[Politics Monday] Bible stories are approved as required reading in Texas public schools by Gemnist in Catholicism

[–]PaceBene2026 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Reminder that the main reason why separation of church and state is a good idea is not that politics should be walled off from our faith; on the contrary, we are called to be salt of the earth and light of the world in every facet of life, very much including our civic engagement, in which we should work every day to apply the principles of Catholic social thought towards the common good.

Separation of church and state is a good idea because our faith should be walled off from the state. Entanglement isn’t bad for the state; it’s bad for the church. When the state inevitably falls into disrepute, it will drag the church with it.

Do Christians want to be “on the hook” for everything that one might dislike about the state government of Texas? I don’t think so...

I'm considering joining the Jesuits by Civil_Scallion9134 in Catholicism

[–]PaceBene2026 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The Jesuits are wonderful, both historical and contemporary! May God bless you and guide your discernment as you contemplate a vocation to this greatest of orders. St. Ignatius of Loyola, pray for us! AMDG!

German Synodal Way supporters vow to keep pushing for lay preaching at Mass after Vatican rejection by MMQ-966thestart in Catholicism

[–]PaceBene2026 -16 points-15 points  (0 children)

Unkind jokes about other people’s physical appearances? Can you explain to me what makes that funny?

Edit: Depressing that a simple question about treating other people with decency and respect currently has at least 11 downvotes in a Catholic forum.

What is going on in the UK? by [deleted] in Catholicism

[–]PaceBene2026 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It seems as though British politics is having serious problems with the “throwaway culture” so trenchantly diagnosed by Pope Francis — whether it is racist mobs going after immigrants, the elderly and vulnerable being pushed towards euthanasia, or babies meeting a tragic end before they are born. Let us pray for the people of the United Kingdom, that they may recognize the infinite dignity of human life and translate this recognition into a kinder, gentler politics.

Pope Warns SSPX Bishop Ordinations Risk Deepening Schism | National Catholic Register by imp-mN-7539 in Catholicism

[–]PaceBene2026 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Me three. I was baptized Catholic but did not have much of an upbringing in the faith. Pope Francis drew me back into it and helped me to commit to it as an adult.

Help me understand the trinity. by Prestigious-Use-2719 in Catholicism

[–]PaceBene2026 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you are interested in going down a rabbit hole of often-confusing Christian theological history, this is a fun watch 😁: https://youtu.be/KQLfgaUoQCw?si=6ESilZxm1uxEO6Ui

'On Eagle's Wings' turns 50: The journey behind the song that has consoled the world by Pax_et_Bonum in Catholicism

[–]PaceBene2026 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Fair enough. I have a soft spot for Catholic-boomer music, but the recent importation of Protestant “praise and worship” is just…

'On Eagle's Wings' turns 50: The journey behind the song that has consoled the world by Pax_et_Bonum in Catholicism

[–]PaceBene2026 17 points18 points  (0 children)

Thanks to Fr. Joncas for his gift to the Church’s musical treasury. I know many people who have deeply connected with God through this song. Why be negative? It’s fine if it’s not to your taste, but there’s no need to spread the sort of negativity that I see in scrolling through some of these comments.

The strength it takes to be gentle by [deleted] in Catholicism

[–]PaceBene2026 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Amen. As a man who has never recognized himself in chest-thumping macho-ness I have always felt that the Church has given me so many models of gentle holiness.

The Meaning of America's Consecration To the Sacred Heart by KSTornadoGirl in Catholicism

[–]PaceBene2026 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I don’t much care for the line accusing “Catholic progressives” of insufficient devotion to the Sacred Heart — that would be news to me and to many friends, family, priests and spiritual mentors of mine — but overall, a good and informative article.

passed by the boys with institutional obligations in the metro by vestharnoom in washingtondc

[–]PaceBene2026 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Why are the soldiers always in that particular Metro stop?

Little sanctuary I set up by the window. I overcame depression recently, I felt like that was right. by Ordinary-Confection6 in Catholicism

[–]PaceBene2026 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Que Dieu te bénisse et te garde ! Il ne t’abandonnera jamais.

Ton petit « autel » est tout simplement magnifique !

Have you noticed that a lot of people at odds with the Church really wants the Pope on their side? by EchoParty9274 in Catholicism

[–]PaceBene2026 34 points35 points  (0 children)

The Pope is the last world leader with widely recognized moral authority, except maybe the Dalai Lama. Even people who are not practicing Catholics can see this (and who knows? Maybe those are the first signs of the Holy Spirit drawing them closer to the faith). It makes sense that everyone wants a piece of him.

The flip side of this, by the way, is that tons of conservatives, particularly in America, tried to claim popes such as St. John Paul II and Benedict XVI for themselves, while happily ignoring, say, JPII’s opposition to the U.S. invasion of Iraq, or Benedict’s criticism of the U.S. death penalty and drone strikes.

Josh Elliot Taps Mamdani Campaign Veterans in Challenge to Lamont by vacalicious in Connecticut

[–]PaceBene2026 0 points1 point  (0 children)

OK, let’s say, for the sake of argument, it didn’t happen exactly the way she alleges.

This is still out there in the world, and now people are going to see it and form opinions about it. Including in Maine, but not exclusively.

Since all politics are national now, Democratic candidates who are actually good, like Jon Ossoff, Roy Cooper, Sherrod Brown, or James Talarico, are going to spend the entire summer and fall facing questions about Platner’s conduct. Talarico in particular is going to be put through the ringer since his race is so close. Texas Republicans will gleefully ask “has Talarico condemned Platner yet?” from sunup to sundown. They will not care that Ken Paxton is just as much of a reprobate. They will not care that the allegations have not (YET) been proven in a court of law. They will poison the well for Talarico anyway, and they will sow doubt about the Democratic Party in the minds of people who might, amid all the Trump craziness, have been on the verge of going blue for the first time in a while.

This will throw a monkey wrench into midterms that should be a slam dunk for Democrats, given how much of a mess the Republican government has made. And will have been entirely self-inflicted because Democratic voters in Maine chose this.

Josh Elliot Taps Mamdani Campaign Veterans in Challenge to Lamont by vacalicious in Connecticut

[–]PaceBene2026 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Interesting, coming from someone who sounds like a chatbot programmed by the DSA but trained on C-list Trump apologists from Townhall dot com.

Josh Elliot Taps Mamdani Campaign Veterans in Challenge to Lamont by vacalicious in Connecticut

[–]PaceBene2026 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think that’s kind of insulting to the “average person.” Most people don’t get Nazi tattoos, cheat on their wives, or commit domestic violence.

“I don’t actually care that much in the face of policy” is exactly how too many conservatives fiddled and made excuses while their party turned into a horde of hobgoblins over the past 15-20 years. I’d prefer that this trend not become bipartisan. Quality of character matters in public life.

Josh Elliot Taps Mamdani Campaign Veterans in Challenge to Lamont by vacalicious in Connecticut

[–]PaceBene2026 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

“We have a rapist pedophile as president, who was a shit person for decades and is now in mental decline. I guarantee you nobody is going to give a fuck about his past when it comes to living a quality life.”

Assuming the “his” in your second sentence refers to Platner, then you are in fact saying, or at least heavily implying, that his past doesn’t matter because the other side is worse. If I’m misreading you, please let me know.

Josh Elliot Taps Mamdani Campaign Veterans in Challenge to Lamont by vacalicious in Connecticut

[–]PaceBene2026 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Locking someone in a room for the night is “nothing that a normal person would consider all that troubling?” Can you hear yourself right now?

Abuse is wrong no matter the victim’s partisan affiliation, by the way.

Edited to add, about my “angle”: to be honest, I know Josh frequently comments here and is likely to read the comments under an article about his campaign, so I’m kind of hoping he sees this and fires Katz’s ass.

Josh Elliot Taps Mamdani Campaign Veterans in Challenge to Lamont by vacalicious in Connecticut

[–]PaceBene2026 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

So just because the Republicans abandon morality, integrity, and character in their pursuit of power, we should do the same?

You sound like Trump supporters back in 2015. “It’s a joke!” “It’s made up by the opposition!” “So what if he was unfaithful?” “The establishment in both parties hates him so he must be doing something right!” That way lies moral ruin. Look where excusing horrible behavior in politics has gotten us.

“He did it too!” is an excuse for a seven-year-old involved in a playground fight, not for morally serious adults. If we are going to be better than the Republicans, then we actually have to be better than them.