LGBTQ+ Victory Institute, a national organization dedicated to elevating out LGBTQ+ leaders at all levels of government, partnered up with Loyola Marymount University’s LGBTQ+ Politics Research Initiative to learn more about LGBTQ+ candidates in the U.S.: What motivated them to run? What were their experiences and their most significant challenges?
One in five LGBTQ+ candidates from the past five years participated in the “When We Run” survey, making it the largest of its kind ever conducted. The full report can be viewed at victoryinstitute.org/whenwerun.
The survey originated with Gabriele Magni, assistant professor of political science and founding director of the LGBTQ+ Politics Research Initiative at LMU. He had interacted with the LGBTQ+ Victory Institute in various capacities during past election cycles and knew they were open to further collaboration. When he pitched the idea of the survey, they responded enthusiastically.
“Data on LGBTQ+ candidates are almost nonexistent. Until the survey was conducted, we did not have systematic data on the reasons that push LGBTQ+ people to run for office, the challenges they face, and the support they may need,” said Magni. “Collecting this type of data – and this survey in particular – is the first step to shed light on these issues and spark meaningful change.”
The survey revealed seven in 10 LGBTQ+ candidates faced homophobic and transphobic attacks on the campaign trail. Of these, more than one in two suffered from negative mental health consequences because of these attacks. Furthermore, more than four in 10 LGBTQ+ candidates went into personal debt following their campaigns….
The number of LGBTQ+ candidates running for office in the U.S. has grown steadily. Currently, there are more than 1,200 LGBTQ+ elected officials in the country. Yet, they represent only 0.2% of the total number of elected officials and remain severely underrepresented. To reach equitable representation, more than 30,000 out LGBTQ+ candidates would need to be elected….
At LMU, students and faculty are working to advance the study of the political behavior of the LGBTQ+ community through the LGBTQ+ Politics Research Initiative. The initiative launched in 2022 with the support of the LMU Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts Dean Robbin Crabtree and under the direction of Magni. Students have played an essential role in the initiative’s success to date. In spring 2022, they helped to organize and promote the “Conversations with LGBTQ+ Leaders” speaker series which brought to campus AIDs and gay rights activist Peter Staley; Lisa Middleton, pioneering transgender mayor of Palm Spring; Tony Hoang, executive director of Equality California; Evan Low, California Assembly member and former chair of the LGBTQ Legislative Caucus; and John Heilman, West Hollywood city councilman and the longest serving LGBTQ+ elected official in the country….
From LMU Newsroom
Stop combining LGBTQ+ people into one group.
When you combine information you lose information and when combine identity into a generalized non-heteronormative group you lose identity.
Combining: Say What?
seven in 10 LGBTQ+ candidates faced homophobic and transphobic attacks on the campaign trail. Of these, more than one in two suffered from negative mental health consequences because of these attacks. Furthermore, more than four in 10 LGBTQ+ candidates went into personal debt following their campaigns….
The complete information would be “This candidate suffered attacks, has mental health consequences and/or went into debt.
Combined information would be how many lesbian candidates had these consequences, how many gays, how many trans, how many bisexuals etc.
Further combined is how many of all non-heteronormative and trans candidates had these consequence (no states given).
Also, there is no comparison with heteronormative candidates. We know there are negative consequences to all candidates and their families. It is one or the reasons it is a serious decision to run for office.
They have to combine them to make it seem like there are a lot of them.
I graduated from LMU decades ago. LMU is not a Catholic university anymore. It’s not even a decent college anymore.
Save your money. Don’t go to college. Not any college. Learn a trade.
You won’t be brainwashed into leftist lies.
I’m shocked!
Next headline news: fish swim!
And, bears, well, bears doo something in the forest.
Nothing L or M about LMU.
If I never hear about LGBTQ again it will be too soon. Just as George Floyd dying by murderous asphyxiation was a total lie and the BLM movement has been a total lie, the LGBTQ movement and laws supporting them are based on total lies about human nature.
We live in an age of utter stupidity and ignorance combined dangerously with self-righteous and opportunistic faux outrage. Lies are big business these days. People get rich off lies. People amass power for themselves through lies.
The autopsy report states: “Floyd’s death, and ignores that the prior page concludes that it was a homicide due to “cardiopulmonary arrest” from “law enforcement subdual, restraint, and neck compression.” He had drugs in his system, but they did not cause his death.
That’s outdated information. Stop believing the liberal lies and the liberal media.
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/whole-george-floyd-story-was-lie-tucker-carlson
“He had drugs in his system, but they did not cause his death.” Bob One, there is an article on the George Floyd case at the Daily Wire that is a must read:
https://www.dailywire.com/news/new-revelations-prove-yet-again-that-derek-chauvin-was-an-innocent-man-railroaded-in-the-name-of-racial-justice.
Outdated October 22, 2023 at 6:08 pm is right. Derek Chauvin was a sacrificial lamb to the god of equity.
What a perfect name.
The Jesuits again. This bunch at LMU can be counted on to subvert Church teaching as it presently stands, but see the Jerome Biblical Commentary, 3rd ed., which endeavors to lay a foundation for normalizing homosexual acts. Arguing that the scriptural texts condemning sodomy do not apply to today’s “modern concept of homosexuality” as a “possible sexual orientation,” the Jerome Biblical Commentary claims categorically that “the Bible does not speak about same–sex love as one does today.” “Leviticus 18:22 does not speak about the modern concept of homosexuality or homoeroticism which in general was not known as a possible sexual orientation in antiquity,” the heterodox commentary states. Again the commentary on Romans 1: “Paul’s contemporaries would have been familiar with multiple types of exploitative sexual relationships including pedophilia, prostitution, and slavery. In each case such relationships revealed and describe abusive power structures. They have nothing to do loving sexual relationships between consenting adults,” and “there is no indication that private behavior is in view anywhere in this passage.”
With a forward by Pope Francis, one can envision the new woke interpretation of biblical texts as a possible foundation for legitimizing homosexual acts, and the Jesuits at LMU understand this only so well.
The Bible condemns gay sex. That is clear.
You will be so shocked and saddened at this utterly false LGBT-based Biblical commentary, all perverted and twisted, with a foreward by the current pope. Protestants, who love and live by the Bible– and especially those who are firm believers in “Sola Scriptura”– are all laughing at it. And a fake “nihil obstat” and fake “imprimatur,” was given to it, by Cardinal Blaise Cupich and his Archdiocese of Chicago. There is a wonderful new book, “Into the Hestt of Romans: A Deep Dive into Paul’s Greatest Letter” by world-renowned Biblical scholar, N.T. Wright, a Church of England former Bishop of Durham, great Biblical scholar, and renowned commentator and interpreter of St. Paul. This is an outstanding recent work.
In my comment of Oct. 22, at 2:12pm, there was a misspelling of the name of the book, by N.T. Wright, “Into the Heart of Romans: A Deep Dive into Paul’s Greatest Letter.”
No matter what anyone says– Biblical teachings on Morality are true and exact, straight from God– and are for all mankind, in all societies, in all ages. Murder is wrong, for example, in all ages, in all societies– from the day that Cain killed his brother, Abel– and even today. God created two genders, Man and Woman. And that’s all. God ordained Marriage between one man and one woman, and God brings forth Children of their union. LGBTs are abnormal, born with a sexual disorder, or let’s say, a handicap. They are not normal. Gay sex acts are wrong, disordered, and sinful. If we have a “Sodom and Gomorrah” in an ancient Biblical era,
or in today’s Castro district of San Francisco– the “gay lifestyle” is still wrong and sinful. If the Israelites are partying, dancing to the Golden Calf, out in the desert– even getting drunk and committing sexual promiscuity, prostitution, adultery, etc.– and today, in NYC, L.A. or San Francisco, they are doing the same thing– these are still serious sins. Moses– or a good preacher, in today’s world– is going to be pretty mad, and tell them that they are committing terrible sins, and must repent and change their lives! No mixed-up, smooth-talking, evasive, ambiguous, goofed-up human being, even in a big religious role– can ever possibly “change” basic, eternal moral truths, given to mankind from God. Right is forever right. And wrong is forever wrong. And you can’t “play games” with Almighty God– and lie about it. Better get up there, courageously face up to the hard realities of life, man-up, and take life’s hard truths and responsibilities seriously. Just as our forefathers did.
No. Not Catholic. Please just read the Bible and if there is a passage you have trouble with go to a reliable Catholic source.
Topics like justification and predestination are understood differently by different denominations.
It would be easy to be misled.
Reliable source– no, I am not talking about theological issues like predestination and justification. Catholics and Protestants differ on those issues. I only accept the truths taught by the true Church which Christ established– the Catholic Church. Read my comment correctly! I was only talking about one thing — Morality. Moral teachings do not change. Morality is the same, always, in all eras, in all cultures. Basic teachings like–there are only two genders, Man and Woman, the Marriage of Man and Woman, creating a Family Home, bringing forth Children– is ancient and basic! It is also the core of life, the core of all nations, the core of all civilizations on earth! Read the Genealogy of Jesus Christ, in the Bible— it stretches all the way back in history, even to Adam and Eve! Not “Adam and Steve!” Look at prophets of old, all through Biblical history and beyond– preaching against sins, calling people to repentance! Preaching against sexual sins, adultery, injustices, cheating, lying, stealing, murdering– every sin in the book! That never, never changes! Gay sex is always wrong, rape, promiscuity, adultery, prostitution, child molestation, lying, cheating, stealing, murdering (etc.) are all always wrong– etc. Those basic moral teachings never change. And nobody– even someone with a big name, who claims to be an “expert”– in the 21st century– can lie to you, and tell you, that God was “wrong” in the Holy Bible, or that the “interpretation is wrong.” The murder of Abel by his brother, Cain, was wrong, thousands of years ago– and it is still wrong, today. Nobody in this whole world, of any religion– or none– can lie to you, and tell you that this is not true, and has all been “changed” by misguided, horrible, immoral religious or political leaders, in the 20th and 21st century. For example– Hitler, or the Ku Klux Klan, cannot falsely “justify” harming and murdering people, due to their race (Black) or religion (Catholics, Jews) or because they are born with a handicap, or are gay. Right and wrong are basics in life, always and forever. Morality is of God– unchangeable and eternal, written deep in our very hearts, minds and souls, found in Natural Law.
Reliable source– no, I am not talking about theological issues like predestination and justification. Catholics and Protestants differ on those issues. I only accept the truths taught by the true Church which Christ established– the Catholic Church. Read my comment correctly! I was only talking about one thing — Morality. Moral teachings do not change. Morality is the same, always, in all eras, in all cultures. Basic teachings like–there are only two genders, Man and Woman, the Marriage of Man and Woman, creating a Family Home, bringing forth Children– is ancient and basic! It is also the core of life, the core of all nations, the core of all civilizations on earth! Read the Genealogy of Jesus Christ, in the Bible— it stretches all the way back in history, even to Adam and Eve! Not “Adam and Steve!” Look at prophets of old, all through Biblical history and beyond– preaching against sins, calling people to repentance! Preaching against sexual sins, adultery, promiscuity, prostitution, injustices, cheating, lying, stealing, murdering– every sin in the book! That never, never changes! Gay sex is always wrong, rape, promiscuity, adultery, prostitution, child molestation, lying, cheating, stealing, murdering (etc.) are all always wrong– etc. Those basic moral teachings never change. And nobody– even someone with a big name, who claims to be an “expert”– in the 21st century– can lie to you, and tell you, that God was “wrong” in the Holy Bible, or that the “interpretation is wrong.” The murder of Abel by his brother, Cain, was wrong, thousands of years ago– and it is still wrong, today. Nobody in this whole world, of any religion– or none– can lie to you, and tell you that this is not true, and has all been “changed” by misguided, horrible, immoral religious or political leaders, in the 20th and 21st century. For example– Hitler, or the Ku Klux Klan, cannot falsely “justify” harming and murdering people, due to their race (Black) or religion (Catholics, Jews) or because they are born with a handicap, or are gay. Right and wrong are basics in life, always and forever. Morality is of God– unchangeable and eternal, written deep in our very hearts, minds and souls, found in Natural Law.
Reliable source– you did not read my comment correctly. It had nothing to do with theological topics such as justification, predestination, etc — which are very different, in Catholic and Protestant churches. I only accept Catholic teaching. Anyway– all I said is that morality comes from God and is exact and unchangeable. No one can lie to you, and try to tell you, that Christian morality is now changed– and the Bible, Moses with the 10 Commandments, Jesus’ teachings, and St. Paul’s writings (etc.) are all “wrong,” and “out-of-date.” If a rebellious nun or priest– like Sr. Jeannie Grammick or Jesuit Fr. James Martin– tries to tell people that gay “marriage,” abortion, or any other sins are now “acceptable,” they are just lying. The Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, just ended her relationship with her live-in lover. He was caught admitting to having affairs with other women, and even inviting co-workers to participate in sexual encounters of three or four people at the same time. All of these despicable behaviors– including cohabitation, sex out-of-wedlock– are always sinful and immoral. Always. Prime Minister Meloni’s lover had always objected to marrying Meloni, despite the fact that they have a daughter, now age seven– that is a tragic home, for the poor little girl! If anyone ever, in any era, tries to falsely justify horrible sins– like the Man-Boy Love Association, trying to falsely justify child rape of boys– pedophilia– and child pornography — or Hitler, falsely trying to justify murdering the Jews, or the kKK falsely trying to justify harassing or murdering Blacks, Jews and Catholics (etc.)– those evil behaviors are always sinful. Morality never changes. It is from God. It is in the Natural Law. That is all I was trying to say.
I had attempted to type a reply to “reliable source” several times, and had thought I had clicked on the wrong thing, to submit a reply. For some reason, it was all okay, and each one was printed.
So I found that this was the subject of an interview on EWTN.
Have you read it?
I saw the interview, too. Looking forward to reading the book. I bet you are, too. Good priests also frequently recommend good books to us. I so appreciate it.
There is a lot of controversy on who will oversee the writing of the final report on the Synod on Synodality. Guess the Vatican wants to keep that a secret. What do you think about that? Do you think that in the end, we all will suddenly wake up– to find ourselves in a new church? Or do you think it all will just be forgotten, and no one will remember the Synod, or care?
Is this a Vatican controversy or an Internet controversy?
It should not matter really who writes it.
We will never at any time in the world wake up to find ourselves in a new Church? That suggestion is heretical.
I think the impact on the Synod will depend on how much any individual pays attention to it.
It does not end til next year.
Keep praying.
No. I will not be reading that book.
I do not consider myself knowledgeable enough to be able to sort out what is Protestant and what Is Catholic.
I stick with Catholic-but not just any Catholic.
Didn’t we have a Year of St. Paul not too long ago?
Were there not books or articles you could find?
Reply to next year — I was just being humorous, because many have noted that the Vatican has asked for secrecy regarding the meetings at the Synod on Synodality, at the Vatican– which is unusual. Secrecy is always a little controversial. Do you think that when it all ends, next year, that we will all get a big surprise? I don’t think so, but who can know, for sure, the outcome? The pope, the Synod relator, Cdl. Hollerich, and many Synod participants have expressed their thoughts on the perceived “need” for a “new” kind of church, after all the participants have “listened” to each other. The pope also loves this new kind of Synod that he created, to include Catholic bishops and some chosen, invited lay people– not all of them are Catholics, or Catholic believers. Well, secrecy is always a controversial thing. But I don’t think we will get any big surprises, when the Synod ends, next year– after all that talking and “listening.”
Scott Hahn has a book on Romans.
You can get it free on Amazon if you have a Kindle.
Dr. Scott Hahn is excellent! He is a world-renowned Catholic Biblical scholar and teacher! His “Romans” is available in paperback, or else you can get it on Kindle, on Amazon. This is much better than the fraudulent, blasphemous “Jerome Biblical Commentary,” with the Foreward written by the Pope.
There are press releases from the Vatican every day. There is no secrecy. There is privacy for individual contributors. There is nothing wrong with that.
Nobody has asked for a new Church.
I have not yet figured out how to listen and dialogue with people who are knowingly telling untruths.
Reliable source– I know just how you feel. In college, I took some courses in Christian literature, all through the ages, from a Dominican priest. He was a popular professor, very excellent. We read fine works of both Catholic and Protestant authors. One of my favorites, of the 20th century, was the famous German Lutheran theologian and pastor, martyred by the Nazis, Dietrich Bonhoeffer. He was so courageous, strongly resisting Hitler’s evil regime, very faithful to authentic Christian teachings. And so young, age 39, when martyred– and engaged to marry a lovely, young German lady. His famous 1937 book, “The Cost of Discipleship,” was unforgettable. However, it is much better to read religious books under the direction of a good Catholic priest and professor. They can competently guide students along the way, in their Catholic Faith, while reading outstanding works of both Catholic and Protestant authors– and answer all questions. A girlfriend in choir, when I was in college, used to share favorite books with me– tons of books, by outstanding Christian authors, Catholic and Protestant. We both liked C.S. Lewis, an Anglican, originally from Northern Ireland, whose grandfather was an Anglican cleric– and Lewis did not like the Catholic Church. We knew that. It is always good to know about religious authors, and all about their religious beliefs, before reading their books. That way, you know where they stand on things that they write about. Today’s authors– after about the year 1970– I feel strongly, I can never trust, because of the extremely irresponsible and immoral liberal leftists, even in the field of religion, and in our own Church, too– destroying the academic world, and seminaries, too– producing much irresponsible and immoral garbage, in today’s authors– as a great many are now formed very poorly, in the fields of religion, education, psychology, marriage and family life, children, children’s literature, human interest, and other fields. I am careful in what I choose to read. And always return a book– and get a refund– or else return a library book, and fill out a complaint form– on any book with objectionable material.
Someone has really been trying to fool you. Best to read the authentic news stories. Yes, the Synod members have been told that they cannot discuss what has been happening each day, at the Synod. Journalists have been told that the Vatican itself will simply give them some pre-prepared news each day, about the Synod– but the participants are not allowed to talk. And then, many Synod members– including the Pope– have made comments that they want a more “inclusive” Church, less “rigid”– and want some big changes. Some desired changes include acceptance of gay sex and gay “marriage, women deaconesses or priestesses, no restrictions on reception of Communion– and much more! The Pope, many liberal prelates– especially Cardinanl Hollerich, the Synod relator– and participants lihe Sr. Jeannie Grammick, Jesuit Fr. James Martin, German bishops, like Bishop Overbeck of the German Diocese of Essen, who promotes the German Synodal Way— have made these comments. Read carefully, and you will see the truth! Of course– these radical, liberal Synod participants may not get the big changes in the Catholic Church, that they want.
The Foreword written by the Pope talks about Scripture and its value and contemplation.
Reply to- The authentic news stories do not say any of that.
You are really extremely fooling yourself, to the point of delusion. All news stories, Catholic and secular, have said all of this– and much, much more. Read honestly, carefully, see for yourself. Do not be fooled, and deluded.
A Bible commentary even with an introduction by the Pope is just that-someone’s comments after reading the Bible.
I would not interpret it that way.
It is seen as evil and there are others like scandalmongering.
“A Bible commentary even with an introduction by the Pope is just that-someone’s comments after reading the Bible. I would not interpret it that way.
It is seen as evil and there are others like scandalmongering.”
I am having trouble understanding your post. The Pope’s forward is to a commentary that seeks to alter the Scriptural stance on homosexuality to void the prohibitions on modern day same-sex relationships. The nihil obstat and imprimatur attached to this edition indicate that a portion of the Church is satisfied with this change. This is a seismic shift in the foundation of the Church’s sexual ethics if the changes in the commentary take hold in the Church at large, which seems likely given the forward and the imprimatur. You say you would not interpret “it” that way. How would you interpret the new position staked out and sanctioned by the Pope? And what is the “it” that is seen as evil? Being alarmed by the new woke scholarship? If there is something scandalous in all this how then is this scandalmongering?
What does the introduction say?
Most of us learned to stay away from Biblical Commentaries decades ago.
They are not a part of the Church’s teaching.
When I said that I would not interpret it that way, I meant Romans 1.
Homosexuality is “degrading passions.”
But that is not the point of Romans 1. It is a condemnation of idolatry.
The it seen as evil is homosexual sex and there is a list of “improper” behavior that is a result of the Lord “turning them over to their undiscerning minds.”
None of this is a new position of the Pope or the Church. Biblical commentaries are notorious for this kind of stuff. They mean nothing. They are just someone’s comments. Having an intro by the Pope does not give it the weight of Church teaching.
Commentaries, I appreciate the clarifications. But I think we are in agreement on Romans 1: “But that is not the point of Romans 1. It is a condemnation of idolatry. The it seen as evil is homosexual sex and there is a list of “improper” behavior that is a result of the Lord “turning them over to their undiscerning minds.” ”
If I understand you, Romans 1 is both a condemnation of idolatry and a description of what results from idolatry–homosexual sex. This is also my view. But is it the view of woke scholarship? And will this scholarship one day prevail in the Church? You rightly say, ” Having an intro by the Pope does not give it the weight of Church teaching”– to which I feel compelled to add, not yet, anyway.
Things like this can interfere with fraternal correction – but there is already much that does. I am sure that you have heard much of it, too. Some are not open to fraternal correction.
We have to stand firm in the faith. If we start buying into it, they are lost.
The new volume continues its approach of historical-critical methodology in the light of Catholic tradition, with a broader array of commentators beyond Europe and North America; Pope Francis wrote a foreword for the volume.
From wikipedia
I have a Jerome from the 1990s that has been gathering dust for decades. Historical-critical methodology causes a lot of confusion.
A foreword by the Pope, no matter what it says, is not an endorsement of the ideas in it.
The ideas in it are understood not to be the teaching of the Church.
The original “Jerome Biblical Commentary” of 1968, by Raymond E. Brown, S.S., Joseph A. Fitzmyer, S.S., and Roland E. Murphy, O.Carm.– three (now-deceased) Catholic priests who were outstanding Biblical scholars– was highly reputable, a highly-valued Catholic Biblical source. The current, corrupt version has pro-feminist and pro- LGBT authors. Garbage.
You must not know much about Raymond Brown.
Sulpician Fr. Raymond E. Brown was a huge, world-renowned Catholic Biblical scholar. He died at St. Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park, in 1998 (just confirmed this). Our Archbishop Cordileone made some big changes at St. Patrick’s Seminary in 2016, and the Sulpicians left. Anyway, that is all I know. So– what information do you have, to share with Cal Catholic readers? Was this Sulpician priest– a huge, world-renowned Catholic Biblical scholar– was he gay, or something? Or what? Let’s hear it.
Oh– sorry, I get it, now. Brown was a liberal, and was also a Biblical scholar invited as a peritus to Vatican II– he was a liberal, and questioned Catholic teaching. So there it is. So– that is probably what you meant. I recall Abp. Cordileone saying that the Sulpicians had become too liberal, and he no longer wanted them at the seminary. Actually, I never paid attention to either the Sulpicians or big Biblical scholars. But in the modern world– you cannot trust many in the Church. Since Vatican II– whom can you really trust? I had read the books of previously silenced Jesuit Fr. John Courtney Murray, especially, “We Hold These Truths”—- and did not like or trust his “Americanism” concepts– but in the end, that was exactly what the Council Fathers wanted. They called him to come back from being silenced– and come to Vatican II. He had a huge influence! And had a big role in the document, “Dignitatis Humanae.” Everyone but me, I guess, loves those liberal Vatican II documents– shoved at us, constantly. I know that it is very important to proclaim our rights to freedom of religion– especially in atheist Communist countries. But to me, too much “Americanism” and religious freedom, without required Church discipline, to adhere to Catholic teachings– spells– irresponsibility, collapse of religion, collapse of our Church, everyone believes what they want– everyone can follow their conscience, no Church keadership anymore– so, your Church falls to pieces, and next, your ountry falls to pieces— disaster! But all our Church leaders feel this to be very important, with Vatican II. Even Abp. Fulton J. Sheen got a little more liberal, with Vatican II. But he was still excellent. Well, so there it is. As usual– our Church, a liberal disaster, for the modern vworld.
He was very controversial, not for being gay or being liberal, but for his methods of Bible scholarship.
I think his most notorious proposition was that the Infancy narratives in Matthew and Luke were not historical.
The Church teaches that they are.
https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=525
The church does not teach that the infancy narratives are historically accurate. The church teaches that Scripture is the Word of God and contains the truths that God wanted to teach for salvation. The church has not pronounced on the specific matter of the historicity of the infancy narratives. Along with salvific truth, they contain some historical truth; they are not necessarily historically true in every detail.
I am not as highly educated in theology as many of you might be, and am more practical with religion. But I do know this — you (the Catholic Faithful) must be able to live your life by Christ’s teachings, in every way, in a good, solid, stable Church– with your Marriage and Family, as well as your whole life– and all the priests, prelates and nuns– all depend on it, too. When you constantly see modernist liberals in the field of religion, even “centrist” liberals, who still seem to be true believers, despite their research, examining, critical analysis, and questioning– well, you can only go so far, before you might destroy the whole Church, and society, too, as well as morality, marriage and family, public safety from crime and criminals (being permissive about sin and crime) — and we see Civilization crumbling into many ignorant people just individually, selfishly, narcissistically “living as they please,” lawlessly, non-believers, no faith in God, no morality, no moral conscience, all good structures of religion, family and society, crumbling into oblivion… like a nuclear holocaust. No! God has a good Divine Plan for us– and it is all true, but challenging. “Enter by the Narrow Gate,” as Jesus said– for the broad road leads to destruction, and there are many who travel on it– but not me. I will seek the Narrow Gate, just as He told us to do. We must listen to Him, obey Him, and follow Him, faithfully. Pick up our little crosses, respectfully, responsibly– just as He asks us to do– and go– just as He did, on His Big Cross, sacrificing His very life, for us, for our Salvation. Then everything in God’s Divine Plan will work out well.
We can distinguish three stages in the formation of the Gospels:
1. the life and teaching of Jesus. the Church holds firmly that the four Gospels, “whose historicity she unhesitatingly affirms, faithfully hand on what Jesus, the Son of God, while he lived among men, really did and taught for their eternal salvation, until the day when he was taken up.”
CCC 126
My comment of Oct 26 at 9:45am should be titled, “Reply to About Raymond Brown.” Sorry! Anyway, I believe that Catholics always must love and obey God, first, in all matters. A Catholic political leader mist not be allowed to “do as they please,” and state that “in Vatican II it is stressed that we all must “follow our own conscience,’ rather than to first, obey God. In JFK’s famous 1960 speech to the Greater Houston Ministerial Association. reflected a compromise between the secular and spiritual worlds.
Vatican II did not say to follow your own conscience rather than obey God.
Vatican II, especially in the document, “Dignitatis Humanae,” certainly did acknowledge the importance of religious freedom and following your conscience. However, some people have been irresponsible, and have taken this too far– like Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Pres. Joe Biden, many Jesuits, Jesuit Fr. James Martin, Sr. Jeannie Grammick, the German Bishops of the “German Synodal Way,” a great many “bad Catholic” schools and universities, etc. Before Vatican II, none of these “Bad Catholics” would have been accepted at all, by the Catholic Church. They would all have either repented and changed to live by Catholic teachings– or would have been excommunicated.
So please give the paragraph number on Dignitatis Humanae that you are referring to. Religious freedom wasn’t about giving Catholics the freedom to believe whatever they wanted.
You follow your conscience if you are unaware of a Church teaching.
Also, if you can, post the section of the 1917 Canon Law that says what you think they would have been excommunicated for.
There were always bad Catholics. .
My comment of Oct. 27 at 7:15am, has typing errors, in the title. It should read, “Reply to not Catholic teaching, etc.” Also, the title of my comment of Oct. 26 at 9:45am, should read, “Reply to About Raymond Brown,” not “About Raymond Brown.” The Cal Catholic editors cut off the end of my comnent of Oct. 27, at 7:15am. At the end of this comment, I said that actually, the concerns of many in America, including the 1960 Greater Houston Ministerial Association, to which JFK gave his famous speech– — were actually correct. This is because — truthfully– Catholiccs must obey Jesus Christ and our Church. We have to be careful, in secular life, because religious truths– such as protecting the lives of unborn children– are not “personal, private religious beliefs” at all! Along with that, our Faith cannot support such things as Catholic politicians promoting beliefs of racism and religious persecution. JFK was anti-racism. But many Americans in that day, especially in the South, were tragically racist. Of course, the Pope would not get on the phone, and tell a Catholic president what he wants them to do– it’s not that extreme. Protestants, Jews and others should not worry about that, with a Catholic candidate. SCOTUS Judge Amy Coney Barrett, and the new Evangelical Christian House Speaker, Rep. Mike Johnson, and many others, have faced scrutiny over religious beliefs. It is shocking to me, that there are some politicians, as well as student activists on university campuses, who support Hamas– and are anti-Semitic!!
You are misinterpreting this situation. For example– if someone asks Rep. Nancy Pelosi why she refuses to follow Church teaching on abortion, she will simply tell you, that in Vatican Ii, you are allowed to follow your own conscience, and are free to do so. Others do the same thing. Years and years ago, I quietly asked her Pastor, when I was able to speak with him alone, why he always so highly praised Nancy and Paul Pelosi, from the pulpit at Mass, whenever they would come to Mass. And the Pastor also would invite her to give a talk to the kids at the parish school. The Pastor did the same thing, if then-Mayor Gavin Newsom came to Mass. I told the Pastor that it worried me, as these politicians supported immorality, abortion, gay “marriage,” etc., which is against Church teachings. Catholic children at the parish school should not be misled to believe that these things which Gavin Newsom and Nancy Pelosi supported, are true and correct Catholic teachings. The Catholic Church should not pretend to support these politicians. I actually discussed this problem many times with the Pastor, over the years, until he retired, and soon died. He always sternly reprimanded me, telling me that Nancy and Gavin had a right to their personal freedons, in Vatican II, and that I must “respect their opinions,” and “be a better Christian,” and “love them.” I would always then say things like, “Father, the “right” for a woman to kill her unborn child is not an acceptable “right” nor an acceptable “opinion.” Abortion is murder.” He never listened to me, but I did not care. I always laughed when he told me that I “had to be a better Christian,” and “love and accept Nancy Pelosi and Gavin Newsom,” and “respect their right to their own conscience and opinions.” Big laugh! I was involved for many years, during that same time, at our cathedral– same problem. Several different prelates (now deceased) even chastised me a little, because I was “not enjoying my rights to freedom of religion, to follow my own conscience, and beliefs, so wonderfully granted by Vatican II.” To them, it was so grand! To me, it was so ridiculous and irresponsible! I have been complaining about all of this since the late 1960s!
Dan, do you even own that book?
The nihil obstat and imprimatur does not mean that “a portion of the Church is satisfied with this change.”
Nothing has changed.
Homosexual sex is immoral.
Is there anything in there that says it is not?
Not in the quotes you provided.
There is no shift-seismic or otherwise- in the Church’s sexual morality..
I think the person who wrote it is wrong.
I think the things said in Scripture do apply to individual loving consensual relationships. It is wishful thinking on the part of the author.
Church teaching is not changed buy Biblical scholarship or commentary.
Remember when Pope Benedict XVI released his books on Jesus? He made sure to point out that they were not the teaching of the Church even though he was Pope. They were his personal thoughts only.
“There is no shift-seismic or otherwise- in the Church’s sexual morality..” I will be most glad to have you proven correct.
I read the forward by the Pope (on amazon sample page). He talks about the importance of Scripture, He references Dei Verbum and Verbum Domini by Pope Benedict XVI.
https://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19651118_dei-verbum_en.html
https://www.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_ben-xvi_exh_20100930_verbum-domini.html
Also Evangelii Guadium especially 264
“The best incentive for sharing the Gospel comes from contemplating it with love, lingering over its pages and reading it with the heart. If we approach it in this way, its beauty will amaze and constantly excite us. But if this is to come about, we need to recover a contemplative spirit which can help us to realize ever anew that we have been entrusted with a treasure which makes us more human and helps us to lead a new life. There is nothing more precious which we can give to others.”
I think I also found the source of the “scandal”. That is a website that stirs up trouble all the time.
https://www.scu.edu/jst/news-and-events/stories/celebrating-the-release-of-the-jerome-biblical-commentary-for-the-21st-century.html
Another contribution to Catholicism by California
Why?
LMU is strangely silent about the Hamas attack on Israel. The Jewish faculty issued a statement condemning Hamas, but LMU in general and the president of the university? Crickets.
Contrast that with how LMU fell all over itself to honor George Floyd and BLM.
LMU is just another woke liberal indoctrination camp where students waste their tuition money.
We’ve gone from reading the signs of the times to promoting the sins of the times.
Good candidate here for quote of the week, editors. This has my vote, even though it doesn’t count.
So now Tucho says the church shouldn’t use words like “sinner” or “sodomy”. As this LMU story shows, the church is indeed promoting sin now instead of calling for conversion from sin.
Serious Catholics are all asking themselves how much more we are willing to take.
If the Church continues to feminize and gayize. There will be a giant sucking sound of virile, normal men leaving the church. That is, among those who haven’t already stopped coming to Mass because they can’t stand the gay and effeminate things going on.
And the latest interview of Tucho by Lifesite quotes Tucho as being open to blessing homosexual unions. See? It’s happening. Jon has been wrong in saying that the pope and Tucho are not allowing same-sex union blessings. It’s all right here in black and white:
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/exclusive-cardinal-fernandez-says-blessings-are-for-every-person-in-every-situation/
What the Church said is that the homosexual union is not blessed, because it [the Church] has the clear definition of marriage which is a union between a male and female open to new life.
Only that is called matrimony – marriage, only that reality is called that way.
So the blessing that could confuse and not make clear about this reality is not good for the Church.
But perhaps also [they] need blessings, not only one isolated person, but two persons who are asking for a blessing because they want to be faithful to God, they want to be better, they want to grow in their Christian life.
The blessing is not a sacrament. And we mustn’t ask the same conditions [for] a simple blessing that we ask for a sacrament.
Blessing is a sign of the “opera pastorale” [pastoral work], to every people in every situation, and we [need to] know nothing [about] the people with how is his Christian life, the morals and other things [in order] to give the blessing.
I think the word blessing is being used differently by Cardinal Fernandez and the people who are freaking out.
Watch out for the Devil. I have always believed that opening up the Church to the dark, ignorant, sinful secular world, opens it right up to the Devil and his legions. If you are so open-minded and tolerant of evils that your brains fall out– the Devil laughs, and comes marching right in the stupidly open door. The Devil lies and cheats people with falsehoods dressed up in attractive ambiguities about sin, masquerading as truths. The Devil talks deceitfully out of both sides of his mouth, trying to deceive and cheat people, causing confusion, divisiveness, quarreIs, and wars, which the Devil craves. The Devil is out to deviantly cheat, deceive, and grab all the poor souls he can get. I decided long, long ago, that he is not going to deceive me with smooth-talking, twisted half-truths and lies– and grab me- body, mind and soul– and ruin and destroy me. I would rather be unpopular and stand firmly by Christ’s Truth, and live right with God always– above all else. The same principle applies to proper parenting, proper teaching, and proper political leadership– as well as correct religious leadership.
From this Lifesite interview it sure doesn’t sound like Tucho and the Pope are allowing blessing of gay unions at all.
i’ll give it to you Straight:
LMU is gay
Many years ago we were taught in school the great importance of morality in the success of a nation and civilization. In ancient, pagan Rome, for example, their civilization flourished when Romans were morally strong, practicing virtues, the best ones leading noble lives, selflessly dedicated to family and country. When Roman housewives had a strong moral backbone, the Roman homes and families– the core of a country — were safe and well, and Rome flourished.
My mother used to point that out to me, and how important that was. And how important a strong moral backbone is, in the Christian family home, in America, of our era, the era in which I was growing up. The pagan Roman civilization was much like the Christian civilization of America. Yet, it became corrupt, and the Roman Empire had corrupt, immoral emperors, towards the end of the Empire, which fell in 476 A.D. They had the Roman circus, a violent entertainment venue, and threw the noble, saintly Christians to the lions. It was similar to the violent, immoral entertainment venues of today. As my mom pointed out– all civilizations will fall to pieces, if morality is not practiced, and firmly established and upheld– starting in the family home.
The dedicated homemaker– the good wife and mother, in the family home– has a very important role to play, in maintaining a strong and firm moral backbone, standing by what is virtuous, right and true, always, before God, being an excellent support and influence for her husband and children, in the family home, and for her community and country. My mom pointed out to me, that if America’s moral framework was ever to weaken and seriously start to crumble– we might lose our great nation, one day. At that time, I had no idea in the world one day, that would actually happen– right before my eyes, in my own lifetime I always thought, naively, that in America, that would never happen. In the 20th century, the modern era– terrible calamities befell Russia, with Communism, and Germany, with Hitler and his Nazis, and Italy, with Fascism– and much more.
I never dreamed that a fine country like America could ever actually collapse and fall into ruin! Didn’t God have a special favor, a special kind of protection, for America? But sadly, no. When a nation of people suddenly rejects God, the teachings of Christ, and becomes rebellious, diabolical– God and His great blessings for us are all tragically rejected, and disappear– and a nation plummets into the abyss of Hell, with Satan and his minions. My mother was a first-generation American, and her immigrant parents greatly treasured America and made many sacrifices to come here– just like many other immigrants. Well, I still have, in my mind’s eye– a good image of a fine, Christ-like, responsible and virtuous early Christian Roman– and Catholic– woman, perhaps like the (Jewish) Blessed Mother, and St. Cecilia, a beautiful, strong Roman Christian martyr, whom I admired — with a strong moral backbone, eager to stand for what is right, before God, for family, community and country. Watching civilization crumble, all around me, just as the early Christians did– has been very painful, all these long years. I know many others feel just as I do.
Pro tip: if you want to make quote of the week, your comment has to be short, like this one.
Indeed!
Who wants to make “quote of the week?” Length of your comment does not matter. Do you have something intelligent and worthwhile to say, about matters in your Church– as a Catholic commenter, on a Catholic website? If not, don’t comnent.
Have you ever heard of TLDR? If not, look it up.
I own all three Jerome Biblical Commentaries. I’m a biblical scholar.