The following appeared in a September 26 LA Times article:
Dear Friends,
One of the highlights of my visit is to stand here, before Independence Mall, the birthplace of the United States of America. It was here that the freedoms which define this country were first proclaimed. The Declaration of Independence stated that all men and women are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, and that governments exist to protect and defend those rights. Those ringing words continue to inspire us today, even as they have inspired peoples throughout the world to fight for the freedom to live in accordance with their dignity.
But history also shows that these or any truths must constantly be reaffirmed, re- appropriated and defended. The history of this nation is also the tale of a constant effort, lasting to our own day, to embody those lofty principles in social and political life. We remember the great struggles which led to the abolition of slavery, the extension of voting rights, the growth of the labor movement, and the gradual effort to eliminate every kind of racism and prejudice directed at successive waves of new Americans. This shows that, when a country is determined to remain true to its founding principles, based on respect for human dignity, it is strengthened and renewed.
All of us benefit from remembering our past. A people which remembers does not repeat past errors; instead, it looks with confidence to the challenges of the present and the future. Remembrance saves a people’s soul from whatever or whoever would attempt to dominate it or use it for their interests. When individuals and communities are guaranteed the effective exercise of their rights, they are not only free to realize their potential, they also contribute to the welfare and enrichment of society.
In this place which is symbolic of the American way, I would like to reflect with you on the right to religious freedom. It is a fundamental right which shapes the way we interact socially and personally with our neighbors whose religious views differ from our own.
Religious freedom certainly means the right to worship God, individually and in community, as our consciences dictate. But religious liberty, by its nature, transcends places of worship and the private sphere of individuals and families.
Our various religious traditions serve society primarily by the message they proclaim. They call individuals and communities to worship God, the source of all life, liberty and happiness. They remind us of the transcendent dimension of human existence and our irreducible freedom in the face of every claim to absolute power. We need but look at history, especially the history of the last century, to see the atrocities perpetrated by systems which claimed to build one or another “earthly paradise” by dominating peoples, subjecting them to apparently indisputable principles and denying them any kind of rights. Our rich religious traditions seek to offer meaning and direction, “they have an enduring power to open new horizons, to stimulate thought, to expand the mind and heart” (Evangelii Gaudium, 256). They call to conversion, reconciliation, concern for the future of society, self-sacrifice in the service of the common good, and compassion for those in need. At the heart of their spiritual mission is the proclamation of the truth and dignity of the human person and human rights.
Our religious traditions remind us that, as human beings, we are called to acknowledge an Other, who reveals our relational identity in the face of every effort to impose “a uniformity to which the egotism of the powerful, the conformism of the weak, or the ideology of the utopian would seek to impose on us” (M. de Certeau).
In a world where various forms of modern tyranny seek to suppress religious freedom, or try to reduce it to a subculture without right to a voice in the public square, or to use religion as a pretext for hatred and brutality, it is imperative that the followers of the various religions join their voices in calling for peace, tolerance and respect for the dignity and rights of others.
We live in a world subject to the “globalization of the technocratic paradigm” (Laudato Si’, 106), which consciously aims at a one-dimensional uniformity and seeks to eliminate all differences and traditions in a superficial quest for unity. The religions thus have the right and the duty to make clear that it is possible to build a society where “a healthy pluralism which respects differences and values them as such” (Evangelii Gaudium, 255) is a “precious ally in the commitment to defending human dignity¼ and a path to peace in our troubled world” (ibid., 257).
The Quakers who founded Philadelphia were inspired by a profound evangelical sense of the dignity of each individual and the ideal of a community united by brotherly love. This conviction led them to found a colony which would be a haven of religious freedom and tolerance. That sense of fraternal concern for the dignity of all, especially the weak and the vulnerable, became an essential part of the American spirit. During his visit to the United States in 1987, Saint John Paul II paid moving homage to this, reminding all Americans that: “The ultimate test of your greatness is the way you treat every human being, but especially the weakest and most defenseless ones” (Farewell Address, 19 September 1987, 3).
I take this opportunity to thank all those, of whatever religion, who have sought to serve the God of peace by building cities of brotherly love, by caring for our neighbors in need, by defending the dignity of God’s gift of life in all its stages, by defending the cause of the poor and the immigrant. All too often, those most in need of our help are unable to be heard. You are their voice, and many of you have faithfully made their cry heard. In this witness, which frequently encounters powerful resistance, you remind American democracy of the ideals for which it was founded, and that society is weakened whenever and wherever injustice prevails.
Among us today are members of America’s large Hispanic population, as well as representatives of recent immigrants to the United States. I greet all of you with particular affection! Many of you have emigrated to this country at great personal cost, but in the hope of building a new life. Do not be discouraged by whatever challenges and hardships you face. I ask you not to forget that, like those who came here before you, you bring many gifts to your new nation. You should never be ashamed of your traditions. Do not forget the lessons you learned from your elders, which are something you can bring to enrich the life of this American land. I repeat, do not be ashamed of what is part of you, your life blood. You are also called to be responsible citizens, and to contribute fruitfully to the life of the communities in which you live. I think in particular of the vibrant faith which so many of you possess, the deep sense of family life and all those other values which you have inherited. By contributing your gifts, you will not only find your place here, you will help to renew society from within.
Dear friends, I thank you for your warm welcome and for joining me here today. May this country and each of you be renewed in gratitude for the many blessings and freedoms that you enjoy. And may you defend these rights, especially your religious freedom, for it has been given to you by God himself. May he bless you all. I ask you, please, not to forget to pray for me.
There is a difference between LEGAL immigrants and ILLEGAL immigrants.
The USA allows approx. 1 MILLION people to immigrate to this Country each year. There are approx. 5 MILLION waiting in line to legally immigrate to the USA.
ILLEGAL immigrants have no business being here and that has nothing to do with any nationality. Everyone should wait their turn.
where will the money come from to feed and clothe all these folks, our nstion is packed with homeless, look at san Francisco, san diego, dc new York rents are very high in all those places we cannot take care of all mexico south America Syria etc pope francis reminds us to do what we can in reality many gangs from mexico are invading California and the grug cartels are spreading all over even in ohio.
Bishops, Priests and other who support ILLEGAL immigration do not care about jobs, or the burden on the US taxpayers.
They do not care about breaking up of families, or drug trafficking, or sex trafficking, or murder, or growth in cartel gang membership.
These Clergy care about the approx. $63 MILLION dollars they get in Federal Grants each year for CCHD, Catholic Charities, and CRS.
This is big business.
No, those are program funds. And these are non-profits.
The bishops care about the human suffering involved in these things.
CCC: ” ……. Political authorities, for the sake of the common good for which they are responsible, may make the exercise of the right to immigrate subject to various juridical conditions,
especially with regard to the immigrants’ duties toward their country of adoption. Immigrants are obliged to
respect with Gratitude the material and spiritual Heritage of the country that receives them, to OBEY its laws, and to assist in carrying civic Burdens.
My relatives/ancestors came to this Country LEGALLY.
They obeyed the immigration laws that existed at that time.
They learned English, and taught their children to read, write, and speak English.
They did not demand that their foreign language be taught in public schools or be included in official government papers – at a great expense to taxpayers.
I resent those who break the law. They must wait for their turn to immigrate, not cut in front of others who are waiting to immigrate legally.
In “Laudato Si” – # 175 and # 177
the Pope’s ‘personal opinions’ are for a One World Government – a ” TRUE WORLD POLITICAL AUTHORITY ” – with the power to: tax, write laws, police, and enforce.
https://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20150524_enciclica-laudato-si.html
You can’t have it both ways Pope Francis.
Jesus never involved Himself in politics. Jesus was interested in Saving each individual Soul. Jesus should be the model for the Pope (and everyone else).
There are a few people who have anxiety concerning a One World Government. The Pope does not call for this. He is just talking about a regulatory agency that can help make countries do what they should do for the common good.
Jesus is the model for the Pope.
The Pope is required to speak out when sin is hurting and killing people.
Go back and read ‘Laudato Si” paragraphs #175 & # 177
– “true world political authority” is a direct quote.
And the Pope did call for this political authority to have law making, taxing, policing, and enforcement powers.
Pay attention before you post incorrectly.
You will find ‘Laudato Si’ on the Vatican web site.
Pam, perhaps you might want to reread those paragraphs yourself.
In 175, the reference to “world political authority” is a DIRECT quote from Pope Benedict who was himself referencing the ideas of Pope St. John XXIII.
177 doesn’t even deal with international issues at all, but with issues WITHIN countries as is clear when he writes, “individual states can no longer ignore their responsibility for planning, coordination, oversight and enforcement WITHIN THEIR RESPECTIVE BORDERS”.
YFC – Pope Franicis’s – “Laudato Si” – is wrong.
A “TRUE WORLD POLITICAL AUTHORITY” speaks for itself, no matter who said what, or how you spin it.
And this violates Doctrine of the Faith CCC # 57, and CCC # 1885, 1894, 1883.
Further “climate change” is bogus.
Leigh – It has now been pointed out to you repeatedly that the single reference to “world political authority” – is hardly “one world government” – with the authority to tax, enforce and all the rest.
It has also been pointed out to you repeatedly that this single reference is a direct quote that Francis takes from Benedict who is himself referring to ideas of Pope St. John XXIII.
THen you just announce that climate change is bogus without so much as a shred of evidence.
Perhaps applying some intellectual energy to your posts would be wise?
Anonymous: Your statement that “There are a few people who have anxiety concerning a One World Government. The Pope does not call for this.” flies in the face of reality. Francis is calling for a TRUE WORLD POLITICAL AUTHORITY. That’s not a “regulatory agency”. Wake up!
He is quoting Pope Benedict XVI.
It does not matter who is quoted, or misquoted. Laudato Si by Pope Franicis is wrong.
In the 1980s it was “global cooling”.
In the 1990s it was “global warming”.
When that was all proved false,
now it is merely weather – “climate change”.
Leigh, you are so right: Where Pope Benedict and John XXIII spoke of international organizations, there were careful qualifications as to their powers based on subsidiarity (especially in the case of Pope Benedict); however, as we see, no sane person would approve of this pope’s recommendation of a powerful international organization to have open-ended powers to ” impose sanctions”, meaning financial penalties, loss of freedom, and punishment on enemy nations.
Let’s look at the very words of Laudato Si, esp. 173-175: In #173-175 of Laudato Si, PF calls for “enforceable international agreements”, “global regulatory norms”, with the appointing of powerful “functionaries” to “manage world economies” and “empowered to impose sanctions” upon nations. He uses the word “transnational” to describe this autocratic, undemocratic body, which will have power over all of us, with however no say-so from any of us. These words are chilling to any sane person—though not to many who yearn for serfdom.
”Laudato Si does not even refer to anything international at all but rather to matters internal to national governments,” claim the uninformed Catholic.
Let’s just read LS #173-175. “Enforceable international agreements are urgently needed, since local authorities are not always capable of effective intervention.” (173) “Global regulatory norms are needed to impose obligations and prevent unacceptable actions..” (173) “It is essential to devise stronger and more efficiently organized international institutions, with functionaries who are appointed fairly by agreement among national governments, and empowered to impose sanctions.”(175) (There is that word “international” again.) And “impose sanctions?”
Of course you have to mistquote me to make your point Steve Phoenix. Such intellectual dishonesty is not even deserving of a response. If you can’t even type what you see written in my post, then you are not a worthy sparring partner. And if you misquote me on the same page that I wrote something, just imagine what you do for all those other sources you love to quote which are almost unavailable to the public.
Jesus did not involve Himself with governments.
He was involved with Saving Souls of all individuals, and teaching us what we must do to attain that Salvation.
Jesus did not even teach against capital punishment – while there were two thieves on crosses next to Him.
Pam, thanks for pointing out exactly where in “Laudato Si” the Pope calls for a TRUE WORLD POLITICAL AUTHORITY. That is truly scary and speaks volumes about who Francis really is.
Barbara, the TRUE WORLD POLITICAL AUTHORITY used to be the Pope. There is nothing frightening about having such an authority if it is properly used.
Anonymous – where did you go to school ????? Think before you post.
The Pope was never the “TRUE POLITICAL AUTHORITY” as intended by Christ.
In fact Christ and His apostles did not involve themselves in politics.
Give to Ceasar the things that are Caesars, and to God the things that are God’s.
It is a quote from Benedict. Did you rail against Benedict when he first wrote it?
Neither “Tax” nor “police” is mentioned once in the encyclical. “Enforce(ment)” is mentioned 5 times, and every instance is an exhortation to governments to enforce laws. “Government” is mentioned 8 times, and in every instance refers to national governments and the various ways they interact with voters, organizations, etc. There IS a mention, quoted below” about international agencies (think: International Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders, The Society of Jesus), and how they can help hold governments accountable.
There is simply no call for “One World Government’ in the encyclical. Please stop making this stuff up, and insulting the Pope as you do so.
“We cannot fail to praise the commitment of international…
YFC, your post is wishful thinking to support your political beliefs that violate the Doctrine of the Faith on SUBSIDIARITY.
Enforcement is policing. And a “TRUE WORLD POLITICAL AUTHORITY” is not the Red Cross, or the Jesuits.
You must think we are all stupid. Stop wasting our time, in having to correct you.
You know PETER S, I actually wrote the facts about the encyclical. You are making a big deal about a quote from BENEDICT.
Stick with facts, and not with insults, and you’ll do ok.
….the push for a one world government is misguided no matter who is pushing it, YFC. This isn’t personal about Francis or you, friend.
This is comic bordering on slapstick: “No tax or police is mentioned?” claims one erstwhile Catholic.
Read LS again: “It is essential to devise stronger and more efficiently organized international institutions, with functionaries who are appointed fairly by agreement among national governments, and empowered to impose sanctions.”(175) Impose sanctions, with powers to do so = Police powers to impose penalties, financial or economic or perhaps criminal; punishments; embargos. This is the paragraph where a new “world political authority” is called for by P Francis.
Of course, just don’t believe your lying eyes. Vaudeville music, please?
Presumably that was the Pope’s Text, albeit without quotation marks.
The Visit to the Little Sisters of the Poor (who have a case pending before the USSC Forcing Them to provide Abortion ‘services’ in their health plans) was particularly relevant, as the Abomination of POTUS Barry ‘on the down low’ Soetoro has sought to Confine ‘Worship’ to the four walls of the Church – and Punish anyone who ventures politically Un-Good views outside those walls.
The Pope Answered this Evil quite eloquently: “religious liberty, by its nature, transcends places of worship and the private sphere of individuals and families.”
The First Amendment is not a tool for the Abomination to suppress Speech or Religious Freedom in society.
The Little Sisters of the Poor already know what they are supposed to be doing.
Although I’m glad they got moral support from the Pope.
It is the Legislators of the US Congress (and their appointed Judges), and the United Nations that needed to hear a message on sexual morality.
They are the ones who forced Abortion, taxpayer paid Contraception, and homosexual marriage upon the Citizens of this and other Countries.
The Pope had a captive audience and blew the opportunity.
From Briebart: “As Pope Francis flew back to Rome, President Obama issued a stern warning to Christians, warning them their attempts to assert their religious liberty to oppose gay rights would fail.” So after scoring significant political points during the Pope’s visit, Obama dismisses him and Christians in general on the most important of issues. Well Mr. President, you are a smooth operator, and a master manipulator. For now it is Obama 6, Pope 0.
That is why the POPE should have spoken clearly and concisely on the SEXUAL MORALITY ISSUES – Adultery, Fornication, Homosexual Acts, Contraception, Pornography which destroy the fabric of Society and can send Souls to Hell. And use the word “Abortion” – so murder of about 1 Million innocent human beings each year in the USA would be clear.
If the Pope had been clear and concise before Congress and the UN, he could not have been used by politicians for their own political purposes.
”Laudato Si does not even refer to anything international at all but rather to matters internal to national governments,” claim the uninformed Catholic.
Let’s just read LS #173-175. “Enforceable international agreements are urgently needed, since local authorities are not always capable of effective intervention.” (173) “Global regulatory norms are needed to impose obligations and prevent unacceptable actions..” (173) “It is essential to devise stronger and more efficiently organized international institutions, with functionaries who are appointed fairly by agreement among national governments, and empowered to impose sanctions.”(175) (There is that word “international” again.) And “impose sanctions?”
The only conclusion based on an analysis of the very words of Laudato Si? PF: “To guarantee the protection of the environment and to regulate migration: for all this, there is urgent need of a true world political authority.” (175) Sounds like a world governmental authority—that would be international by the way—is EXACTLY what PF is calling for–regardless of whom he claims to be “quoting”. The words say so.
By the way, the Future World and its World Authority that PF is in favor of will not have free-markets. Read # 32, 55-56, 82, 109, 123–each of which shows a recurring anti-capitalist mindset: opposition to the only economic system that has actually worked to lift the underclasses out of poverty.
Pope Francis in Laudato Si even praises the utterly discredited idea of land redistribution (#94, a proposal of the Paraguayan bishops
Yet every land re-distribution system (#94, Laudato Si, praised by P Francis) has caused famine, economic collapse, and death, from Lenin in 1921, Stalin 1924-1954, Mao in China 1949-1972, Pol Pot in Cambodia (1975), up through — oh yes, the Greatest Living Murderer, Fidel Castro, 1959-present, who got a big kiss and hug from PF last week or so.
So it is all a matter of reading carefully Laudato Si. Someday our fellow submissive Catholic(s) may do so. In the meantime they stretch forth their wrists gladly to receive the bonds of the “True World Political Authority” (#175 Laudato Si) that is yet to come.
As you well know, it is not necessary to agree with the Pope on this.
I understand people’s fears but Pope Francis is talking about the Kingdom of God, not totalitarian regimes.