February 16 2019 - Association Of Catholic Priests

2 comments
Statement on the General Election 2024 – Archbishop Dermot Farrell
November 20 2024
Gerry O'Hanlon
I second Adrian's comment: this is a fine statement.
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2 comments
Statement on the General Election 2024 – Archbishop Dermot Farrell
November 20 2024
Adrian Egan, C.Ss.R.
Excellent, positive, balanced, intelligent, wise, thoughtful and timely letter from Archbishop Dermot Farrell. I really appreciate it. Thank you.
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1 comments
18 Nov 2024 – Monday of Week 33
November 18 2024
Mike Mansour
Instead of reacting to a conversation or issue, respond to them with love.
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1 comments
Séamus Ahearne: Every part of this earth is sacred to my people. Every shining pine needle, every sandy shore, every mist in the dark woods, every clearing and every humming insect is holy, in the memory of my people. (Chief Seattle – from a letter written to the US President in 1883)
November 12 2024
Alan McGill
Séamus Ahearne’s reflection of November 12th expresses worry concerning the electorate who voted for Donald Trump in such great numbers. Later, Fr. Ahearne laments what he sees to be stupidity and superficiality that he sees exemplified in Trump. Notably, the reflection does not brand all Trump supporters as stupid and ultimately its disenchantment with a swathe of humanity is alleviated by a sacramental recognition of the goodness of life, people, and creation. Seeking to reassure rather than critique Fr. Ahearne, as one who lives in the US (Atlanta) and teaches Catholic theology there, may I offer the following in defense of those who voted for Trump? Ordinary people have had enough of aggressive forms of trans ideology, race-baiting that stirs up strife and division, media bias, an unwillingness to have a reasonable discussion about abortion limits, poorly managed immigration, creeping secularization, enthusiasm for the funding of foreign wars (and in effect the US military industrial complex), attacks of freedom on thought and speech, and a zeal to police everything except crime. I would posit that, in a sense, many voted against these realities rather than for Trump. I have always considered myself to be progressive and have faced my share of trouble and strife in my career for being committed to the dialogical vision of the Second Vatican Council, Catholic Social Teaching, modern biblical scholarship, and theological positions including support for women’s ordination. I never thought I would find myself defending “conservative” perspectives but people in this country are in many facets of their existence from work, to healthcare, to civic life confronted by a new form of secular fundamentalism and integralism where there is no room for discussion and it is a question of conforming or being abused, silenced, “cancelled”, and/or fired. It is drilled into people that objectivity and meritocracy are hallmarks of white supremacy, that math is racist, and that all white people are privileged and bear inherited guilt (that unlike Original Sin is not atoned for or forgiven) I suspect that this dynamic played a major role in Trump’s victory. Clearly there exists diversity of opinion among working class people but I would argue that many who voted for Trump are the US equivalent of the parishioners to whom Fr. Ahearne dedicates his life. They do not look to Trump as a moral exemplar, they may dread his positions on the death penalty, the treatment of Muslims and immigrants, and a host of moral issues but voted for the lesser of evils as they saw it, in defiance of what they experience as a “woke”, relativist, censorious, and authoritarian establishment. As a Green Card holder, I could not vote and I thank God for that.
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Statement on the General Election 2024 – Archbishop Dermot Farrell

Statement on the General Election 2024 – Archbishop Dermot Farrell

18 Nov 2024 – Monday of Week 33

Séamus Ahearne: Every part of this earth is sacred to my people. Every shining pine needle, every sandy shore, every mist in the dark woods, every clearing and every humming insect is holy, in the memory of my people. (Chief Seattle – from a letter written to the US President in 1883)

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