Wha?... Huh??!!! yup... so said a local "catholic" reporter, sharing in the local paper with an entire quarter page how he "stood up" to a local Catholic Priest... no.. not after Mass. Not in passing, but DURING.... a 7pm evening Latin Rite Mass, no less... Which, I think, makes the outburst all the more absurd... And his writing about it in the local rag only helped display the writer's ignorance to Catholic teaching and the role of our Priests. Mr. Gonzales uses much of the same rhetoric that "catholic" politicians, etc... use to support their spineless stance on abortion, so even though he claims to be "pro-life", his defence of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is no surprise...
God bless Fr. Ralph! A good, orthodox and honorable priest with local ties that has given countless hours of service to our community, especially in his most reverent offering of the Holy Mass...While I wasn't in attendance to this particular Mass, I have no doubt that he handled the situation with the utmost respect to Mr.Gonzales, while still holding fast to the Truths " that we have been taught"... (1 Thessalonians 2:15). Fr. Ralph is a Priest among priests when it comes to teaching. And teaching is EXACTLY what is suppose to be done from the pulpit! He is to shepherd the flock... and when the sheep start to stray, it is his JOB to call them back from danger. ESPECIALLY when their lives (souls) are at risk. This is what Mr. Gonzales clearly doesn't understand...
Fr. Ralph wasn't out in a political forum. He was Celebrating Mass at our Catholic Church. He was clarifying to those Catholics at Mass, that still might be distracted or sidetracked by "wolves in sheep's clothing"that the Church still teaches that abortion is wrong... It doesn't matter what political views you hold, or what party you belong to. If you choose to be Catholic (and that IS a choice...) than you must hold fast to what the Catholic Church teaches, and THIS IS IT. Your being Catholic, a part of The Church that Jesus gave us over 2000 years ago, should come first in our lives, and all else follows. If you want to be in a public or political spectrum, your first duty is to your Faith and beliefs... No need to shove anything down any one's throats, so to speak. No need to get on your soap box and preach to the world your "religion". You simply grow a back bone and stand firm and hold fast to that which you claim to believe and follow through in action. You see, not everyone that claims to be Catholic or even everyone that attends Sunday Mass regularly is necessarily BEING "Catholic" or in union with what the Church Teaches.... "Catholic" means "universal". what is taught and believed is what Jesus handed down to his apostles, guided by the Holy Spirit and has been taught in our Church for over 2000 years. The teachings haven't changed, despite what Mr. Gonzales or Nancy Pelosi claim, or what they claim that St.Thomas Aquinas confirms for them... Obviously, had St. Thomas had the technology or knowledge then, that is available now, his opinion on when life begins would have been made MUCH clearer. Reguardless he NEVER claims that abortion is okay...
Here is where so many get side tracked... We are Catholic... we are to be seen as the older sibling to all other Christian denominations, and much has been "given" to us, so much is expected. I've said it before and I'm gonna say it again... "Just BE Catholic..." This is what Fr. Ralph was challenging his congregation with at that Sunday evening Mass. Be not afraid to stand for Truth... If you want to claim to be Catholic than just BE Catholic.... Accept the FULLNESS and beauty that Our Mother Church offers without hesitation, fully trusting and relying on what God has given us, guided by the Holy Spirit. Don't apologize, don't justify, don't make excuses... and pray for Fr. Ralph... and all our priests... that they may grow ever stronger to speak and teach the Truth, boldly...
God bless Fr. Ralph! A good, orthodox and honorable priest with local ties that has given countless hours of service to our community, especially in his most reverent offering of the Holy Mass...While I wasn't in attendance to this particular Mass, I have no doubt that he handled the situation with the utmost respect to Mr.Gonzales, while still holding fast to the Truths " that we have been taught"... (1 Thessalonians 2:15). Fr. Ralph is a Priest among priests when it comes to teaching. And teaching is EXACTLY what is suppose to be done from the pulpit! He is to shepherd the flock... and when the sheep start to stray, it is his JOB to call them back from danger. ESPECIALLY when their lives (souls) are at risk. This is what Mr. Gonzales clearly doesn't understand...
Fr. Ralph wasn't out in a political forum. He was Celebrating Mass at our Catholic Church. He was clarifying to those Catholics at Mass, that still might be distracted or sidetracked by "wolves in sheep's clothing"that the Church still teaches that abortion is wrong... It doesn't matter what political views you hold, or what party you belong to. If you choose to be Catholic (and that IS a choice...) than you must hold fast to what the Catholic Church teaches, and THIS IS IT. Your being Catholic, a part of The Church that Jesus gave us over 2000 years ago, should come first in our lives, and all else follows. If you want to be in a public or political spectrum, your first duty is to your Faith and beliefs... No need to shove anything down any one's throats, so to speak. No need to get on your soap box and preach to the world your "religion". You simply grow a back bone and stand firm and hold fast to that which you claim to believe and follow through in action. You see, not everyone that claims to be Catholic or even everyone that attends Sunday Mass regularly is necessarily BEING "Catholic" or in union with what the Church Teaches
Here is where so many get side tracked... We are Catholic... we are to be seen as the older sibling to all other Christian denominations, and much has been "given" to us, so much is expected. I've said it before and I'm gonna say it again... "Just BE Catholic..." This is what Fr. Ralph was challenging his congregation with at that Sunday evening Mass. Be not afraid to stand for Truth... If you want to claim to be Catholic than just BE Catholic.... Accept the FULLNESS and beauty that Our Mother Church offers without hesitation, fully trusting and relying on what God has given us, guided by the Holy Spirit. Don't apologize, don't justify, don't make excuses... and pray for Fr. Ralph... and all our priests... that they may grow ever stronger to speak and teach the Truth, boldly...
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