition” – if you want Church teaching that all Catholics must adhere to.
For quotes from Popes John Paul II, Benedict, and Francis – about the CCC and their direction to study it from their own formal Church documents – go to:
“What Catholics Really Believe SOURCE”
https://whatcatholicsreallybelieve.com/
Don’t believe everything you read in the media, not only can it drive you crazy, it can lead you astray from true Church teaching.
Being poor isn’t a sin. Aborting your child, or helping someone abort theirs absolutely is. Poverty and abortion are not equal issues. I’d rather be poor than ripped apart limb by limb in my pro-choice mother’s womb, wouldn’t you?
“America,” the Jesuit magazine, is notorious for its evil, anti-Catholic and immoral staff and article writers! They have all been in trouble with the Vatican!And from what I hear, Bishop McElroy has in the past, championed homosexuality, especially at USF, and other places! Is this true?? Also, is he a true champion of the poor, helpless, unborn child?? Overall– is he a true, faithful Catholic bishop– or not??
Thank you Linda Maria for your post which also helps to explain why Our Lady of Akita, Japan warned the world about shepherds making compromises. No one is denied entrance into the kingdom of heaven because they were poor. Many are denied entrance into the kingdom of heaven due of the greatest poverty of all which is the deliberate omission of TRUTH also known as the poverty of spiritual neglect.
John 12:5-8 “Then one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, he that was about to betray him, said: Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? Now he said this, not because he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and having the purse, carried the things that were put therein. Jesus therefore said: Let her alone, that she may keep it against the day of my burial. For the poor you have always with you; but me you have not always.” Douay-Rheims
America the Jesuit Magazine is heretical and schismatic in many of their articles – using the Church definition for heresy and schism (CCC 2089).
Thank you PETE for your post. People have to know that this magazine is not in line with church teachings so for them to say this represents Catholics, well they are wrong. Now while they mislead many Catholics and perhaps even mislead some of our priests too, those of good will need to stop reading information from heretics. They can’t say that they have not been warned.
What Country does McElroy live in?
Could it be the USA that is $17.5 TRILLION dollars in debt?
What State does McElroy live in ?
Could it be CALIFORNIA which is $422 BILLION dollars in debt?
The USA is no longer a prosperous nation.
The USA does not have enough jobs for its own citizens (even those who Obama said do not have to look for work so his unemployment numbers will look better).
Yes, when is this Bishop going to actively work toward getting more charitable contributions for the “Church in Need” and “Caritas International” to help those truly in need?
What are his real motives?
Cal has a surplus. The addition of new jobs in U.S. is on it’s best run since 2006. 2.5 million new jobs in the last year. Enough of the excuses not to act for those in need. The Bishop’s message is simple and is not complicated. You can focus on more than 1 or 2
things, help others and enrich the church and your own Christian life.
Jim Luedde, please tell us how much of a surplus does California have? Why is the California legislature trying to raise taxes? They are currently talking about a mileage tax because the gas tax revenues have gone down because of the electric and hybrid cars. The California public employee pension debt is enormous and forcing cities to declare bankruptcy. Major employers tike Toyota are leaving California in droves because of the high taxes and regulations. What are these “2.5 million new jobs”. More government employees who cost more than they contribute?
Someone needs to send this article and these comments to Archbishop Cordileone, the head of the San Francisco Diocese.
He needs to know when one of his Bishops steps outside Church teaching to promote his own political beliefs.
CCC: ” 2272 Formal cooperation in an abortion constitutes a grave offense.
The Church attaches the canonical penalty of excommunication to this crime against human life.
A person who procures a completed abortion incurs excommunication latae sententiae, by the very commission of the offense, and subject to the conditions provided by Canon Law.
The Church does not thereby intend to restrict the scope of mercy.
Rather, she makes clear the gravity of the crime committed, the irreparable harm done to the innocent who is put to death, as well as to the parents and the whole of society.”
Regarding INTRINSIC EVILS:
ABORTION (murder and torture of the innocent unborn human being);
EUTHANASIA;
EMBRYONIC STEM CELL RESEARCH;
HOMOSEXUAL MARRIAGE.
Carly –
Tell the Bishop about the Bishop???
It would do no good.
This is Cordileone’s Auxiliary Bishop. Nothing McElroy does is outside of the scope of what Cordileone wants.
Otherwise, Cordielone would say so. And. He. Does. Not.
Carly then send it in please. Don’t let JoJo discourage you or allow him to bash the Archbishop Cordileone. He is a good Archbishop and has a lot of demons to fight, so don’t give up on sending your concerns and if you have too, send them to the Vatican too!
Folks don’t give up, don’t get discouraged and don’t frett. This life is only temporary, so do your best! Pray also for our church leadership, at least if you were do die, then God will know that you did not give up!
Abeca = that he is a “good Bishop” — how “judgmental” of you lol…
AB Cordileone “inherited” his Auxilary Bishops…..I don’t believe that there is agreement between them. So much to deal with…..please pray for Archbishop Cordileone. Did you hear his March for Marriage speech? He declared that Marriage between one man and one woman trumps all the other “issues”…..because if we don’t preserve “marriage” all other issues like abortion, the poor, immigration etc will never be resolved nor helped. Everything will get worse. Just like how contraception brought the downfall of morals (abortion, adultry, divorce, fornication, etc) within the family and society—so to, the downfall of marriage will bring more suffering to the already poor and needy, and create more poor in our society.
Sandra – yes AB Cordileone flew to Washington DC to give a speech he would not give in his own Archdiocese.
And just for reference, here is the local Archdiocese getting away with flouting the teaching of the church with not a peep locally…
https://cal-catholic.com/?p=14776
JoJo, I’m sure Abp Cordileone does not know everything that Auxiliary Bishop McElroy writes.
I’m certain that he did not get approval for writing in the Jesuit America Magazine the Democratic mantra that murder (abortion) should be on the same level as helping the poor.
I’m sure you misunderstand what McElroy wrote, just as you (innocently, to be sure) misunderstand how these things come to be written.
Not only has the Bishop NOT stepped outside of Church teaching, he is well within it. He is simply reminding us of 20 centuries of Christian care for the poor. To say that by elevating the conversation around the poor is somehow condoning abortion is reading things into his words that are just not there.
Yes, we must each help the poor to the best of our ability;
but the Church does not teach the overthrow of the government as implied by this Bishop. This Bishop does not encourage each of us individuals to help the poor as required by Jesus.
CCC: ” 1885 The principle of subsidiarity is opposed to all forms of collectivism.
It sets limits for state intervention. It aims at harmonizing the relationships between individuals and societies. It tends toward the establishment of true international order.”
The USA has Medicaid, Food Stamps, Housing allowances, unemployment benefits, school lunch programs, and a myriad of other programs to help the poor.
Does this Bishop have a clue what is provided in total by the Federal and State Governments?
His Archbishop should make him list 100% of the Federal and State programs that help the poor in the USA and make him publish them as a penance for being less than truthful.
He should also be required to read the CCC for a balanced view of accurate Church teaching.
I know for a fact that Bishop McElroy has helped the poor, not just with words but with action! He has a GREAT heart and mind that God has given him and is pro-life (though not one to really exude it). Has gone to 40 Days for Life and prayed the Rosary and I notice that on occasions when I have seen him is showing to be more reverent, i.e. folding of his hands and attending the Rosary Rally in San Francisco and particpating in everything, even the latin part of Benediction!
So, instead of complaining and putting him down, PRAY FOR HIM, that he will be the Priest of Our Lord Jesus in every way!
Pray that he stop the errors of his ways, with false teaching that murdering innocents, is equal to helping the poor. Read his statements again. He owns his own statements.
And ask him to start telling the Laity to read the Bible and the CCC at home.
Does he teach this in the Diocese on a regular basis?
Elizabeth I don’t doubt what you are saying. You are right, we are called to pray for him. Good reminder. But Leslie is correct too and as much as we personally have a relationship with some of these bishops or priests, they are to be reminded that they are not to give their personal opinions but they are to teach the faith and be loyal to it. He is human that is for sure, we all have our flaws but since he is a person of authority, we need to kindly share with him the confusion that some of his words are causing. That is true charity to do so.
Blessings
“When I give food to the poor, they call me a saint. When I ask why the poor have no food, they call me a communist.”
–Archbishop Dom Helder Camara
“Neglect the body and the muscles stiffen, neglect the mind and imbecility comes, neglect the soul and ruin follows.”
-Archbishop Fulton Sheen (The Seven Capital Sins)
Much of the poverty of the United States is due to folks not following the prescripts of the Gospel and living chaste lives or promoting a chaste lifestyle. So helping the poor is essential, but root cause it to the poverty of a Gospel gone silent for lack of teaching/preaching. The Band Aid approach may help stanch bleeding in some cases, but it will do absolutely nothing to extirpate the infection that wounds and re-wounds for want of treatment.
So while the ‘global’ issue of poverty is massive, folks need to live the gospel in their hearts, their own families, and in their own country or else those we are trying to help, in many instances in an effort to make ourselves feel better, won’t listen or change. Why should they when we won’t right here at home?
Ann, I disagree with your basic presumption, but you may be trying to say something different from what I am reading into it. So, here goes. Yes, as a country we are not following the Gospel as we should – a broad generalization. But, the root cause is not the vast majority of the people living an unchaste life. I put the blame squarely on the shoulders of the super rich. For most of them, but not all, they have institutionalized greed, have set up lobby groups to support their greed and have been able to elect people to office who support their view of greed. As a result, we have companies bilking the public to make the executives more bonus money. I worked for a wonderful corporation that did not do that and it was a joy. But why, can as few as fifty families in the U.S. control more wealth than the rest of the country combined? Why do companies send their jobs to China rather than provide employment to people in this country? Why is our health system one of the worst in the industrialized world? Why is health care controlled by for-profit insurance companies who pay for procedures rather than outcomes? Why is our infant mortality rate one of the highest in the world? Why do we have millions of able bodied and educated people unemployed and homeless?
We do not have millions of citizens in the USA who are able bodied, educated and homeless.
Please provide a link to your official documentation.
People send jobs to China because people are willing to work for less money and they have no unions forcefully taking part of people’s salaries for their own political uses.
Please provide a link about infant mortality in the USA being among the highest – without including abortion on demand.
You sound like a very jealous man Bob One.
As long as citizens are not starving, homeless, and naked, you should not covet other people’s goods. You should not steal.
It does not matter if George Soros has billions and billions and billions. – If he got it legally it is none of your business.
Sounds like you just want the Democratic Party class warfare to divide this Country.
right on John
John,
For starters:
https://cnsnews.com/news/article/ali-meyer/record-20-households-food-stamps-2013
npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/01/20/264241052/oxfam-worlds-richest-1-percent-control-half-of-global-wealth
— The world’s 85 richest people own as much as the poorest 50 percent of humanity.
— 70 percent of the world’s people live in a country where income inequality has increased in the past three decades.
— In the U.S., where the gap between rich and poor has grown at a faster rate than any other developed country, the top 1 percent captured 95 percent of post-recession growth (since 2009), while 90 percent of Americans became poorer.
hhs.gov/poverty/14poverty.cfm
2014 POVERTY GUIDELINES FOR THE 48 CONTIGUOUS STATES
AND THE DISTRICT OF Columbia
Family of 4 is considered poor if they earn less than $24,00
John, you are right. We don’t have a million people homeless in this country. Sorry for the hyperbole. Actually, on any given night we only have 650,000+ who are homeless. I have seen one statistic that I can’t confirm that states that over 100,000 students in California are living in a homeless situation. But, hey, at least it is not a million.
We are here in the United States a consumerist society built upon having to have our wants met on a regular basis instead of our needs. Consistently living simply and chastely is one of THE chief means to take back what seems to be in the hands of the ‘super-rich’.
There will always be super rich, Bob. Much like there will always be a super pretty or a super talented or a super funny.
That said, the basic presumption needs to start at the basics of life as it begins. Learning to live simply and in accordance with the gospel, rejecting consumerism on every level. You cannot solve the larger problems first without looking to those at the root, Bob One. Build on rock and not shifting sand. Smart choices, even when one is very poor, renders a much better vehicle to move upward.
Bob One please provide official government documentation (Federal and State) links to prove your economic assertions in all of your financial statements in the future.
(Not interested in political editorials by Democrats who want to push class warfare.)
” Poverty is a state of privation, or a lack of the usual or socially acceptable amount of money or material possessions.” – This is the government definition of poor.
This is not the definition of “poor” that Jesus talked about – hungry, shelterless, cold and naked.
In the USA the “poor” have it pretty good for what they contribute to society.
They have zero right to be envious of any others.
With some Bishop’s help, we are creating a society dependent upon the government, which ultimately makes government their god. They don’t need to work, since all basic needs are met – food, clothing, shelter, and medicare/free clinics/hospital emergency rooms of their choice.
Should have been Medicaid.
Through in food stamps, school lunch programs, etc,,, etc, etc,
1) Why is our health system one of the worst in the industrialized world… it was one of the best before Obama care… tell me Bob One why do patients in places like Canada and Britain have to wait months to get life saving procedures, that will soon be happening here.
2)Why is health care controlled by for-profit insurance companies who pay for procedures rather than outcomes?…utter nonsense…should procedures be free of charge Bob One. should the thousands of nurse and doctors not be paid.. do you believe the entire health care system should be on a volunteer basis.
3) Why do we have millions of able bodied and educated people unemployed and homeless? … This would be Obama’s and the Left’s fault they are actively retarding economic growth, they have nearly shutdown the coal industry in certain states, this is the end game of you guys on the Left. But you don’t get it Bob One the Left wants to increase the size of Government by creating a permanent underclass that will beholden to its good graces, a blind man could see it…When the Left is tossed out of power and government is brought to its knees and bureaucrats are on the unemployment line, we will start seeing prosperity again.. Smash the Marxist Left
Bob one what Ann posted from July 3, 2014 at 8:16 am, is not hard to agree with. Why are you disagreeing. You pretty much came off as disagreeing with this motto “fix your eye’s on Jesus”. Being chaste helps us to keep our eye’s on Jesus.
The solution to all our problems are because our views are not fixed on Jesus. Ann’s comments gave a suggestion that would help us stay focused on what helps the soul unite with Christ. Its one of the steps needed. Being chase is one of them. Chaste leads to other virtues that help us avoid sin.
Wow Bob one, I don’t think you have an issue with her comments, you just have your prejudices. Just like the rest of us, of course, you make a comment, then we judge where the comment is coming from and even if that comment states the truth, if a person has certain prejudges against that person, then they will write it off completely! Now come on admit it. : ) SILLY
Most of the poor (although certainly not starving, and not homeless, and not naked) in the USA is due to fornication, and adultery, and divorce.
If the Bishop wants to help the poor, he must start teaching them all abstinence from sexual activity until married.
Start at the root of poverty in the USA. In most cases (but not all) it is self made. It is one parent families. Since no one is starving – this is where he needs to preach.
For helping those outside the USA who are starving, homeless, and naked, – the Bishop needs to spread the word about donating to “Church in Need” and “Caritas International”.
When was the last time you ever heard a sermon on one of the Seven Capital Sins, SLOTH? Depending on your age, probably never, yet it is one of the Seven deadliest SINS!
I have offered to buy persons with signs stating that they are hungry and need help, but when you actually offer to buy them what they are asking for, they refuse because they only really want money that they can spend on boos or drugs. At least that is the way it looks to me the offerer!
May God have mercy on an amoral Amerika and His Church!
Viva Cristo Rey!
Yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher, Founding Director
Concerned Roman Catholics of America, Inc
What about the poverty of spirit that exists all over the world? Shouldn’t the Pope and the Bishops address this first?
Based upon their actions and inactions, many US Bishops don’t care about Saving Souls.
They only care about the temporal (here and now) – which is actually not their job.
CCC: ” 898 By reason of their special vocation it belongs to the laity to seek the kingdom of God by engaging in temporal affairs and directing them according to God’s will. . . .
It pertains to them in a special way so to illuminate and order ALL temporal things with which they are closely associated that these may always be effected and grow according to Christ and maybe to the glory of the Creator and Redeemer.”
Yes, Linda, that WAS what Our Lord was referring to. SOULs, poor souls, lost souls……..Poor in Spirit.
What does the bishop have to say about the multi-million dollar opulent building of the USCCB in Washington, DC, and the multi-million dollar annual budget of the USCCB bureaucratic behemoth?
Excellent question.
When are the Bishops going to give to the poor? and live like Jesus and His apostles in the Bible?
When are they going divest of the expensive bureaucracies that they have created? And the fancy meetings twice a year at places such as Coronado ?
Set the example.
Instead of Bishops,Pastors and Deacons haranging the faithful in the pews to give up their savings for the poor in other countries, why isn’t the government and our church leaders creating pathways to force the leaders of the countries creating the poor, to make their citizens lives better in their own countries? Everything else these days is global why not global embarrassment to these inhumane government leaders? And, why isn’t the church urging the faithful to be politically aware of tyrannical government leadership in our country instead of encouraging the faithful to vote for these false humanistic gods?
Growing up I would hear people say that when the end times are near, there will be great peace and especially in promoting to help the poor. The symptoms that the anti-Christ is near is when there will be people or a person in power who will seem to bring peace and help to the poor. Many will be fooled (including from within the church, the faithful etc) and be mislead to what that really means and stands for.
The further we are away from God, the more distractions will follow, the real purpose of life we will miss, the more we will be doing a disservice to this worthy cause, of caring for the poor. The poor includes those who are wealthy but do not know God, the poor are the hopeless and the hungry not only for food but also for Christ.
I am NOT disagreeing and I understand that need to help the poor. Praise God for the church for caring for the poor and for being their voice. Merciful with what many have to suffer. The church does not compromise it’s morals/purpose to help the poor, it knows that the poor need Christ and His church for salvation! God is our Abba Father, of course, He opens our hearts to feed, cloth and encourage in Christ, those who need it the most. We should do what we can even if we ourselves struggle too, sharing with love and God always comes through and multiply what is done with love!
YES but the real issue and question here is who really are the poor? Do we really know poverty? I think that we are a poor country. We lost good common sense and common decency! Many do not fear the Lord!
If we do not respect the unborn, who are the poorest amongst us, then we are truly a poor country. If we believe that helping the poor means to provide free abortions and contraception, then it’s not helping them at all, better we not help at all! It depends on who and what their purpose is when helping the poor. We know what the church stands for and the poor includes all who need Christ!
“… acting with prudence when applying Catholic moral principles to specific legal enactments.”
Hmmmm…. That last little bit about “Specific Legal Enactments” could sound just a little bit on the Pander to Certain Evils endorsed by ‘our’ Turkey Baster Creationist Courts & Media, like the Attack on Marriage by the Gaystapo side.
But the Bishop was not quite forthcoming enough about just what constitutes “Prudence” in responding to Specifics, to provide much more than a very general position. Thank Goodness we have the Magisterium to keep things clear, even if so many are working against it.
SEE:
Apostate Church?
https://www.churchmilitant.tv/daily/?today=2014-07-02
“Bob One”: Your comments must be intented as sarcasm, correct? It is completely untrue that “five to ten families control the wealth of the nation. There is no more middle class.” The only regret everyone should have is that there are not more “hundred millionaires” or billionaires. And, the American Middle Class, while under stress, enjoys the highest standard of living and level of discretionary wealth of any in history. Compare the “poor” who really have it pretty good in America. Please review a short article by economist Walter E. Williams, Emeritus Professor at George Mason University in VA, “Are the Poor Getting Poorer?” (July 2, 2014). He points out that much of the issue is in definitions: 46% of the “poor” own their own homes; almost 75% own at least one car, and over 97% have at least one color TV. Too often, “YFC” Catholic bishops love to bash the best economic system in this history of Mankind, go around profaning the Eucharist by shoving the Sacred Body of Christ through fences on the border, instead of preaching about sin and the need for repentence. “For the poor you have always with you; but me ye have not always.” Matt. 26:11 (DRV). Our command is to assist the poor, give of our personal time and treasure, not to forget our Faith, or destroy our economy because some people are in the “bottom” 25% economically.
” Economist Walter E. Williams, Emeritus Professor at George Mason University in VA, “Are the Poor Getting Poorer?” (July 2, 2014). He points out that much of the issue is in definitions:
46% of the “poor” own their own homes;
almost 75% own at least one car,
and over 97% have at least one color TV.”
And he forgot to mention that Obama has supplied the poor all with cell phones rather than the cheaper land lines.
They got their health care through Medicaid, free clinics, and stopping into any hospital emergency room of their choice.
They certainly are not starving (look at the heft on many of them); they certainly are not homeless (unless they want to be); and they certainly are not naked.
Yes indeed I would like the US Bishops to DEFINE the word “POOR” before they bring it up again.
Their mantra means nothing if we don’t have a clue what they are talking about.
If we make Bishops and politicians actually DEFINE what POOR means, and where these poor are located, we could all chip in to make certain that no one in the USA is starving or naked.
None of us want any of our citizens to starving or naked.
Actually Rusty – the Poor in America are usually the Most Obese now. It is a strange turn around, as in the past weight was associated with prosperity in being able to afford the food to fatten yourself up.’
However – the change in Diet and Exercise (the Poor eat worse types of food, and a lot of them – and tend to physically work less) have really turned many notions topsy turvy.
What is Poor in America – is considered great wealth in much of the developing country, where their citizens can only dream of rising to the status of a Poor American.
And such is the reasoning that leads the City of Oakland to pay for marijuana for the poor. I kid you not, look it up.
How in the world can we compare the unborn to the poor. The poor are alive…
the unborn have a sentence of death. How in the name of all that is holy – can
Bishop McElroy compare the unborn to the poor. He may be one of the brightest
Bishops that we have but what does that mean? It means nothing to me when
you do not speak up for the slaughter of the unborn. Bishop McElroy may have a good heart but he needs to have compassion for the unborn and speak out for them.
There is a world of wisdom to what RUSTY has to say about the POOR. What
Walter Williams as to say it so accurate. I do work at SVDP on a regular basis and do not see the POOR as Bishop McElroy does. I would suggest that he
volunteer at a soup kitchen or at a Food Bank and see the people – the so called
POOR who come in for assistance. It is a true test of compassion to give to those who drive up in a car better than you have….who have manicures when you have have never had one….who have tattoos, etc. It make you wonder what
world Bishop McElroy lives in?
“Preferential option for the Poor” is just Liberation Theology speak for We are against Capitalism.
It is appropriate this comes is published in Jesuit America magazine. To understand how we got here a great book is “The Jesuits: The Society of Jesus and the betrayal of the Roman Catholic Church” by Malachi Martin.
When we take care of the poor, and there are many programs for that as many have pointed out in this thread, that is all we are doing. When Loaves and Fishes in Sacramento ( it is just one of many in the country) feeds on average 650-700 people a day we must ask why there are so many people hungry. When we have so many people on foodstamps, we must ask why. When we have 3 million people who have given up looking for a job because there are no jobs available for their skills, we must ask why. When our schools feed breakfast and lunches free to millions of kid each day, we must ask why there is hunger. Why are people out of work when company bosses are making $20-50 million per year. Why do we need so many government programs to help people? These are not “liberal” questions. They are questions that must be asked because of the unregulated greed policies of our government bodies. The church teaches that the economy must provide honorable work for people that allows them to live in dignity, to educate their children and to be productive people in the society. If our society does not do that minimum, is it following the precepts of the church? Just asking.
Typical liberal questions from Bob One…you must ask your self this Bob One. Why does the criminal administration in Washington actively propose and implement polices that hurt the middle class/poor ie shutting down of the coal industry throwing thousands out of work and causing electrical/energy rates to go through the roof. Like so many uneducated liberals Bob One thinks companies exist to provide jobs, wrong they exist to provide profit for those who have started/own the companies, providing jobs is a residual effect. Other questions to be asked Bob One, why are so many so called “poor” gaming the system, getting food stamps, Section 8 housing, but not required to work answer… I say make welfare as hard to get as a building permit…. Also answer Bob One we have squandered nearly $5 Trillion since the great society,, and poverty has not improved.. People like Bob One taxes will never be high enough, welfare spending can never be reduced.
Canisius, you always ask great questions. Some, however, are not based on the facts or the goals of the nation. I think we can stipulate that the Great Recession was the result of the horrible economic decisions of the previous administration. Since the start, there have been no jobs and companies are still hard pressed to create new ones. When a government, local, state or national gives a company a business license, they can specify what a company must do to keep the license, they just don’t, When a person is let go from their jobs, it is not “gaming the system” when they apply for unemployment compensation (they paid for it already), or for food stamps, or other forms of assistance. The law of the land provides for it. Most people, myself included, do not have a problem with paying just taxes. The problem is that the system is rigged. Even working people don’t really pay taxes if the make under about $60k a year. They get tax credits that wipe out what they paid in and get a refund check. Less than half the people are paying taxes, and Congress keeps wanting to give the rich people less taxes to pay. The people aren’t messed up, they system needs a good cleaning out. I think we need to define “welfare”. It does not include Social Security, Medicare, etc. It doesn’t include the GI Bill for former military to go to college.
Well Bob One let me counter your government loving statements… The Great Recession was caused by a # of factors, that lead to the mortgage crisis. 1) the Community Reinvestment Act which required banks make mortgages to low income people even if they were in reality unable to repay the loan. 2) The Fed kept interests rates too low of too long. 3) This goes way but its true the ending of dollar be linked to gold.. every single fiat currency in history has failed end of story. “Congress keeps wanting to give the rich people less taxes to pay.” Typical liberal class warfare…hatred of rich 47 percent of the people who are not paying taxes are on the lower end of the income scale. For some reason you seem to think that government has an automatic claim on anyone’s income. Well it does not. I am not from pathetic generation that believes in good government, government needs to be massively reduced entire departments must go, with first and foremost the IRS. Which is nothing more than criminal collection agency for the Democrat party, run by liars and petty overlords. You want a tax system? 1 single rate that it, and that all the government gets, not a penny more. As for mention of Social Security and Medicare both will broke with 30 years..isn’t “progressive government great”.. Gaming the system is a right? Bob One we have generations living off welfare if that is not gaming the system then what is.
“however, are not based on the facts or goals of the nation” Tell me where my facts are wrong Bob One…as for goals the goal should be individual liberty, prosperity and property rights… something as liberal Bob One you could not understand