Notes from a Conscientious objector...

11/10/2016

There has been a great deal of talk about fear in the last 48 hours following the outcome of this 2016 Presidential Election Tuesday.

I say this: I am not afraid. I am angry. I am angry and disappointed with my fellow Disciples of Christ, fellow Catholics, for actively voting Donald Trump into office. I am angry with myself, and disappointed for not doing enough to stop Trump from being elected President of The United States of America.

Because... I surely was equipped to have campaigned against him by using what I would call Political Apologetics, an attempt to offer reasoned arguments or writing in justification of a theory that would convince Trump supporters to open their hearts to conversion.

In the months prior to November 8th, I did about 10% of the work that I could have done...and most of it was lip service. Why was I not afraid, in the months leading up to the election, frightened enough, to focus my attention on what Jesus would have done to denounce and thwart this inherent evil? Certainly, the antidote to the Trump epidemic may be found in Jesus' teachings; so, why was I not motivated to find it?

I tell myself: Yes. Curse the darkness. But curse yourself more for not lighting a candle!

There is talk of a peaceful truce around the presidential election results. After all, what one Faithful woman I know expressed was: What is done is done. What can you do?

She could not be more wrong! Acceptance, in this instance...a peaceful truce, would mean being in agreement with what has happened during this election process, and we must never be apathetic enough, worn out enough or fed up enough to tolerate what goes against Christ's teachings. Not ever.

We all-- not just Catholics- are expected, to love God with all we have and to love our neighbor as ourselves. If Christians who voted for Donald Trump were unable to see how Trump's rhetoric opposes Christ's teachings, then they should not call themselves faithful Catholic or Christian. It's maddening.

Think of it this way: At least if Americans who felt compelled to vote for Trump had stayed home because they could not have voted in good conscience for Hillary Clinton, there would be no blood on their hands. Whose blood, you might ask? The blood of Lady Liberty, who represents freedom from tyranny and oppression.

And, if all of us, had Evangelized as Christ called his disciples to do we would have heard His voice clearly in this dark night: "Be not afraid...I am with you always."

86 Comments

Kimberly

11/11/2016 06:07:12 am

Evelyn: Your writing is steadfast, clear, and cogent. Your capacity for reflexivity remarkable in this culture of narcissism. May you lead the way toward a broad mindedness, open hearts, and the Catholic commitment to social justice.

Mary Ann Krasinski

11/12/2016 08:33:11 am

Well said..

Jean

11/11/2016 10:31:55 am

What! Did you forget the blood of aborted babies by Hillary's undying support of Planned Parenthood and their abortions up to the moment of birth (and after-birth abortions)?
Did you forget that America cannot remain sovereign with open borders that allow drugs, guns, murderers, sex trade, diseases (like TB, hoof and mouth) uninhibited,
not to mention the destruction of private property along the border, job losses for our own hurting unemployed citizens, schools, healthcare system taxed to oblivion.
Are you excusing Hillary's lies about Benghazi, emails that gave our enemies our most guarded secrets, the foundation 's charity that only gave a measly 6 percent and is facing RICO laws for corruption?
Apparently Evelyn, you missed that the biased liberal news medias (via Ms Brazil) gave Hillary the questions in advance to the presidential debates confirming that they are an extension of the Democratic party not a legitimate news outlet.
When Obama became president, we didn't call for his assassination like was reported this morning, burn down people's businesses, need to be excused from tests, need professional counseling, etc. It's hard to imagine these 'whimps' being our future leaders. Where are the Pattons, Churchills, HonestAbes of our time? It's not in the dishonest Democratic party. Remember, the dominating party of the South the during the Civil War was Democrat: racists, KKK and slave owners.
Trump may not be all what Christians hope for; but he won fair and square without the voter fraud of dead people, dogs and illegals immigrants.
We haven't even covered the ills of her husband Bill with accusations of rape by multiple women: Wyle, Jones, Brodick.
I hope you will at least give Trump a chance. Did you see who Trump's cabinet and supreme court justice lists might be.
You say you are Christian and pro-life; however your politics indicate differently.
Please stop watching ABC, CNN, CBS and get your news from pro-life outlets
Very truly yours & God bless,
Jeannie

Mary Ann Krasinski

11/12/2016 08:49:54 am

My daughters Cancer was diagnosed by planned Parenthood...Why because she could not afford any one else. Get off your high horse . If you supported Trump then you must own him too , along with that you own his bigotry, his racism, his admitted sexual predatory behavior, his xenophobia, his hatred and worst of all his refusal to accept that our planet is dying due to global climate change. What good is saving babies if we have no planet left for them to live in. I think it is you who should consider what hate filled news stations you are listening to! I heard Pope Francis when he called out Donald Trump...did you? He seems to have filled your hearty with the hate he spews...own it or it will consume you!

dave

11/13/2016 06:19:00 am

We should just let babies die because of Trump's flaws? That's nonsense. Maybe some of those million babies killed in the U.S.per year would make the world a better place.

10/25/2017 11:29:46 am

Mary Ann, MY daughter went to PP as a sophomore. They told her she probably wanted her pap results sent to the school so her parents wouldn't find out. Unfortunately, that was in May and the results sat in an empty school all summer long. She was given the envelope by a school nurse in Sept., an envelope which I subsequently found. It was not good news cancer-wise. When I called them (rightly) to complain, they were not sorry at all. Not one bit. I am happy you had a good experience with PP. Not all of us do. There are better places to go, places that actually care--give THEM the money. We all know what PP really cares about.

VERY CONCERNED PARISHIONER

11/12/2016 09:53:04 am

Jeannie, you said what I was not able to put into words. Many of my friends and fellow parishioners feel strongly that the author of this blog has every right to state her OPINION, but the parish website is not the proper venue. Furthermore, she has NO to judge the Catholics who voted for Trump rather than his evil opponent.

Mary

11/12/2016 11:52:56 am

FYI Evelyn designed your parishes website but her blog Let It All Start Here is published by Weebly.com It has nothing to do with the parish! Here in lies the problem you are spreading misinformation . And you are spreading it to hurt some one in this case Evelyn who has done nothing but help your parish. One more question why don't you have guts to use your name? I can see that Trump has spawned an ugly side that no on would be proud to show. This is America and the Constitution preserves freedom of speech Evelyn was doing just that !

Evelyn Augusto link

11/13/2016 02:10:05 pm

LET IT ALL START HERE
FOR CATHOLICS WHO CARE...
NOTES FROM A CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR...
11/10/2016 25 COMMENTS

Picture
There has been a great deal of talk about fear in the last 48 hours following the outcome of this 2016 Presidential Election Tuesday.

I say this: I am not afraid. I am angry. I am angry and disappointed with my fellow Disciples of Christ, fellow Catholics, for actively voting Donald Trump into office. I am angry with myself, and disappointed for not doing enough to stop Trump from being elected President of The United States of America.

Because... I surely was equipped to have campaigned against him by using what I would call Political Apologetics, an attempt to offer reasoned arguments or writing in justification of a theory that would convince Trump supporters to open their hearts to conversion.

In the months prior to November 8th, I did about 10% of the work that I could have done...and most of it was lip service. Why was I not afraid, in the months leading up to the election, frightened enough, to focus my attention on what Jesus would have done to denounce and thwart this inherent evil? Certainly, the antidote to the Trump epidemic may be found in Jesus' teachings; so, why was I not motivated to find it?

I tell myself: Yes. Curse the darkness. But curse yourself more for not lighting a candle!

There is talk of a peaceful truce around the presidential election results. After all, what one Faithful woman I know expressed was: What is done is done. What can you do?

She could not be more wrong! Acceptance, in this instance...a peaceful truce, would mean being in agreement with what has happened during this election process, and we must never be apathetic enough, worn out enough or fed up enough to tolerate what goes against Christ's teachings. Not ever.

We all-- not just Catholics- are expected, to love God with all we have and to love our neighbor as ourselves. If Christians who voted for Donald Trump were unable to see how Trump's rhetoric opposes Christ's teachings, then they should not call themselves faithful Catholic or Christian. It's maddening.

Think of it this way: At least if Americans who felt compelled to vote for Trump had stayed home because they could not have voted in good conscience for Hillary Clinton, there would be no blood on their hands. Whose blood, you might ask? The blood of Lady Liberty, who represents freedom from tyranny and oppression.

And, if all of us, had Evangelized as Christ called his disciples to do we would have heard His voice clearly in this dark night: "Be not afraid...I am with you always."

25 Comments
Kimberly11/11/2016 06:07:12 am
Evelyn: Your writing is steadfast, clear, and cogent. Your capacity for reflexivity remarkable in this culture of narcissism. May you lead the way toward a broad mindedness, open hearts, and the Catholic commitment to social justice.
Reply
Mary Ann Krasinski11/12/2016 08:33:11 am
Well said..
Reply
Jean11/11/2016 10:31:55 am
What! Did you forget the blood of aborted babies by Hillary's undying support of Planned Parenthood and their abortions up to the moment of birth (and after-birth abortions)?
Did you forget that America cannot remain sovereign with open borders that allow drugs, guns, murderers, sex trade, diseases (like TB, hoof and mouth) uninhibited,
not to mention the destruction of private property along the border, job losses for our own hurting unemployed citizens, schools, healthcare system taxed to oblivion.
Are you excusing Hillary's lies about Benghazi, emails that gave our enemies our most guarded secrets, the foundation 's charity that only gave a measly 6 percent and is facing RICO laws for corruption?
Apparently Evelyn, you missed that the biased liberal news medias (via Ms Brazil) gave Hillary the questions in advance to the presidential debates confirming that they are an extension of the Democratic party not a legitimate news outlet.
When Obama became president, we didn't call for his assassination like was reported this morning, burn down people's businesses, need to be excused from tests, need professional counseling, etc. It's hard to imagine these 'whimps' being our future leaders. Where are the Pattons, Churchills, HonestAbes of our time? It's not in the dishonest Democratic party. Remember, the dominating party of the South the during the Civil War was Democrat: racists, KKK and slave owners.
Trump may not be all what Christians hope for; but he won fair and square without the voter fraud of dead people, dogs and illegals immigrants.
We haven't even covered the ills of her husband Bill with accusations of rape by multiple women: Wyle, Jones, Brodick.
I hope you will at least give Trump a chance. Did you see who Trump's cabinet and supreme court justice lists might be.
You say you are Christian and pro-life; however your politics indicate differently.
Please stop watching ABC, CNN, CBS and get your news from pro-

michael

11/13/2016 04:29:37 pm

sorry, jeannie.... what you just wrote is accusative drivel: 99% fox news/breitbart bs ...maybe 100% bs ... and shame on you for repeating innuendo, hearsay, allegations, contextual faux pas, and blatant lies here as if what you claim were true.
fact checkers said hillary lied 28% (same figure as the average politician), while trump's untruths held at 70%...

i was raised in a strict catholic household, and i mention that to put my comments in perspective because i haven't been a "practicing catholic" for many years.

the term "partial birth abortion" is a right-wing "political term" not a medical term. they have also managed to change the narrative from "pro-life" or "pro-choice" into "pro-life" or "pro-abortion?!" personally i fall into the pro-choice category, but neither i - nor anyone i know - may be classified as "pro-abortion (or anti-life for that matter)...

when pope benedict
was a cardinal, he wrote a memo to cardinal mccarick (2004). the last sentence has to do with voting: "... When a Catholic does not share a candidate's stand in favor of abortion and/or euthanasia, but votes for that candidate for other reasons, it is considered remote material cooperation, which can
be permitted in the presence of proportionate reasons."

clearly, this blog was-among other things- a statement that evelyn would not be voting for donald trump. i don't know who she voted for -or if she voted at all - and that doesn't matter in the context of this blog' s messages.

i have read every blog that evelyn has written, and i have not agreed with everything she's said, but her faith is unimpeachable, and her commitment to the church and its principles is unwavering.

jeannie, you accuse evelyn of "forgetting"
several (mostly bogus) things in your diatribe.

what evelyn didn't forget was how to articulate an earnest message, and substantiate her
opinions. what evelyn didn't forget was how to think critically, read, research, listen, and recognize blathering talking point nonsense that can be refuted, discounted, and proven otherwise... and mostly evelyn didn't forget the
difference between facts
and opinions, and intelligence vs ignorance.

those who repeat untruths, and accuse others by using that information, while
claiming to be a good
christian, creates an irony is so thick it begs to be pried off with... with whatever the utensil or tool for prying off nonsense is called. amen.

Mary Ann

11/15/2016 06:35:03 am

Well said Michael . It isn't easy to face the hard questions in life .

Jean

11/16/2016 08:19:39 am

11-13-16 Sorry, Michael. You need to reread my 'diatribe' vs Evelyn's opinion. I didn't say she forgot; I asked if she forgot or missed the news reports.
I didn't vote for Trump to be my savior. I voted for his policies to make America strong again, to remain tough against the onslaught of the biased, atheist major news media that put social issues like abortion ahead of national security and rule of law.
2) You accuse me of using right-wing terms indicating that you really aren't pro-life. You see, I don't know and I don't care what the sanitized medical term (extraction) is for partial-birth abortion. Partial- birth accurately describes this horrific procedure, at the moment of birth, that turns a fully-developed baby around in the womb and punctures the brain with a scissor type instrument..

That is barbaric and inhuman and you aren't outraged? Then PPH has the audacity of selling the baby parts for profit. Rev 18:13.
Please watch this video of 3 abortion clinic workers.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fhyJItGPko

You accused me of untruth and lack of critical thinking. Just exactly, what did I state that was untrue? But before you answer, 'google or duck' my statements. Just remember Comey said Hilliary lied to the FBI, a jailable offense.
Cordially yours,

Jean

12/6/2016 02:06:47 pm

Michael: If you had trouble with my asking if Evelyn was forgetting specific events, you are definitely going to have a cow over my wondering if she has been smoking wacky tobacco when she admits she derives her info from the lying liberal Huffington Post and NY Times who defends abortion and homosexuality.
. Liberal news medias like the above have been caught red handed in deceitful journalism. But then she wouldn't know that with her narrow selection of news outsets. I'm sorry, she and her church are still so singly focused.
. Trump won the election. Get over it! Stop trying to divide our nation over silly junk.
. And by the way you never did tell me what was untrue in my comments about "Evelyn forgetting".
1- are not babies still being aborted at moment of birth,
2- do you approve the selling of baby parts,
3 - is a nation sovereign with open borders,
4- you deny the imports of drugs, slaves, criminals,
5- did you miss the FBI and email scandal,
6- or Clinton Foundation's pay for favors,
7- are you proud of those who burn down their own town in protests,
8 - have you not heard that illegals have been allowed to vote with motor voter laws and no SSN number is required.
. Still asking; what is miss info.
. Yes, we need to keep Trump accountable, however,
Evelyn and the liberal news medias have lost
credibility.
Cordially,

John

11/18/2016 09:28:52 am

I agree with you Jean. I voted for Donald Trump and am most definitely a very serious "Christian" "Catholic" in every way. It is all so futile for those to throw stones at Trump supporters. The points that you made are well said. I would also point out that the majority of "Evangelicals" did vote for Trump and they support him. The sad fact remains we had so many blind Catholics who mistakingly voted for President BO through their lack of wisdom. They chose and supported a President who has done more damage to our country in more ways than one, not to mention the most important fact which is that BO supports abortion and he lied to Pope Benedict when he told him he would not pass the abortion bill. I support life. I respect Priests for Life and the other RC Priests who have been honest enough to say to Catholics that they should not vote for Clinton and that Trump is the best choice. Priests for life has been advocating against Planned Parenthood as well as lawsuit against them. Priests for Life is a wonderful organization that defends life. So there is a lot more you and I could say about all of this but I am not going to be spending my time in any exchange of thoughts and ideas where there is potential for so much anger and stone throwers.

Dave

11/11/2016 11:02:03 am

We are supposed to love everyone, but not the innocent babies still unborn? 3000 deaths per day? The Church has opposed abortion since day one as seen in the Didache. I agree there maybe difficulties in having an unplanned pregnancy (and even in planned ones!). But, one doesn't kill the innocent child. Instead let's turn all that Planned parenthood money into programs to help single mothers and parents in need to raise their children. Don't degrade your fellow Catholics for following the teaching of the Church. The Church teaches that life is an infinite good. All other "goods" such as education, career, family financial needs which may or may not diminish due to the birth of a child do not approach the "good" of life. Think of the child, the innocent child whose life is to be snuffed out. Hillary wanted to return to full term abortions. How could anyone in their right mind accept such a plan. 70% of Down syndrome children are now snuffed out before birth, yet Down Syndrome children are some of the most lovable people in the whole world. Who else thought like that (the killing of the handicapped)? Adolf Hitler. Thank God there are Catholics and others who could see, despite the antics of Trump, the iniquity of Hillary. Perhaps God has chosen a less than perfect human in Donald Trump, to end this travesty--a travesty, worse than the 200000/yr human sacrifices of the Aztecs.

Mary Ann

11/12/2016 08:57:20 am

Travesty ! the travesty is you support a man who does not believe in Global Climate Change! The human suffering has already begun due to global warming! Save the world and her children . Did you not hear the Pope when he told us who and what kind of con man Trump is?

Dave

11/13/2016 06:13:03 am

The "good" of lowering the effects of climate change which may or may not kill 3000 persons per day is not even in the same ballpark as the known killing of 3000 persons which we know occurs everyday due to abortion. To put all your emphasis on climate change which may be a long term effect versus the killing of innocents which is an immediate effect is not appropriate. The solution is to take of the infinite good is preserving all innocent life now, then to also take care of the secondary need of preserving the environment.

Concerned

11/11/2016 12:01:30 pm

It is so concerning that you are a leader at our parish. It is not our (your) place to judge the actions or opinions of others.

Concerned Parshioner

11/12/2016 06:31:22 am

I hope this is not the consensus of our parish. As Catholics/Christians we need to love, forgive and not judge even if we have walked in their shoes. We have all said and done things in the heat of the moment after all we are all human and not perfect. "We the people" have spoke and now we need to unite like we did after 9/11 and make this work for ALL people of this great country.

evelyn augusto

11/12/2016 07:55:30 am

Fr. Anthony Apostolic wrote:
For the Christian salvation isn't the main thing, it's the only thing!" Jesus Himself tells us that if we were to gain the whole world yet lose our souls in the process, in the end we have gained nothing. (cf. Lk 9:25) In fact, we will have missed the very purpose for which God created us, namely, to share eternal life with Him in the Kingdom of Heaven. The greatest obstacle to our salvation is sin. Therefore, the Christian must be ready to resist sin in himself and at the same time, be willing to help others to resist sin in their own lives.

Mary

11/12/2016 12:16:32 pm

Amen to that....I am hoping that your open heart is also open to those who see it differently. Dialogue is all we have....threats of retribution make positive dialogue impossible. I think the Church is strong enough to ask some hard questions without invoking an inquisition! America is strong and great, great enough to allow her citizens to speak freely. Actually that is why America is great.

evelyn augusto

11/12/2016 07:19:21 am

Fr. Andrew Apostoli wrote: For the Christian salvation isn't the main thing, it's the only thing!" Jesus Himself tells us that if we were to gain the whole world yet lose our souls in the process, in the end we have gained nothing. (cf. Lk 9:25) In fact, we will have missed the very purpose for which God created us, namely, to share eternal life with Him in the Kingdom of Heaven. The greatest obstacle to our salvation is sin. Therefore, the Christian must be ready to resist sin in himself and at the same time, be willing to help others to resist sin in their own lives.

Mary Ann

11/12/2016 08:59:58 am

Amen!

evelyn augusto

11/12/2016 07:53:36 am

That is precisely why I am so involved in the Church: I can see things for what they are and I have the courage and conviction to respond accordingly.

Jesus would use the word "admonish" in this case

Mary

11/12/2016 12:03:41 pm

"Thou dost protest too much". All of you know that the reason you love Evelyn is because she tells it like it is. Sometimes the truth is inconvenient

Jean

11/15/2016 02:28:54 pm

The inconvenient truth is that every abortion is a taking of an innocent life.
As a Christian, you should know that. God demands blood for blood. Genesis 9:6. No nation ever survived.
Stop and think, if a society will kill (murder) its most innocent babies before birth, why not after birth. Actually, did you ever wonder what happens to babies that are born alive during an abortion? Ask.)
Murder is murder. It's a small step then to killing people for their organs. Actually, pro-choice abortion promoter Margaret Sanger called these 'undesireables' 'useless eaters.'
Please become informed. Look it up.

Mary Ann

11/12/2016 09:35:04 am

Evelyn you must continue to fight the good fight... to speak the truth, remember in the end truth and love always win. Some people just can't see the forest for the trees! Trump has awakened such ugly and vindictive behavior and it is easy to back down,,,but you never take the easy way out...that is what it means to fight the good fight! Some seem to forget what Pope Francis said about Mr Trump and even worse they forget the teaching of Jesus. These are the people who would cast the first stone in a heartbeat.

Mary

11/12/2016 12:48:25 pm

You know it just dawned on me Evelyn you struck a nerve. And some do not like it they never do

Kim

11/13/2016 05:21:44 am

Mary: Wish I was closer as I would love to continue this conversation over a coffee or lunch. I live far away from both you and Evelyn, but now am concerned about the degree to which politics will divide your congregation.

Dave

11/13/2016 07:18:22 am

When I read posts such as this, I am always totally amazed at the lack of understanding of the hierarchy of "goods". Somehow people place lesser goods above a greater good. Thus the good of the environment is placed over the taking of 3000 lives per day. Statements such as "if Americans who felt compelled to vote for Trump had stayed home because they could not have voted in good conscience for Hillary Clinton, there would be no blood on their hands" is simply not true. There are sins of commission and sins of omission. For any good Catholic not to lift a finger, or a prayer, or anything to prevent the slaughter of 3000 babies a day is a sin of omission. To vote for someone who wants to allow abortions to be able to the day of delivery, is absurd. Who is there that believes that the baby the day before birth is any less a person than the day after birth? This is certainly misguided thought. Even with Trump's misguided behavior, which Pope Francis rightly admonished, it is hardly feasible that Pope Francis could have voted against a flawed man with some flawed ideas (wall between US and Mexico?) over a flawed woman who openly supports the killing of innocents-- an evil far greater even the mistreatment of immigrants. This is not to say to say that one can tolerate the mistreatment of immigrants, but rather that the good of life is a far greater good and must be addressed first and foremost. One must address both, both are evils, but life has a primacy. Without life one cannot do the will of the Father which according to Jesus is necessary to enter the kingdom of God. In the '60s Catholics were often considered to be Democrats because Democrats were pushing for social justice in the civil rights movement. Yet after Roe vs Wade, Democrats began to push anti-life issues along with social justice issues. The Church has properly denounced the anti-life issues and acknowledges that these issues are far greater than the social justice issues which also need to be addressed. The Church has put the saving of innocent life as the primary social justice issue. Life is of infinite value. If we could eliminate the misguided life issues of abortion, euthanasia, etc., the Church could once again direct its full authority toward these other issues. Let's take the money directed toward Planned Parenthood and apply it to programs for unwed mothers, the poor, etc. Support them in raising their kids. If we recognize the infinite human dignity of both the born and the unborn, all will be treated better. First let's protect life.

Evelyn link

11/13/2016 11:45:20 am

Dave: Thank you for taking the time to clarify Church teachings. Many just don't know the Truth. Dave, I never suggested that Hillary be elected president. I stand with Pro-Life not Pro-Choice.
My mistake was in leaving out one sentence when discussing alternatives to the two party candidates offered: Choose a third party (as I and many other "Conscientious Objectors" did) or don't vote at all.

As someone who is infinitely more intelligent than I am recently stated: "This has nothing to do with Hillary. It has everything to do with us and what kind of society we want to live in. How does your hate of Hillary blind you to this? Some self examination may be in order."

That, my brothers and sisters in Christ, is the moral of the story.

Anne Cannon

11/14/2016 03:42:49 pm

Evelyn, it is with a heavy heart that I respond to your blog. I have been upset since it first appeared on the website for our church, Sacred Heart in Stamford, New York. I don't know where to begin, so I guess I'll start here. When there was talk of Trump running for president, I was aghast. I thought he was crazy, and I hated his hair!!! I disagreed with his stand on gays, handicapped people, minority groups, and the list goes on and on. I don't care what color a person is, what country they're from, or their sexual persuasion. I only care what color their soul is. Unfortunately, there are a lot of criminals in America who are either from the United States or foreign countries, and I applaud anyone who wants to make America great again. Aside from his many faults and idiocincracies,
Trump appeared to fill the bill. In addition, he has a work ethic which is lacking among many welfare recipients. Don't get me wrong, I'm not talking about people who can't work; I'm talking about people who won't work.

Next, let's take a look at his opponent. In my humble opinion, Hillary also has many faults. I can almost forgive her emails and lies, but I can never forgive her for allowing young men to die in Benghazi and her stand on abortion. In my opinion, her actions are those of an evil person/murderer.

If you are truly pro-life, why do you dislike Trump so much. He is pro-life. If you are truly pro-life, why didn't you respond to those people who disagreed with you and defend your stand against abortion? Why did you change the title of this blog? Who would have been the best candidate, some third party candidate no one ever heard of?
Again in my opinion, I don't think this blog should have been on our church's website.

In closing, let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with you and me.

God bless you.

Anne

.

jackie white

11/13/2016 01:13:11 pm

Dave,

Thank you so much.......Yes, first things first. Protect life.

Mary Ann

11/15/2016 06:46:06 am

Yea lets take the money away from Planned Parenthood the same Planned Parenthood that saved my daughter's life. The same Planned Parenthood that treats millions of poor woman who otherwise would not have any where to go.The same Planned Parenthood that screens for cancer and saves lives!...Like I said some people can't see the forest for the trees.

Dave

11/15/2016 07:09:48 am

Mary Ann, I am glad that the exam at Planned Parenthood saved your daughter's life. Yet cancer screening, breast exams, counseling are but a small part of Planned Parenthood's mission. Their primary focus and income are abortions. Planned Parenthood was also exposed for the selling of body parts to make additional income.

There are thousands of other facilities that also do cancer screening, breast exams, counseling, etc., yet do not perpetrate the killing of the innocent. Those facilities who do things right should be supported. Those facilities should be funded. My suggestion-- stay away from facilities which also do evil. Would you go to a physician that intentionally does Medicare fraud if there are other physician options? There are other options.

Janet Marie

11/18/2016 10:38:56 am

PP kills far more people than it saves. If I knew that my doctor was shooting other patients in the head, I would not go to her.

Jean

11/16/2016 06:54:49 am

Thank you Dave for bringing sanity to this issue.
I didn't vote for Trump to be my savior. Those who condemn Trump need to remember they are not perfect and need the Lord's Mercy and Grace.
I voted for him because he has policies to strengthen our country, hires more women and pays them equal to men. Something Hillary could not claim.
Also, Trump has the support of pastors and conservative black leaders that Democrats call Uncle Toms. Where is the outrage for this?
In fact, we, as Christians, need to pray that Trump remains faithful to the pro-life cause and focused on issues that will make America great again.. The elites don't sit down or shut up when they lose. In fact, investigation is finding that George Soros is paying people to protest in the street of cities.
Above all pray for Trump's safety.

Evelyn link

12/6/2016 05:08:40 am

Nearly a month later and the outrage over The Trump Tragedy continues. This from The New York Times.

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2016/12/05/opinion/why-i-will-not-cast-my-electoral-vote-for-donald-trump.html?referer=http://m.facebook.com/

Dave

11/13/2016 09:18:38 pm

Jean

11/15/2016 02:06:21 pm

Thanks Dave. I agree. There are other option especially since PPH does not do the cancer screenings itself. There are other options to abortions as well.

Concerned

11/14/2016 04:36:21 am

This is the time we must come all together and not be divided . It's done , the Elections are over . We must all work together for the common good, from the womb to the uninsured. ..to the family who as no food , underpaid employees , religious persecution, to the people who suffer from illnesses. We need now to put our faith in God instead of bashing our fellow Christians. Remember each life is precious to God , let's not be devided ., we must not now be judgmental of others .
I read this in one of Saint Mother Teresa books :
What I perceive as loving until it hurts is loving even if you don't understand the situation, the people,anything. It's easier said than done.
So let's do this let's be united as Christians , to love all

Corinne

11/14/2016 04:39:20 am

Yes that was my post

Corinne

11/26/2016 05:09:19 pm

Please don't confuse this post with the other concerned post

Concerned

11/15/2016 02:35:37 am

Again I can't stress enough they we should be promoting love and unity . We are all saying this blog should not be on the church website , some issues should not be I quite agree.
I can understand people's frustration with the elections both candidates promoted hate no matter what . Most people prayed for their conversion of heart . This is what evil does divides people . (Where there is hatred let their be love) please let's stop all the judging .
Remember we are all Gods children let's now take all the love and blessings they God has given to us and spread that to others it's really not that hard . We should now pray for the government to follow through with their promises. God is good we need to have more FAITH .
I am sure some might not like what I have posted , but we Christians need peace in our lives for the world to see . We don't want the world to see Christians bashing each other , I don't want promote hate just love.

anne cannon

11/15/2016 05:57:19 am

Amen! Let's give peace a chance. Let's all do our part to promote unity, peace, and trust in Almighty God to bless our nation. Let's put God back into our society🙏🙏🙏

Concerned

11/15/2016 06:16:43 am

Amen to that Anne
AMEN !
To all

Lord make me an instrument of your peace . Where there is hatred let me sow love, where there is injury pardon ; where there is friction union where there is ever truth where there is doubt faith where there is despair hope where there is darkness light and where there is sadness joy
Oh Divine Master Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console to be understood as to understand to be loved as to love for it is in giving that we receive it is in Pardoning that we are pardoned and it is in Dying that we are born to eternal life amen

Concerned

11/15/2016 06:21:55 am

Sorry some of my spelling or missed words is because I talk into the phone because I have difficulty with the light on the phone it hurts my eyes so sorry if I misspelled anything but my intentions were good

Dave

11/15/2016 07:17:11 am

The prayer of St Francis is such a terrific prayer. Yes we are to console, to love, etc., but we are also to shed light in order to dispel darkness. So many wish to do good but do not seem to understand that one must choose the greatest good, in this case life over death as a solution to an unplanned pregnancy. Let us pray that all come to this basic, intrinsic understanding of the value of the human person.

Concerned

11/15/2016 08:06:51 am

Just a prayer of peace
That's all

Jean

11/15/2016 02:43:04 pm

Please, all of you who are pro-abortion or undecided, please read the book LIME 5 by MarK Crutcher.
It is available in the 3-county library system. Request it; read the first two pages of each chapter.
Mark has done a lot of research including actual women named who have died because of abortion, how employees are sometimes treated or even the patients.
Not only does it go into the finances of PPH and payment in cash that can't be IRS traced, but why the book is entitled LIME 5.
May God peel the scales off you eyes about this evil practice.

Fr. Michael

11/16/2016 12:45:45 pm

"I would like to respond to two claims or implications, one in each of these two paragraphs from the original blog post:

"If Christians who voted for Donald Trump were unable to see how Trump's rhetoric opposes Christ's teachings, then they should not call themselves faithful Catholic or Christian."

Think of it this way: At least if Americans who felt compelled to vote for Trump had stayed home because they could not have voted in good conscience for Hillary Clinton, there would be no blood on their hands."

The first claim is that someone who failed to discern opposition to Christ’s teachings in Trump’s rhetoric can’t be a faithful Christian. This claim carries with it an implication that a vote for Trump renders one an unfaithful Christian.

The second claim is that those who felt compelled to vote for Trump more as a vote against Hillary Clinton and less as a vote for Trump, should have stayed home instead, because at least that way, they would have no responsibility for putting Trump in office.

First of all, generally speaking and completely setting aside all election details, in the Christian life, one sin does not an unfaithful Christian make. If that were the case, then the only faithful Christians ever to walk the face of the earth were Jesus himself, His mother Mary, and though we don’t know this definitively, some might include John the Baptist. All other Christians are sinners in need of Christ’s redemption. The faithful Christian acknowledges his or her sins, asks for forgiveness, and earnestly strives to cooperate with God’s grace to resist temptation in the future. The inevitable stumbles and falls in that future are a consequence of our fallen human nature and our perpetual need for Christ’s assistance in rising above that fallen condition.

Now, is it possible that casting a vote for a particular candidate could be sinful? Sure, it’s possible. I’ll offer myself as a case study. In the early 90s I was swept up in the positive propaganda of the Clinton campaign. The chant for change, the fresh face, the newness and relative youthfulness of the man and the message captivated my imagination. I was willfully caught up in the anti-establishment frenzy. In the name of all that ‘wonderful possibility’ for the future of our nation, I overlooked, or set aside, or minimized some important gospel truths and teachings, especially those around the sanctity of all human life, from conception to natural death. I voted for Bill Clinton.

Some months later, or a year or two even, into his first term, I went to confession and confessed the sin of voting for Bill Clinton, which I deeply regretted. The priest chuckled, but I explained that I didn’t do my due diligence in properly weighing all the issues, and that I was sorry for making such an egregious error in judgment. He gave me absolution and he didn’t accuse me of being an unfaithful Christian.

So I grant you that yes, every individual sin committed by anyone is a single act of unfaithfulness to God’s law and God’s will, but the person does not thereby become a lifelong unfaithful Christian.

Will some people someday go to a priest to confess voting for Donald Trump? Perhaps, but that possibility is for them to examine in the light of Christ and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Neither I, nor any other human being, can see into the mind and heart of any other human being, to know the process which led them to vote for Donald Trump, and then evaluate their character based on that knowledge. All we know is that enough people voted for him to make him president-elect of our country.

For many, and I know folks for whom this is true, it was probably an agonizing process, undertaken not with reckless, misdirected nationalism or patriotism, but prayer, research and reflection. In the end, for them it was truly a matter of choosing the lesser evil, of acting in a way that would hopefully do the least harm to our country, or of choosing the candidate for whom conversion to more of Christ’s teachings was a greater possibility.

For these folks, their conscience might not have allowed them to simply stay home, or to write in a candidate that had absolutely no chance of getting elected. They might have decided that these options really amounted to shirking their responsibility to be faithful citizens … that they had an obligation to actively prevent greater harm in Hillary Clinton and vote for Trump, because not voting at all, or voting for an infinitely long longshot, as a write in or third party candidate, would be a way of tipping the scales in Hillary’s favor.

Another point that needs to be made is that there exists a hierarchy of truths in the gospel, which means some teachings carry more weight than others. In the Church’s Compendium of Social Doctrine, for example, the right to life supersedes all the rest, and all the rest

michael

11/16/2016 02:04:22 pm

one of the main take-aways, for me, from the comments on this blog, is that it has reaffirmed my choice long ago to part with the catholic church as a regular practitioner and not to be an advocate of what seems to be the "church's positions" on many controversial matters. pro-life? the way that term is used - or rather mis-used - in the large scheme of things is offensive and certainly incomplete. what you call pro-life, i - and other "non-heathens" - call "pro-birth"... that's what you're rally talking about, so why not be "pro-honesty" as well. Instead of relying on the Center For Medical Progresses accusations, and re-quoting statistics fact-checked and proven to be falsified, why not extend your "research" into areas that offer opinions (and evidence) contrary to your own (limited) point of view? but, rather than trust my opinion, just re-read comments by jean, dave, and the anonymous "concerned parishioner" - which begs the question, just what is this person concerned about"? and, father michael, with all due respect, your thinly veiled chiding of evelyn's points in the first two paragraphs belies your not-so-thinly-veiled preferences for the antagonistic comments made by the "one-issue voters" whose outrage is only surpassed by their rationalizing of indefensible motives or arguments. you deftly skirted around any of trump's notorious (validated) lying, racism, misogyny, xenophobia, etc., but dove straight into your own "sin" of voting for bill clinton - as if it would negate evelyn's point(s) against the obvious moral issues inherent in our new "president-elect." i am just as offended by the "pass" you offered some mean-spirited attackers of evelyn's blog, as i am by your "justification" for excerpting two paragraphs from her text and not so subtly refute their relevance as to what constitutes or does not constitute a 'faithful' catholic. while i don't know you personally - nor any of those involved in the "comments section,"
i feel you know better... in fact, having read this blog for so long, i KNOW you know better because of some of your homilies referenced. And, by the way, if the detractors want to criticize Hillary's actual position on the issue of abortion, at least get it right, and not mis-interpret it to suit your sanctimonious judgmental points of view. i don't believe Jesus would approve...

Dave

11/16/2016 03:19:45 pm

Michael the proper term is pro-life. The Church's teaching on life far exceeds just a taking on abortion. All life is above all and must be protected. This protection causes the Church to decry euthanasia, embryonic stem cell experimentation, and Human cloning. Everyone I know acknowledges Trump's and Hillary's sinful natures. We also pray that those (and many others) might have a conversion of heart. It is the current pro-abortion policy of the Democrats which is the issue. One cannot participate in the death of these innocents, whether be by voting to pay for such abortions, taking individuals to the clinic for an abortion, working at the clinic, etc. One issue voting may not be appropriate when deciding on various programs of equal worth, but it is totally appropriate when it comes to the killing of 3000 children per day. As bad as racism is or any other kind of discrimation, others can at least try to counter the effects of some one's racist marks or discrimation. It is IMPOSSIBLE to counter the effects of abortion for the child is dead. The starting in your empathy for the ills of the world must be the recognition that the taking of lives is the worst, infinitely above the other problems in the world. Protect the innocent, then also work on these other evils.

Dennis

11/23/2016 04:32:56 am

Michael, I have had you on my mind. You seem to have stepped away from the Catholic church. I wish you would consider returning to us. How can I help you, how can we help you?

Fr. Michael

11/18/2016 07:59:48 am

I just realized my initial response was inadvertently truncated ... must have been too long. Here's the rest:

and all the rest depend on the preservation of a human being’s right to life.

So for example, in good conscience, people could have decided that Trump’s pro-life position, his position in favor of ‘traditional marriage’, which is in accord with God’s truth and will for human love and sexuality, and his position for preserving the fullness of religious liberty and conscience rights, combined with Hillary’s aggressive positions against these values, was enough to secure their vote despite other positions of Trump’s that do not align well with the Gospel. It’s not that these other issues aren’t important; it’s not that a vote for Trump condones his stance on these other things, or condones him overall as president or as a person, but that there was enough about the Trump/Pence ticket to secure a vote … whether that vote was a vote for the best among poor options, a vote against Hillary Clinton, or a vote for the lesser evil, or least amount of future harm.

For the sake of full disclosure, I wrote in one of the candidates from the primary who sought the Republican nomination, a man whom I admire for many reasons. I could not in good conscience vote for Hillary or Donald. But also, in good conscience, I do not believe I can tell everyone who voted for Trump that they should have done the same thing as I did, or that because they voted for Trump, their conscience must have grievously erred in the evaluative process that led to their vote, or that they’re unfaithful Christians who now have blood on their hands.

Only the Lord has the ability to see clearly into our souls, and the power and the authority to render judgment on what He sees there. If, when we stand before Him one day, He says, “You know what, you really shouldn’t have voted the way you did in 2016,” our only response can be, “Gee, I’m sorry Lord. Please forgive me.” And the beautiful thing is, forgive us is exactly what He’s going to do, in response to our humble and contrite hearts.

This is new: I just finished reading all the comments to Evelyn's blog ... should have done that before posting my response, and I'm sorry.

I know Evelyn well and she is a most faithful woman of the Church. She is NOT for abortion, choice, or Hillary. She is smart, insightful ... at times challenging in ways that feel abrasive and accusatory ... but a good person and a good Christian, and invaluable to our parish.

It's important for us as Church to talk, discuss, argue ... it's been that way since Peter and Paul and the Holy Spirit works in the process if we let Him. Let's open the door more widely for His participation and let civility and mutual respect for each other frame the tone of our disagreements.

evelyn augusto link

11/18/2016 02:29:35 pm

To many of those following along: If, for a minute, you might remove the rose colored sunglasses so my words could be read clearly....

There are approximately 69.5 million Catholics in the United States. The Pew Research Center found that in 2014, 71% of Americans identified as Christian. You tell me that if we, as Christians, had talked to each other and planned and if each of us voted with the proper Chrisitan disposition, we could not have elected a better candidate? And that is why I began my essay, Notes from a Conscientious Objector-- confessing that I did not do enough to stop "TRUMPHOMA" (all rights reserved) from infecting this country.

My line of reasoning in "Notes from a ConscientiousObjector" (see www.letitallstarthere.com) is not flawed. It might have taken a miracle for another candidate other than Hillary or Trump to win the election, but aren't we suppose to be a people of Faith? And doesn't God work miracles to remind us of His presence and Love for us?
But if we don't turn toward Him...nothing can be done.

Donald Trump is a bad man by any reasonable person's measuring stick. And Im going to throw up if one more person asks me, one more time on this blog: Who am I to judge? We make assessments every day, then base our choices on them. So stop the righteous nonsense around judgment.
Some responders to this blog post are simply toting the party line and using what has become something of a cliché because they can't think of anything substantial to say when challenged.

In conclusion: I am saying that whatever we did wrong, myself included, that allowed or put Trump in office must never, ever happen again. Learn from this mistake America. We must change ourselves, so that our behavior changes...so that America changes. And if you are standing by your claims that you see nothing wrong with him or that " the good outweighs the bad"...then their lies the problem!

They say: God hits you with a pebble to get your attention and then he tosses a boulder.
How many chances do you think we are going to get?

Anonymous

11/18/2016 12:15:42 pm

Because ...

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." ( New American Standard Bible)

Someone sent this to my personal email address today and asked me to post it:

"I had difficultly putting a message on your blog. It looked like I would have to respond to each negative remark. Put this on your blog, but don't put my name or e-mail address I'm frightened at those so-called Christians who are condemning you. You never said vote for Hillary, just don't vote for such an evil force as Trump. They could have written in the Pope's name! I came across the biblical verses that i believe can console you & justify your righteous indignation:
Christ said, " If any want to become my followers let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." (Mark 8:34) and he said again "Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you and defame you on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven." (Luke 6:22-23
And listen to what St. Paul told the brethrEn in Ephesus: "For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flash, but against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the spiritual realm ." Ephesians 6:12 Can anyone listening to the words of Thrump not hear the demonic voice inspiring him: a) to speak of women as sexual objects that can be manipulated and abused? b) That Putin is to be admired?! The devil incarnate! c) His boasting of using the bankruptcy laws to not pay small business owners, many who had to file for bankruptcy because of him! and lastly an adulterous husband thrice married!
Don't let the hypocrites get to you- turn your pain over to the Holy Spirit that can bring the Peace that passeth understanding!"

Denise

11/16/2016 08:56:36 pm

With each new blog post I am finding it more and more difficult to remain silent. The most recent “Preventing Homily Abuse”, and “Conscientious Objector” posts have me questioning the true intent of this blog.

Research has proven that people learn and react to information differently. It’s a diverse world we are living in. Every person brings their own approach, talents and interests to a situation. We also know that a person’s culture, family background, and socioeconomic level will affect how they learn and interpret information.

So I wonder how we can deem a homily to be boring, polluted, or unworthy. I would furthermore be hard pressed to express this discontent with the person who delivered the homily. The fact is that what you find unworthy may be truly inspiring to me. It’s as simple as viewing these homilies through the eyes of a child. I would have to believe that my kids aren’t as moved as I am on many occasions. They have a different level of education, and different experiences that they bring to the situation. I would also suggest that these same factors come into play as a person decides who to vote for. What is the purpose of accusing someone of being an unfaithful Christian?

There is simply nothing to gain by condemning the choice of someone else. Expressing an opinion may be appropriate if it is done with consideration and gentleness. Educating others on the teachings of the church may also be appropriate, but understand that some topics are sensitive. Each person is at a different place on their journey of faith. Each person will react differently. It seems that these judgements are being made under the false umbrella of “evangelization”. Has it occurred to anyone that this may not be the most effective way to evangelize?

michael

11/17/2016 04:02:07 am

dave,
you prove my point about a one-issue voter. you refer to "the 'pro abortion' policy" of the democrats
- which is not only not true, but also a point about which i made a specific distinction in my comments. with a "pro-choice"
point of view, there is nothing else on the table for you (collectively speaking), yet you won't admit it! there's no discussion, no compromise,
no understanding of another's issues ... because there's no listening!! Nothing seems to have a "context" with such a rigid point of view.
"... he among you who is without sin; let him cast the FIRST stone."
Jesus had "perspective" ... and i believe God is not a "one-hit
wonder" kind of omniscient diety.

Dave

11/17/2016 02:13:03 pm

Michael, in a previous post you say the term "partial birth abortion" is a right-wing "political term" not a medical term. I guess you want to use the term "intact dilation and extraction". Does that mean a life of a full term is not taken, typically by putting the baby in the breech position, pulling out the baby, but not all the way so that part of the baby is still in the vaginal canal. Then breaking into the skull and typically sucking out the brains? Does using a medical term instead of the U.S. Government used term"Partial Birth abortion" change any of that. It may sanitize the process to our ears, but does not change the awful reality.
Now you want to say the Democrats are not pro-abortion, they just want to allow mothers (for once conception takes place, they are a mother) to make a choice to take a life or not to take a life. They are just a neutral party. China would be pro-abortion because they force abortions on women. Or maybe China is just pro-population control. Sounds nicer.
But the Democratic party has not just been standing on one side observing what is happening. They have actively enacted laws to finance such procedures. They have actively tried to require physicians to perform such procedures. They would love to force hospitals to do such procedures. They heavily support Planned Parenthood, which primarily is an abortion mill-- few women who go to PP ever get consoled to give their child up for adoption. They have tried to spread abortions world wide.
Like the semantics you wish to play with in regards to partial birth abortion, the Democratic party is heavily pro-abortion. No Democrat can run for national office unless they become "Pro-choice"--choosing the sanitized word over the reality of their supporting the billion dollar abortion industry. Even the Clintons were pro-life until they ran for national office.
So let's not play with words. Democrats support he abortion industry, in general Republicans do not.

Mary Ann

11/18/2016 08:17:04 am

FYI because the truth matters..http://everydayfeminism.com/2014/06/truth-late-term-abortions/

Mary Ann

11/18/2016 08:23:12 am

In one simple quote, Sister Joan Chittister, O.S.B. sums up the hypocrisy of many in the 'pro-life' movement:

"I do not believe that just because you're opposed to abortion, that that makes you pro-life. In fact, I think in many cases, your morality is deeply lacking if all you want is a child born but not a child fed, not a child educated, not a child housed. And why would I think that you don't? Because you don't want any tax money to go there. That's not pro-life. That's pro-birth. We need a much broader conversation on what the morality of pro-life is."

evelyn augusto

11/18/2016 10:14:31 am

To many of those following along: If, for a minute, you might remove the rose colored sunglasses so my words could be read clearly....

There are approximately 69.5 million Catholics in the United States. The Pew Research Center found that in 2014, 71% of Americans identified as Christian. You tell me that if we, as Christians, had talked to each other and planned and if each of us voted with the proper Chrisitan disposition, we could not have elected a better candidate? And that is why I began my essay, Notes from a Conscientious Objector-- confessing that I did not do enough to stop "TRUMPHOMA" (all rights reserved) from infecting this country.

My line of reasoning in "Notes from a Conscientious Objector" (see www.letitallstarthere.com) is not mistaken. It might have taken a miracle for another candidate other than Hillary or Trump to win the election, but aren't we suppose to be a people of Faith? And doesn't God work miracles to remind us of His presence and Love for us?
But if we don't turn toward Him...nothing can be done.

Donald Trump is a bad man by any reasonable person's measuring stick. And Im going to throw up if one more person asks me, one more time on this blog: Who am I to judge? We make assessments every day, then base our choices on them. So stop the righteous nonsense around judgment.
Some responders to this blog post are simply toting the party and using what has become something of a cliché because they can't think of anything substantial to say when challenged.

In conclusion: I am saying that whatever we did wrong, myself included, that allowed or put Trump in office must never, ever happen again. Learn from this mistake America.
We must change ourselves, so that our behavior changes...so that America changes. And if you are standing by your claims that you see nothing wrong with him or that " the good outweighs the bad"...then their lies the problem!

They say: God hits you with a pebble to get your attention and then he tosses a boulder.
How many chances do you think we are going to get?

Shocked

11/19/2016 02:20:43 am

Talk about innuendo! Let's now toss out the innuendo that anyone challenging your thoughts can't think of anything substantial to say? Do the words get off your high horse mean anything to you? Absolutely unbelievable.

evelyn augusto

11/19/2016 05:04:21 am

Dear Shocked:

I welcome dialogue.

Especially, when the discussion reflects the initial point raised.
That hardly occurred in the responses to Notes from a Conscientious Objector.

I invite you to return to the comments, after re-reading my essay. Few stayed on the issue raised, which had nothing to do with Hillary Clinton or the Pro-Life movement. It had to do with Donald Trump and the evil he represents. It had to do with the thought processes that works on the premises that it is acceptable to choose between two evils-- and how I believe it is not.

The use of "Who am I to judge?" ends conversation. And I will tell who I am to judge: I am a disciple of Christ first and an American second. And I'm an American that now will have to carry The Cross that Trump supporters dropped on my back. Sorry your rage over my willingness to speak out against evil has blinded you to what the "really and present danger" is.

As a very holy woman explained to me last night: I prayed a lot about the election. I asked Our Lady: What would she do? She said: "She would not vote. We must never chose evil." The woman and the rest of her family did not vote on November 8th.

Jean

11/19/2016 07:42:09 am

Evelyn:
Since when, in American politics, did we ever choose a president that wasn't the lesser of two evils?
Speaking of thought processes, I refer you to Proverb 23:9.
You stated that the Catholics should have all gotten together and all voted to one person outside of the two chosen candidates. I never heard of anything so silly. You (we) can't even come together on just two. Christ wasn't on the ticket; everyone else has flaws. You remind me of one of those complainers of Moses during their exodus trek around the mountain. Moses was a murderer by the way, ineligible for leadership according to you. The Lord gave us Trump. Thank you Lord, for someone better than Hillary.
Instead of being so divisive, why not pray for him to be able to keep his promises, Support him when you can and tell others what I just told you. Matt 12:25. Give the man a chance; you gave no alternative that would not have yielded a Hillary victory.
And while you are praying, remember to pray for his safety, wisdon, strength. Liberal atheist Democrats and the deceitful liberal news medias will stop at nothing to keep Trump from instituting his agenda on Obamacare, jobs, borders, immigration, terrorists, trade, state rights, self protection, rule of law, defunding PP, deficit cuts, government waste, rebuilding our depleted military, vets medical care, etc. Trump wants to drain the insiders corruptive swamp.
He's not even president and he has already accomplished more than any other president elect ever has or Obama has in his failed 8 years. If you will just check his nominees for cabinet and supreme court justices (instead of running off at the print), he has made good choices. Would you like a list since you don't watch Foxnews or get Judicial Watch, Heritage Foundation or Drudge Reports?
Evelyn, I'm praying for you. You have caused as much disunity among your church, conservatives and policies as those protesters who are burning down their towns and businesses who voted for Hillary. In your pride to be right, you have caused anger among us. I pray that parishioners don't leave the church or give up on the pro-life cause.
Trump is our president elect; (no acceptence??) get over it! Stop wasting our time with foolish arguments. No matter who you wanted, nothing would be changed. The fight is still ours to stop the innocent killing of babies and disabled.
It's time to continually pray for our nation that needs Christ. Pray that Trump will ask for national prayer on the first Thursday in May. 2 Chron 7:14 Only if our nation repents of it sins to numerous to list will we ever return to a righteous nation that honors the one true God and Savior. Luke 18:25
God bless,

Dave

11/19/2016 01:27:44 pm

Lots of good points Jean. Let's clarify a couple of things.
1) Trump is not a bad man. He is a human of infinite worth who has sinned in the past as he has admitted some wrong actions in the past. I have also sinned in the past, and we know that at least objectively, Hilary has sinned in the past. Perhaps others reading this blog have sinned (that's probably 100%). Now that he is president let's pray that he fulfills the promises that he has made, particularly in regard to abortion services -- the greatest issue in the campaign as protecting life is of infinite worth. If Hilary would have won, we certainly would be praying for her also.

2) While it may appear that this blog is divisive, division is how so many of the Church's have gotten clarified (or nearly all of them). Many people do not under just how valuable life is. Somehow, probably because they just have never had it explained properly, they equate some other very worthwhile needs such as immigration reform, free education, reduced taxes, greater employment, higher minimum wage, etc., etc. (it's a long list) to be on the same level as the prevention of the deaths of 1 million persons each year through abortion. Abortion as an evil has been the Church's teaching for 2000 years. The Church has stated that life is the greatest good. This two items should be taught together along with the acknowledgment that there is a hierarchy in "goods". Again, we need to continue to fight for these other goods, but let's take of the killing of the innocents first.

Many reading this blog may have never been told that a candidate who has 20 different programs which are good, yet participates in the death of millions will never be a good candidate. Only if both candidates supported abortion will the other items come into play. (Can you imagine how outraged people would be if a candidate had a great program but participated in the murder of a 1million adults-- oh, that would be Mussolini who made the trains run on time [a good, beneficial program], yet supported Hitler and his atrocities.)

Does one consider an adult's life that you can see to be more valuable than a baby's life in utero who you don't see? Does birthing make one human? An acquaintance I know, just had a 23 week old unborn child saved by a surgeon's skill. Wasn't that child and every other unborn child human. Why would the mother ever have the right to end her child's life? Look at the child as a true human, and it is easy to see that one party dramatically had a higher moral ground than the other. So many Catholics responded, and we (hopefully) have a new direction in Congress-- a change quite different than that espoused by Obama.

evelyn augusto

11/22/2016 08:02:59 pm

From someone a good deal smarter than me...

"If Catholics had not voted for Trump, so states this article in Commonweal. he would not have been the President elect." Seems oxymoronic that Catholics did choose, if unwittingly, bigotry over solidarity, did choose Islamaphobia over welcoming, did overlook the denigration of women and LGBQT people over gender equality etc. I know. You are saying, you did not vote for him. But many did. This is a particularly well written article. Yes, it is long but it is worth our time as we imagine ouselves moving into a potentially deadly future, especially for minorities, at least for the next four years.
Consider this an invitation to do some serious readings of more than one liners and short memes during Advent. This Professor's point of view might shake up our comfort. He did mine.

Dave

11/22/2016 09:10:55 pm

Yes there are problem areas with Trump and with Hilary. But Catholics voted for life. The taking of human innocent life far exceeds these other problems. Continue to be on guard against the other problems, but first of all, primarily, be for life. When will the Pro-choice movement ever recognize that abortion is life taking and consider the effect on innocent children which is far greater than the effects of Islamaphobia on good Muslims. The anti-Christian sentiment of the Democrats and the loss of Religious freedom are also valid reasons to vote against Hilary who said we must change our Religious beliefs. Trump promises to support our true Constitutional rights-- to allow Religious Freedom for all, which means you can practice your religious beliefs in public, in doctors offices, in hospitals, etc. The Constitution merely prevents the establishment of a Church, for example--the Church of England, from being the named religion of the country. The words of the constitution have twisted. It is time to set things back to where they belong. Where Religious Freedom falls in relation to the other goods discussed in the campaigns is debatable, but the INFINITE good of saving 3000 lives per day should never be. Follow the Church's teaching on life, not what the media and other elements say.

If you want Catholics to vote Democratic, then the Democratic party must eliminate its culture of death, then present their version of social justice.

evelyn augusto

11/23/2016 04:21:10 am

Please reread Notes from a Conscientious Objector. I never suggested that Hillary was the right choice. I claimed that more should have been done to preserve our Democracy from the likes of Donald Trump. And I wrote that piece before he started putting his "dream team" together...people who are almost as, if not equally despicable as he is.

Sorry the link to the article didn't appear. I would like all who responded to Notes from a Conscientious Objector to read it. Happy Thanksgiving to all.

evelyn augusto

11/23/2016 04:29:34 am

I challege folks to read this with a open heart: http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/us_582e6b1fe4b08c963e343d23?

Dave

11/28/2016 02:34:43 pm

I read the.commentary you mentioned and Mary Ann's link to the discussion of late abortions. Let me respond to Mary Ann's link. The article stated there are only 1% of the abortions that are in the 8th or 9th month. There used to be 1 million abortions in the U.S.. That means only 10000 "premie" babies were killed. Am I supposed to feel good about that? Those life's don't matter because perhaps many may have been handicapped? Only perfect, productive humans allowed (Hitler's theme)? Isn't that a great tragedy, greater than any racist or sexist comment? Most of the rest of the the 1 million babies probably were "perfect", killed for inconvenience. What a tragedy.

Now for your article. The article is complaining about how tax cuts don't lead to a better economy, how Republicans manipulate the news, how Trump is racist and sexist (didn't seem to mention that the Clintons belonged to a whites only country club, nor that Hillary kissed the leader of the KKK nor that Trump is an angel in his sexual treatment of women as objects compared to Bill). The article didn't mention that many are being fired for voting or supporting Trump. Is this Democracy where Patrick Henry would have died to let you have your opinion? As serious as some of these issues are, do they come close to the issue of killing of 100's of thousands of lives through abortion, Can you imagine the ruckus if terrorists blew up 10 football stadiums full of people? In the end, one who supports the abortion industry doesn't understand Catholicism or Christ for that matter. Those priests who spoke out against voting for candidates who support abortion, were not Republican, they were Christian! And, it is a sin to support those who support the abortion industry, for life far outweighs all other earthly issues. Tackle the life issue first, then tackle the other issues. Do you really want to have voted because of the issues in the article over voting for life? For me, I voted for life and am proud of it. I voted for the party which is more likely to end the killing of the innocents, not the party who promotes it, or even desires to increase it.

Jean

12/8/2016 06:41:31 pm

Dave: You said it better than I. Thanks.

evelyn augusto

12/6/2016 03:04:37 pm

Is your name Jean or Jeannie?

And are you responding to Michael about "my post" concerning the Republican presidential elector?

And why?

And are you suggesting that this Op-Ed is not accurate?

And may I ask...did you even read the the letter from the firefighter and keeper of Democracy, who was there at those 9/11 attacks...who witnessed the events of that terrible day, where atheism bloomed, "because many believed that religion itself was dangerous, since it could allegedly, motivate good people to do terrible things in the name of blind faith." (Bishop Robert Barron: The Mystery of God)

And you do remeber 9/11 right...the only event in recent history that supercedes, or perhaps equals, the devastating blow Our Nation suffered in November when Trump was elected president?

And did you realize how disrespectful your comments are?

And my final question is: How is your comprehension?

And here is a FYI: This blog's intent is to Evangelize. That is what Disciples of Christ are called to do. (Not chase people away with fanaticism.) Anyone on the fence, the agnostic...the fallen away Catholic...the individual who is "inwardly making their way toward Him, inasmuch as they seek truth and goodness. Those "pilgrams of truth, pilgrims of peace", would surely be correct in saying to themselves, after reading your replies to Notes from a Conscientious Objector: If women...people like Jean make up the congregation in a Catholic Church, I made the right decision in staying away from their toxicity. God help them.

Jean

12/8/2016 07:18:01 pm

Evelyn:
. You need to get a grip!! I'm disrespectful??
You call people (Trump's team) that you don't even know 'despicable.' Ben Carson, General Flynn, General Kelly, and possibly Kelly Ann Conway, Laura Ingraham , Newt who, I think, are all Catholic.
. Don't you find your own comments offensive, cutting, “judgmental,” divisive, deplorable, full of pride, arrogant, jumping to conclusions, repetitive and what did I leave out? Oh, “Trump's election worse than 9-11” is a little over-dramatic, isn't it? I really enjoyed that one.
. You think you speak with such eloquence and clarity, yet you fail to understand that both third party candidates (Jill Stein and Gary Johnson) were pro-choice. You are beating a dead horse.
. My comprehension could be better since I view 'pro-life' and 'pro-birth' differences as reaching for an arguable point. However, your Fruits of the Spirit could be worked on, you know. Gal 5:22 Please try practicing some of them.
. You swallow as truth the biased political hacks of the progressive news outlets which is nothing more than an extension arm of the pro-choice, anti-America, anti-Catholic Democratic Party.
. Just keep writing these ridiculous comments; you're digging yourself a hole; stop digging.
. As far as using this Op-Ed, blog and emails for evangelizing, you should have stopped when you were ahead on 11-10-16 and left well enough alone.
God bless,

michael

12/6/2016 03:11:09 pm

to jean, dave, and other like-minded people who would do well to have a group portrait taken for a poster entitled, "reasons free-thinking people
are motivated to criticize catholics and stay away from the church!"
you folks are toxic in your hypocrisy. neither i, nor anyone i know, is "pro-abortion!" let me say that again so you can ignore it again: neither i nor anyone i know is "pro-abortion!"
that is a term you - who are "pro-birth" not "pro-life" (definitely not pro-life) - have created to vilify anyone who does not see the world through your myopic lens.
to be as self-righteously pro-birth as you are is not doing any favors to the catholic church which you claim to represent. whether you are saying that donald trump is a "good man" or that planned parenthood is "evil"
statements such as those are fueled by an ignorance of fact that is astounding! you quote fake news claims and - despite a rich history and mass agreement to the contrary - you malign the new york times?! ... and you pontificate, boast about it and point accusative fingers at others in print -such as this blog - without an ounce of introspection or self-awareness.
this blog has featured many thought-provoking issues relevant to "catholics who care"
and i've read some inspired responses, affirmative declarations, and heartfelt advice and support in the comments section. i suggest you are the ones who need to "google" and fact check your statistics and accusations. such a reality check might be enlightening. after that, i would encourage you to pick up a dictionary, and look beyond the "a" section... there are 25 other letters in the alphabet that define many important and useful terms that are not "abortion."

Jean

12/8/2016 06:59:04 pm

. Keep them coming Michael, I'm enjoying them.
I'm waiting for the one that calls me a racist, white supremacist, homophobe, etc. Prov 23:9
. You don't like Foxnews where many of the commentators are practicing Catholics. You have never watched it, or you would know that they don't claim to be a news/journalists outlet, but rather a debating outlet encouraging both liberals and Democrats guests to defend their positions.
CNN, ABC, CBS, etc claim to be legitimate unbiased news outlets. Years ago I realized that Dan Rather would show a picture of Bush, 'Sr' talking , only to find out that Dan Rather was sanitizing what Bush was saying. That's a no, no.
. Please refer to my response to Evelyn.
God bless you,

Jean

12/8/2016 06:43:26 pm

After a week of silence, I was hoping that this silly idea of defeating Trump by voting for a 3d candidate ( that still remains unnamed) was over. As most religious talk of politics, it has evolved into global warming, accusations of blood on your hands, not being faithful, feeding the poor, etc..
Saddened,

michael

12/9/2016 07:19:01 am

jean...
therein lies the problem with this... you are a "baiter" and you "enjoy" this. how revealing!

i come from a long line of italian catholics. most were very devout. as an italian male, i got used to hearing the term "hard-headed." but, my head isn't hard enough to want to keep bashing it against the impenetrable concrete wall of your self-righteous indignation and ignorance of facts. if you look beyond the word, "abortion" in the dictionary, further down in the "a" section, you will find the word, "agnotology"... so, while you tout yourself as a good catholic, you should also recognize that you have most of the characteristics of an agnotologist... so, in conclusion, i'll say that if i really wanted to continue these exchanges, i know i can get a similar result by hitting myself in the head with a hammer. so, happy whatever it is that you do or believe in, and may god not only bless you, but help you, too. god knows, i tried....

Jean

12/9/2016 09:13:02 am

You are chucked right full of errors;
First, I was very serious about my emails until you and Evelyn reignited this ridiculous argument and name calling. And being so far more intelligent than I, you took the bait and I'm still smiling. As you put it, in my ignorance, I don't have to go very far down the dictionary to find the word 'arrogant'. May I give you a mirror to see self-righteous indignation. In fact, you defend Evelyn as if she was your wife.
. I'll leave it to the readers to decide if I'm ignorant of facts; may I recommend that you watch Foxnews just for fun to see if your 'fake' news outlet are telling you the truth. Also, you have yet to tell me what on the list is untrue.
. I never said that I was a good Catholic, or even a Catholic. I'm only a child of God saved by Grace. As far as your trying to help me, I suggest you read Prov 15:l . You might be more successful.
Praise be to God,

evelyn augusto link

12/9/2016 08:18:34 am

Jean:

Do think that just by identifying yourself as Catholic, one gets a " get out of jail free card"?
One must attempt to live Christ's teachings...not just parrot them. That is what the point of Notes from a Conscientious Objector.

And, I do not know a single member of Isis, but based on what members of the group say and how their actions, I can make an assessment of who they really are.

And thank you for your assessment of my blog:
"...you speak with such eloquence and clarity...."
Your words, not mine.

Finally, Michael is correct. You get unhealthy stimulation from your ranting and baiting. I suggest you take Notes from a Conscientious Objector and your reponses to Spiritual Direction. See what the priest's assessment of your behaviour is.

And do us all a favor: Stop using "God Bless You." From your pursed, dry lips...it is sacrilegious.

I will be sure to dedicate my next blog to the likes of you.

Jean

12/9/2016 09:36:51 am

Evelyn:
Spoken like a good Catholic?
('Stop') Who made YOU God?
No Fruit of the Spirit shown here. Try again.
God loves you,

Dave

12/9/2016 07:27:47 am

Aw Michael, you have never addressed the fact that the Church teaches that life is of infinite value--far more important than your other issues (which are still important, but less important. The Church as Mother has the right and responsibility to teach us such things, just as a Mother has a right to tell her child that playing in the street is a dangerous thing to do. It doesn't mean that the mother hates her child. Same is true of the Church's other moral teachings about sex outside of marriage, stealing, lying, contraception, going to Church at least on Sunday, etc. She never hates the sinner, and is fact is showing love to them. She cannot keep these truths to herself, any more than the mother in my example can keep the dangers of playing in the street to herself. As you know, often she must even enforce it.
On the other hands, those who are relativist seem to hate those who oppose their thoughts. Relativists are extremely repressive to anyone who disagree with them. (Saying I no one is pro-abortion, but it is OK if others do abort their own children.) Thus they use terms like homophobic, xenophobic, evil, sexist. Saying things like the election of Trump is worse than 9-11 is unbelievably sad. Do they not know someone who lost their loved one on 9-11?

Convince me Michael that there is something worse than taking the lives of innocent persons.

Jean

12/9/2016 09:57:24 am

Evelyn :
Just what is there about Trump that you hate? Have you ever watched any of his speeches or do you just listen to the left-wing all negative analysts?
. At the risk of repeating myself, Noah was a drunk, David was an adulterer, Moses was a murderer.
. Speaking of Moses. You remind me of the children of Israel who took 40 years for a 11- mile, 2-week journey across the desert. They traveled around and round Mt Sinai because they didn't trust God and praise Him for their deliverance. They grumbled. Exodus 17.
. God doesn't like thankless people. We don't deserve better than Trump. The Lord gave us this great nation based on the Bible. Do you want references? We not only kill our offspring, we've passed laws accepting homosexual marriages and new transvestites bathroom rules. We call good evil and evil good. We allow our enemies within our borders in the name of compassion. There is no justice when Martha Stewart goes to jail for lying to the FBI and the FBI Director Comey said she lied and brings no charges. In some states (VA) veterans are treated with distaine. We've allowed the removal of the Ten Commandments and crosses from public places; Merry Christmas is politically incorrect and God's Word is scorned.
. The election showed the awesomeness of God. Trump played the powerful biased left-leaning medias like a violin. The powerful Clinton machine was no match for Trump's antics that kept him in the news every day. If Catholics that agree with you don't stop grumbling and begin praying, praising God for his Goodness, and Grace and Mercy, God will remove the present confusion in the atheist, hating-Christian Democratic Party. I consider any Republican winning the 2016 a miracle and blessing. Thank you, dear Lord.
. God's in control. Act like it. God gave us Trump as our elected president. His success depends on God's people covering him with our prayers for wisdom, safety, etc.
HIS,

evelyn augusto

12/10/2016 09:40:47 am

I can't believe as woman, you would ask me: "Just what is there about Trump you hate?"

I can't believe as some kind of Christian, you could ask me: "Just what is there about Trump that you hate?"

I can't believe as an American you should ask me: "Just what is there about Trump that you hate?"

I'm starting to think that there is no Jean aka Jeannie out there. And that these replies to my blog post: Notes from a Conscientious Objector are being generated by a computer somewhere in Russia...Russian Spam. Wonder what it taste like?

Jean

12/10/2016 11:30:00 am

Yep, I'm out here. I can't be alone; have you seen that nearly half of his named cabinet are the smartest generals? The other half are intelligent women who didn't believe those women (oh, 'his hands were all over me on the plane,' give me a break) and who understood Trump's private words were locker room bragging.
Go, Trump, Go. My prayers are with you and my country.
. I really sympathize with Moses who was a man chosen by God and who had to lead people had no faith.
. Evelyn, have you read "The Harbinger." It's written by a Jewish man Jonathan Kahn. A Catholic friend pointed it out to me. It might give you a new perspective on 9-11.
. Oh, your Fruit has improved a tad. That was a nice way of calling me unpatriotic. (:
Merry Christmas,

LET IT aLL sTART hERE
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