Another part of a video series from Wordonfire.org. Bishop Barron will be commenting on subjects from modern day culture. For more visit www.wordonfire.org.
"If I have faith enough to move the mountains, but have not love, I am nothing" (1 Cor.13:2); and "For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead" (James 2:26); and "you see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone" (James 2:24).
Peace and warm regards. I understand that The Divine Revelation given through The Church for Salvation is much more than social justice. But the eerie silence, at least in heralding, and providing help with Church and other helping institutions in reaction to the proportion of the need of these children is phenomenal. What about John Cardinal O'Connor? Fr. Frank Pavone? Devout honest Catholics, who plea for everyone from the greatest Bishop to the Catechumens to understand the existentially and earthly the worth of every single child in the womb. While the media refuse to repeat it; year after year; John Cardinal O'Conner said any woman with child, can come to The Bishopcate of NY, and if necessary, free of charge, to obtain care to keep her child or give her child up for adoption. Thirty-four years ago. Shouldn't everyone in every Parish be reminded to inform those in relationship with them where a woman is with child in need of help has a place to go? ~ I do rejoice in The Church doing what she has done. However, the virtual silence compared to what is needed to give these children a voice, (thereby helping their parents, family, & friend with needs & avoid the interior health problems among others) --- at every level of The Church, especially in many Parishes --- as Instruments of The Divine Revelation, the dichotomy of not treating these children in danger & succumbing to the reality of a brutal death in need of protection as any of us hurts our witness severely. Good Counsel Homes, Co-Workers for Life with Sisters for Life needs to be a clearly bright 'On Fire' word and witness available in every single Parish. "Thirteen years after Foundation, on our patronal feast of the Annunciation of the Lord, March 25, 2004, the Sisters of Life were officially approved as a Religious Institute of diocesan right within the Church. On this momentous occasion, the charism of Life given to Cardinal O’Connor years before was confirmed by the Church as an authentic, and unique, religious charism in and for the Church. Deo Gloria!" and "As the Lord continues to bless our community, we eagerly await how He will continue to reveal this charism of Life “even to the ends of the earth.” Are from www.sistersoflife.org/about-the-sisters-of-life/history
My dad dedicated his whole life to the Church. At his funeral the priest didn’t even know him He just got off the boat from India and could Not be understood. I sat in the front pew and just Smiled at Gods sense of humor. I remembered St Francis being asked to sign off on The changing of his rule. He said “Why should Lady Poverty leave me now.” After the funeral at the get together Many of my family members were upset. How could the church be so rude to have a priest Who no one could understand and didn’t even know my Father do this ? I said hold on a second. The church is not here for our comfort It’s here for our salvation. Salvation is just as obtainable in a thick Indian accent As in everyday English.
@@thebacons5943 my dad was an amazing person. So old fashioned and conservative. My sis got pregnant on a one nite stand at 18. I thought my dad was gonna tear the house down. Instead he just looked at me and said “How’s it feel to be an uncle ?” I was 16 and had no clue what an uncle was. LoL. He didn’t judge my sis for 1 second.
Even though i am catholic, and have not been to mass in along time. The main thing i miss about it, is the sermon. So i can appreciate what you mean here. Its the main thing i miss from not going to mass. So i am glad i found your vids. I personally like hearing someone with principles, trying to get someone to think about what they think is important at that moment in time. Just because you listen to someone, does not mean you agree with them, or absolutely taking every word to heart. The sermon is there to make people think, about what ever the priests or bishops consider important at that moment in time. I agree with you on this. I think the sermon, is one of the main points of the mass, for me anyway. I like hearing people whom have strong beliefs, try and get people to think about what is going on, that is important. So i agree why its important. I am not saying anything against that person ie kennedy, they are entitled to do what they want. One of the best abilities humans can have, is to try and use reason, and thinking to get others to think. This is what sermons are in mass, and i personally miss this part of the mass most, from not going. I enjoy hearing a person, whom is trying to use reason to get others to think. Its also why i am glad i am catholic, as the catholic church for me, was the most reasoned and well thought out religion there is. Nothing against other religions, i just like how everything in the catholic church was created by reason. I am amazed always that humans assume, this stuff is not well reasoned. I am not going to tell anyone to believe anything. I am just amazed, how poorly people alot of people react poorly to a person trying to use thought and reason, to persuade them. So many people are so closed minded. Its bizarre. One of the things i remember most is school assembly. Its where your head of year, would give a talk, ie try and reason some point, and i always find people trying to use reason and thought to get others to think fascinating. I do not have to agree with it, i just love the capacity that humans have to reason, and use thought to think about complex things.
@AugustusAurelianus Thanks for that balanced, reasoned respons!. You've been well trained in the Hitchens-Dawkins school of hysterical anti-Catholic ranting.
Father is so right, the wedge being driven is saddening. I think social justice when used for political reasons is so false. While defending social, legal, or economical justice is a just and noble cause worth defending for all women and men, doing so for political gain is worthless.
I know this is an older video, but I am making my way through them now. They have taught me so much and I appreciate so much the time and effort that has been put in. One thing I have noticed is how people (especially here in America) put their political views above all else and view everything through a political lens. Just looking at the comments here, it is quite obvious how many on the right saw this video as purely an attack on the left, but didn’t see how it could also apply to them. Bishop Barron rightly points out the divorce of doctrine from social justice seen by many on the left. But how many on the right have stated their loathing of “social justice warriors” and disdain for any social justice coming from the Church or society rather than the individual? How many have attacked the Pope for his views on social justice in society? The Church does not belong to any political party or any political ideology. None of them fully espouse the teachings of the Church, and so all are “cafeteria Catholics”. How I wish for a party that combined the best of both and espoused policies more in line with Catholic teaching.
Great video. If there's anything highly annoying, and sad really, is that "I'm a liberal Catholic"/"I'm a Christian but". How is that a good thing? I remember a conversation from last year that I was having with two members of my family. They're practically family, but anyway. Long story short: We happened to talk about abortion. One said, "She's a liberal Catholic". As I have gotten more in tune with my faith, I think about what she said. She is divorcing faith from the institution. Nevermind, what the other said, which is mindblogging. Essentially, she think It's okay support a woman aborting based on her situation. That you're not being "humanistic". These are people that I love, but with whom I very much disagree. There's far too many Catholics in name only, and also too many that might take they're faith a bit seriously, but it's more according to what they think. Essentially, one's faith is up for compromise. If we don't have Jesus at the center of our lives, one will divorce faith from the institution. We need the Sacraments & the Eucharist. Our priests represent Christ. We must pray for them & be respectful of them. Leaving Mass because his political views or his style doesn't roll with you, then something is wrong.
Thanks. You've proven my point and undermined your own! I quarreled with your statement that the Bible is not about doctrine but social justice. I have a feeling there's been some failure to communicate here!
Great point - one can't divorce Social Justice from Catholic doctrine, as is popular today - as Catholic doctrine drives all the Social Justice work Catholics have clearly done. Mother Teresa and her Nobel Prize winning world recognized work, is also a great example of this.
@laaaaambofgod As I have said publicly over and over again, the sexual abuse of children by some priests and its enablement by some bishops is the worst scandal in the history of the Catholic Church in America. Having said that, it's way too simplistic to say that Joseph Ratzinger "covered up" this problem. He did more than anyone in the world (and I'm not using that phrase casually) to solve the problem.
@wordonfirevideo The Wisconsin case involved an American priest, the Rev. Lawrence C. Murphy, who worked at a school for deaf children from 1950 to 1974. But it is only one of thousands of cases forwarded over decades by bishops to the Vatican office called the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, led from 1981 to 2005 by Cardinal Ratzinger. In 1996, Cardinal Ratzinger failed to respond to two letters about the case from Rembert G. Weakland.
Oh come on! You can't find doctrines such as the incarnation, Trinity, original sin, redemption, justification, and the necessity of the church in the Bible? You're proving my point: it is dangerous indeed to drive a wedge between justice and the doctrines of the church.
Social justice is a really important part of Catholic teachings and not something to be dismissed as it sounds like some commentators want to do. Thanks Fr. Barron for reminding of us that.
That is such an important yet overlooked point Father! There shouldn't be this wedge that you speak of. I see the de-emphasis of doctrine and liturgy and the over-emphasis of social justice and science (without proper doctrinal context) as the result of the weaking of will that is mass-produced by modernity. Hardly anyone wants for people to starve in the streets. This sentiment is easy to hold, but start discussing the discipline that discipleship requires and you'll see most scatter.
Yes! This is exactly how I felt as well. I don't understand why some are putting a wedge between the fruitful faith and the Holy Church that the faith itself comes from. It's so odd to me.
I get this, I agree with it. But I'm tired of crawling out of my skin every week at Mass because the homily stinks and there's nothing deep or prayerful on offer.
Unless I misunderstand certain passages in the Bible, those passages say that we should not desire such things such as money, or other forms of materials. Using myself as an example, what if I find myself desiring money more than anything else? What if I am not behaving as a follower? Am I not consider a Christian? I say one thing, but my actions speaks otherwise. Can you give your thoughts Father?
I actually agree with you regarding the Donatism of the right. Such a phenomenon exists. But I wouldn't tie it to abortion, for the direct taking of the life of the innocent is the great moral non-negotiable. Even the more moderate proportionalists hold to that.
thanks Fr. Barron. i always enjoy your videos. they're exciting AND informative. i read this book and see what you mean. i think the Catholic Church is the institution that encourages a culture of life, truth, faith, and love. but it also tells us to distinguish bw/ the sin and the sinner. the Catholic Church may have committed horrible atrocities, but is still true and good fundamentally. Jesus saw the thieves, tax collectors, and prostitutes as worthy ppl, but condemned their sins. thanks!!!!
The Mass is not about the priest's homily. It's not a show hosted by the priest. I get that a good exegesis helps a lot. But if it is not good, I will endure and offer it up to the altar, in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
One day St. Francis de Sales saw a seminarian's guardian angel, walk in front of the seminarian and other times walk beside him. But after the seminarian was ordained he saw the angel always walking behind the new priest! St. Francisof Asissi who, when a priest who was living in sin, was brought to him, in the hope that he would reprimand him, knelt down and kissed the priests hands reverently. Respect our priests. No priest - no Mass - no Church. - Blessings - Rene
What about a priest who gives his opinion in a public forum (say a parish mission) that is contrary to Church teaching. Even going so far as to say "the Pope may not agree with me but..." Do we get up and leave then?
I'm not as far to the right religiously or politically as you are, but I do enjoy your commentaries a great deal. And I would say that you typically take the edge off those subjects that might otherwise elicit the candid presentation of a rightward point of view. However, the use of the term "the donatism of the left" transgressed the bounds of both accuracy and fairness. To imply that discounting the valid offices of a priest because that priest doesn't share your ideology is something characteristic of the left is absurd. That tendency is a pitfall of all human beings no matter what end of the political spectrum they find themselves on. How many of your colleagues on the right now call into question the validity of the current Pope simply because his views are more liberal, or more merciful, than their own?
Bishop Barron is not a "right-wing" priest. The donatism of the left is something far too many of us faithful have encountered - to them, Catholicism only amounts to "do-gooding" and with beautiful liturgy and interior life they have a "who cares" attitude, truly. This is difficult for normal Catholics who know better to deal with. Additionally, none but the most extreme Catholics on the right would question the legitimacy of the Pope. Such rarity is not too uncommon at all with leftist Catholics.
Faith is greater than politics. In fact, faith should inform one's politics. Because someone is traditional, that makes them more on the right? Catholic teaching/doctrine is not up for compromise. It is there to help us spiritually. As I've gotten more in tune with my faith, It's made me appreciate the papacy, and certainly Pope Francis. He's certainly not a liberal pope. I will admit before I came back to the Church, I did buy a bit into what I saw on the right - of him being liberal - socialist, rather. When I used to watch Fox News, before Trump came along, I watched The Five. Only one person on there had issue with what the pope was saying. Everyone else didn't. I believe it was Greg Gutfeld. There's nothing socialist about Pope Francis either. The media has an inherent anti-Catholic bias & they will look for any means to which attack the Church. This anti-Catholic bias is something the left & right have in common. "The donatism of left" is fairly accurate. Because the left hates what the Catholic Church stands for on social issues, including homosexuality. Calling to love one another and to have compassion is not some liberal stance. It's what we should do, especially as good Christians. And Pope Francis is a great defender of the faith.
The Pope has said that the Church is not a philanthropic organisation. Yet many bishops seem bent on getting politicians elected who say they believe the gov't should provide for the general welfare. I have talked to the poor who are recieving welfare from the state. The check is equivalent to working minimum wage for 40 hours. The welfare bureaucratics are getting 3 to 4 times that amount.
You can't divorce Truth from Love. Truth without love is cold. Love without truth is meaningless. Without an objective foundation, you run the risk of slipping into nihilism.
When it comes to Catholicism and politics, one thing that often strikes me is the microfocus on sexuality and reproductive freedom but never the same degree of focus on other catholic positions that lean left. For example, I never heard of a politician being excommunicated for supporting the mass killings in Iraq yet the church takes an opposing stance.
Thank you Father for clearing up my fog about Nancy Pelosi. She keeps say she's a devote Catholic, but votes for abortion and directs funds to her husband and friends. She's just riding high on her 'social justice' horse.
The Catholic Mass is about the worship of God, not the priest conducting it. That's part of the beauty of it's structure - he has the Homily to speak his sermon, but it doesn't dominate the Mass in the manner found in Protestant services. Kerry Kennedy's mother might have done well to look a little closer into the nature of Eve's sin re: being fooled by Satan, as it applied to her holier-than-thou judgement of the priest as mentioned here. Then again, who am I to say?
To get up during the sermon (if you do not like something priest said during the sermon) and leave is pure protestantism. Not to mention she is judging her brother - something that Lord Jesus and Paul warned against. If I were the priest I would not even admit her to the communion until she confesses and repents. As Jesus said that if one has anything against his or her brother, she has to quickly reconcile and only then go to the altar. Next day she would probably be praying the Lord's Prayer "As we forgave our debtors" while at the same time she would feel self-righteous and justified to judge the priest. So, she will be praying to her condemnation lying to the Lord.
I think what Kennedy said tells you More about the Kennedys political ideas than about the church, myself a catholic, many times i have been against what some priest or even the Pope says about political reality, but i would never walk out of Mass because of that , that is in a secular View very intolerent, the others guy has other opinión so i walk away, and from the point of View of faith what a weak faith from ethel Kennedy the Mass and the kingdom of heaven trascend this lífe and this earth my kingdom Is not of this world Christ said , i am not American but i am catholic and politics Is politics all around the world we should learn to listen to others and to judge and tell the difference betewen what Is of ceaser and what Is of GOD.
@wordonfirevideo of Catholicism's biggest monster, would the church not benefit from acknowledging that ? By not trying to protect a man whose involvement within this scandal is solid, the followers of the Catholic faith could perhaps understand the corruption present within the Vatican and move to changing and progressing their religion.
I enjoyed this lecture, Father Barron. Our Church has the big task of going back to its spiritual roots to recover the glory and the standing before the secular world... How come a Catholic politician votes for abortion on demand and then goes to communion? In this moral wasteland, these lectures are an oases.
We Catholics are but one church with a lot of sins just like you whoever you are. What our Priest is saying is that what is most important is the Consecration of the Bread and Win into the Sacred Body and Blood of Jesus Christ for he foretold that there would be wolves among his sheep. And he told us clearly to listen to the priests, but not to imitate them. Our priests are that priests who are also humans and who sin just like us; however, Jesus sent the people that he cured to see the priests of the serving at the temple and to let know that they were no longer sick and that they could be back praising God for their cures. Priests have been stumbled from the very beginning. Adam was the first priest who was in communion with God until he fell down into sin. However, God continue to allow men to be priests and they were called to be working as priests. However, many of them are wolves dressed in sheep skin, and the church knows that. These wolves eventually are removed by God himself because they eventually die just like you and me. Priests are consecrated to God and as such we must respect them, but we must also denounce any arbitrary or bad conduct on the part of the priest at hand. Jesus knows who are the bad priests and his Holy Spirit brings them to the open and removes them from their service. Some priests committed suicide when they were exposed to the public and they were embarrassed to face their crimes. Children were born from many of them even after they were ordained, and others were denounced by their own victims; however, there were also innocent priests who were also wrongly accused. And we must understand that a priest is a priest even after they commit sin. Jesus orders us to be perfect as his Father is perfect for when we are in Jesus, he makes us perfect because he takes upon himself our all of our ugliest sins and he cleanse us ad leaves us in perfect harmony with his Father and their Holy Spirit . Amen. I love you Jesus for ever.
Or there was never any controversy when George Bush came to Notre Dame despite his stances on the death penalty or neglect of the poor of which the Church disagrees with. But when Obama came due to his stance on abortion there was an uproar. It seems to me to be a double standard in place. This is coming from an ex-Catholic who was turned away by some of the hostility of Catholics on only certain issues while ignoring others. If we are to condemn homosexuals why not racists, greedy bosses, ect?
It's ironic how Bishop Barron talks about how it is wrong to ignore what priests say if the priest isn't arguably an upstanding person or Catholic, yet many here dismiss what Kerry Kennedy says because of her personal faults. We are all sinners. Despite what Kerry Kennedy has done in the past, it does not negate the message of Catholic social teaching. It annoys me how conservatives roll their eyes whenever someone talks about social justice or when the Pope talks about poverty and inequality. Yes, Catholicism is not just social justice, but you should not reduce Catholicism to abortion and same-sex marriage either.
Yes! I've been the recipient of charity, and I much prefer to receive it with dignity from a conservative than from a liberal who truly looks down her nose at me.
