The Crossroads of Religion & Politics-Part I 

Heavenly Father please continue to give me strength I seem to bear the weight of the world on my shoulders as a single mom, I face challenges that can seem impossible especially with raising two children with special needs. Lord I’m struggling to make ends meet, to pay bills, and to put food on the table for my children and I feel so alone. I’m constantly in fear. At times I want to give up. Jesus give me strength and renew my faith.

Dear Bishop Barron thank you for clarifying Lincoln in our constitution of freedom of speech and the right of people to receive that. Now democracy is at its best. But is now chaotic.

Greatest man who ever walked on earth, had no servants, yet they called him Master. Had no degree, yet they called him Teacher. Had no medicines, yet they called him Healer. He had no army, yet rulers feared him. He claimed no territory, yet they called him King. He won no military battles, yet he conquered the world. He defeated all his enemies, yet he never harmend anyone. He committed no crime, yet they crucified him. He was buried in a tomb, yet he lives today . His name is Jesus.

"The care of human life and happiness, and not their destruction, is the first and only object of good government.” *- Thomas Jefferson*

This is a thoughtful and truly essential discussion that accurately characterizes the nature of facets of the American governing framework. I particularly appreciate the correction of the common theme today that individualism is a problem. That part of this discussion-that consideration of the individual instead of the society first-is right, and worth a deep chasing of the implications and reasons. I also appreciate the delineation about the Republic... it is actually helpful in the understanding, even if occasionally used in a nitpicking way. Also, one central conviction that has provided me a framework for transcending every category of earthly organization is this - in my life, the flag of Christ's Kingdom flies highest.

Fabulous overview of the definition, and evolution of Democracy. And the philosical, and biblical influences on the Founding Fathers as they wrote the Constitution.

A timely topic. I'm grateful Word of Fire addressed the intersection of Catholic theology and democracy. This year's election is not just about two individuals or two parties. It's about American democracy (the bishop mentioned the multi-governments approach advocated by the Founding Fathers and St. Thomas Aquinas.) vs. authoritarianism. At Sunday mass following the debate, the church I attended offered up a prayer for our democracy. Indeed! We need that. Despite my anxiety for November's election, I know that America has been at a crossroads many times, like in the Civil War, and our democracy prevailed. I pray that continues beyond 2024.

Excellent, just excellent. I am learning so much from these videos and so grateful you are posting them.

“One flag, one land, one heart, one hand, One Nation, evermore! - Oliver Wendell Holmes Quite a challenge when you have different clans, tribes, races, ethnicities, religions, cultures, ethnicities, languages, and human DNA like corruption, and ego. The U.S. and the rest of the world might be at its outer limits of what can actually be accomplished…peacefully. Great discussion. ❤✝️🌎

Very interesting and informative...thank you Doctor Worner and Bishop Barron.

"Our Constitution was devised for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the governance or any other." John Adams

A large 2014 Princeton study found: US is an [business] oligarchy, not a democracy ... Business artificial "persons" are legalized by the Court as equivalent to natural persons, and granted "free speech" of indefinite money to bought-off (to corrupt) politics! (A study of Princeton University Prof. Martin Gilens and Northwestern University Prof. Benjamin I Page.)

Watching from the Philippines 🇵🇭

God bless you Bishop 🙏

We have a Republic not a Democracy There is a big difference It is a Republic Balanced so no one group can have More power or control

I am confounded by the power that evil seems to have over good. Trying to advocate for the good of mankind ,as a whole , is like having to push back against the massive brick wall of evil forces.

Can't wait!

Deep & thoughtful discussion, as I’ve come to expect from Bishop Barron. Excellent use of a Simpson’s reference as well!

An excellent, nuanced discussion on the actual advantages and disadvantages of a republican democracy. The Simpsons reference at 35:15 is worth its weight in gold. And thank you for the acknowledgement at the end that different systems work for different cultures (in the context of Putin and Russia).

God bless you Bishop

This was incredibly interes 45:43 ting! Another time in our early history when we were teetering on the brink.....Jefferson as president had just bought the Louisiana Purchase from Napoleon. There had been and still were quite a few pioneers moving West and through the Ohio valley that wanted to seceed from the Union. President Jefferson was aware but did not intercede to try to stop it. He pointed to the Declaration where it said that people have a right to throw off a government when it doesn't work for them. Then Aaron Burr, his VP, kills Hamilton in an illegal duel and people are calling for him to be arrested. Burr runs away West and tries to fuel the fire of secession, even raising money. He wants to be the Emperor. Imagine today the Vice President trying to help part of the country to secede! Still Jefferson was reluctant to stop him but at last Burr was arrested for treason. The charge didn't stick, but that put an end to secession. Read "The American Emperor " by David O. Stewart about Aaron Burr. It's fascinating. He is mainly known for the duel with Hamilton, but he was a very complex man who was a widower, raised his little girl, lost her and his only grandson when the ship sunk on there way to visit him, adopted several homeless boys for whom he provided education, visited hookers, and at the end of his life married a woman who took his money and left him. The founding of this country was a miracle, said historian David McCullough.

So helpful!

Very good to see you .

A very interesting podcast on the philosophy of politics.

This is Grade AAA+++ top of the tops Merci Bsp Bob Barron

Our country is a republic. what is the difference between a democracy and a republic? A democracy and a republic are both forms of government in which the people choose their governing officials. The difference is that in a democracy, the people have the authority to make any laws they want, while in a republic, the people and their representatives are bound by a constitution that limits their power and protects minority rights.

Democracy begins to fail when the minority desires policies in government that are not accepted by the majority and the minority cannot convince the majority in the marketplace of ideas to their way of thinking. Then, that minority begins to claim, incorrectly, that the majority is imposing on them. Democracy by its very nature is a government whose policies bend toward the will of the majority of the country. Democracy is not a political philosophy of rule by the minority imposed on the majority. The minority then begins to fall deeply into victimhood as their excuse to then rebel against the majority in the democracy. And that is the beginning of the end. It happened in our civil war and is happening again today. Very sad. May God protect our democracy….

Wonderful

Alexis de Tocqueville: “Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because she is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great.” Ben Franklin: “Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters.”

I miss Brandon Vogt. When will he be back?

The gaping hole in this discussion is that it gives no consideration to the inordinate influence of money in democracies, especially in its US variant. Too many US commentators seem indifferent to its influence in US legislation, in the application of US justice, in the process of nominating and electing US public representatives, in owning and influencing media, in funneling massive amounts of US taxpayer money into a bloated armaments industry, in affecting foreign policy, supreme court nominations, public health issues, etc etc. To many of us outside the US, the US public appear to be mere marionets whose voting behaviour is increasingly orchestrated by the wealthy, making the US look more like an oligarchy than a democracy.

I feel quite the opposite as Churchill. Nothings makes me want democracy more than when listening to most of the US and Western elites, especially the left leaning ones. The French Revolution makes me question democracy.

I can only imagine what the Bishop thinks about the recent excommunication. Kindof a big deal.

Shout out from the Coastal South Carolina Lowcountry!

American is a constitutional republic not a democracy

The Declaration of Independence is the "why", the Constitution is the "how".

What happens when the will of the people are against God and prefer the devil? The Highway to Hell and people want to go the road down to the pit? A culture of death has become to way of the nation it has been said.

Topic Most Informative : I Have Long Held That Express Statement Render Herein By The Eminent Brother Bishop Of Word On Fire 🔥 ... President George Washington In His Moral And Political " Exemplars. " Defined The Presidency And Have Enshrined It Into The DNA Of America 🇺🇸 Political Way Of Life .Thanks For Your Many Intellectual Insights Which Always Points One To The Prime Mover Of Essence And Existence . 🙏 Be Blessed. 🌹 Peace Brethren Of The Faithful. ✌ Salem Alakim ❤ Shalom

Thomas Jefferson: It is not too soon to provide by every possible means that as few as possible are without a little portion of land. The small landowner is the most precious part of the state." From my 3rd grade history textbook in 1960.

Aristotle and Churchill could learn a lot from Thomas Sowell.

Thomas Jefferson said “Slavery would be the rock upon which the old Union would split.” His worry was well founded and Abraham Lincoln was the man who saved the Union from that split being our ultimate story.

Our forefathers were geniuses with the declaration of independence and making the bill of rights. The 2A right however is the most important of all in the sense that We the people should dictate how the government should behave and not the other way around. The right to bear arms protects the rest of these God given rights which right now is being taken away in a sinister way..

The reason the Church is becoming weaker, I believe the Church has become too much of the world, in which Christ prayed against in John 17. As the Church becomes weaker so does our country. Thank you so much for your video on "Drinking the Blood of Christ" If Satan could get rid of the Eucharist he has destroyed the Church.

Would that we would return to monarchism.

❤

🙏🙏🙏

Great and enlightening conversation.

Yes, indeed we have flaws and are a fallen people but we need to breathe the good, live in a right and just way. To do so, we need to know God so that our hearts melt for Him and that we become really drawn to act and behave like people made to His image. Yes, unique in our own individuality and purpose but come to say together, ahh I need God more and more in my life, sure I have flaws and fall short from time to time but the more it happens and the more I realize that I have flaws, the more I want to crawl back to Him for in the process of experiencing what sin is all about, I come to the conclusion that God is in everything and that He is everything to me, I can’t breathe without Him and I want to walk in His path, live His truth and draw from His source of life. All that keep coming to my mind is : what are flaws or sins compared to the Glorious Majesty of God, the God of Israel who revealed Himself to us and who throughout the history of humankind restlessly came after us to share His presence and essence with us. In Him I trust for despite all our flaws and sins, He promised to be with us until the end of time. In Him and with Him my path is assured. I love Him, I do and sometimes I wish I could have had the chance of the disciples to share my time with Him talking, asking questions and listening to Him in a lively conversation. I have so much to talk about with my Creator, fun and very interesting conversations they would be to say the least . I am happy and I praise God that people listen to your Sermons massively Bishop Barron and through God’s Grace come to know and love Him. The amount of people who listen to these Sermons are proves that we are wired for God and that we want to know about this complex, mysterious, personable, simple, glorious person and the list can go on and on. We want to be friends with Him and commune with Him. Please Papa, God Almighty, draw us to You like only You can do in Your infinite Love and Mercy. Thank you with a humble and grateful heart for always sustaining us, protect and guide those who are vulnerable🙏🙏🙏.

I disagree with it falling apart in the civil war. The CSA used the federalist papers and the articles of confederation in founding their government. Same exact system as the North.

You can say that people find self-governance and limited government appealing but that is looking at the larger world through a narrow lens. People in the West tended to believe these concepts because of the Enlightenment but even among the Founders there was a divergence on its application. History has shown people generally want to be led. I'm not saying that in support of some totalitarian viewpoint or Hobbesian take on the Social Compact, I'm not a fan of monarchy, dictatorship, or collectivism, but beyond our shores a whole bunch of people are. Or they are indifferent and just go with the flow. The idea that we could become Johnny Appleseed's of democracy and pass it along to people who had no real understanding of it in a culture that had no democratic tradition was a fools-errand. It was also a cynical ploy put forward by the bush administration when the wars of the Middle East started to go sideways. I wish the Bishop was correct but as a student of world history, I just don't see the evidence to support it. Here? In the U.S.? Sure. But even here democracy requires guardrails which is why it's not absolute. Absolute democracy is what the French tried, with the people, not some higher power or transcendent moral code guiding the process. You see what that led to during their revolution, one Jefferson was quite infatuated with by the way. We have our own myths about our Founders as well. No, as Aristotle noted, a democracy eventually degenerates into an oligarchy and in the end you wind up right back you started with a dictatorship of one form or another until the cycle repeats. Take off the rose-colored glasses, give up the shirts versus skins emotional engagement, and stop buying into the reality-TV as politics approach. Then look around at where we are at as a people. You will see we are much closer to Orwell's warning than any sort of responsible attempt at self-governance based on the truth that our rights come from God, that government can't grant them, they can only suppress their expression and application: “The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which.” ― George Orwell: Animal Farm

George Bernard Shaw was Irish!!

Distinguish between God-given “human rights” and humanly-given “constitutional” and “civil rights.” Then we can argue: what are the human rights and what should be the constitutional and civil rights?

I would also love to know how American Indians influenced the US democracy!

Actually, if you compare the Communist Manifesto and The Declaration of Independence, they are in many instances very similar to one another. And as for Marx sitting in the British Library pulling ideas out of thin air rather than the marketplace, that’s not true. He was observing and writing about the very abuses he saw in British system with its workhouses and appalling conditions of workers and child labor. The negative side of the marketplace and the capitalist system. He was not all wrong as we like to think and draw up simple dichotomies.

I couldn’t watch the show after you called are nation a democracy. We live in a constitutional republic.

Traditional Latin Mass brings us the love of Christ.

Comment for traction

Bring back Brandon Vogt😍

Counsel of Trent come on!

✨🙏🏼✨

Robert Pirsig’s Lila: An Inquiry into Morals (1991, p. 408): “The experience of William James Sidis had shown that you can’t just tell people about Indians and expect them to listen. They already know about Indians. Their cup of tea is full. The cultural immune system will keep them from hearing anything else.”

Not knocking it but Lincoln held the country together at the barrel of a gun.

There is a solution and that is Christ. But so, few of us live up to following after Him with our all. It is interesting too how for the most part Christ seemed to prefer the common man space, a lowly one. Most of His followers were simple people and St Paul who wasn't, seemed to count his pre-Christ intellectual life as rubbish. I suppose we all have to repent of something. So often in the NT Jesus and His followers are written off as the commoners and who should listen to them what do they know after all? There is something to this Carpenters and His fisherman that seems lost on this conversation of the tension. Why did God choose the way He did to enter into reality in the flesh?

Interesting discussion, but I was mystified that the discussion of the Civil War never once mentioned the primary cause and 'original sin' of our nation. An issue that continues to plague our politics and cultural discord.

George Bernard Shaw was “Irish” not British.

It is The Elect of God. So God is democratic.

God Squad

11:14

Wow our rights come from God! Not Left wing Democrats

Thanks for an intelligent analysis. Only comment relates to “religion” being the pathway to happiness and morality and what the end result needs to be. In 1776 “religion” happily tolerated slavery, and even today condemns choices of personal relationships and encourages the exclusion of people outside its group. Any faith or belief that precludes harm and hurt to others is critical to a “proper” end result, but not some sectarian set of rules.

Philosophy is the protection of the absolute. Only needed because there is absolute offense. Slandering is always from the devil. 😈

… common talk in politics is that there is as if some sort of ideal political arrangement will ‘save you’ … that is: you only need to have a certain ideal political arrangement, ie, “democracy,” "socialism," "communism," etc - to have a healthy, just & prosperous nation! May be the determining factor is not the political arrangement! … but any political arrangement that really acting for the common good (the public good ... Summum Bonum) ... ie for the health of the nation et mundus - healthy nation is a healthy world & vice versa. ... any political arrangement may be corrupted. … what was called “individualism” or “property rights” etc … are really about the primacy & supremacy of certain elite-minority private privilege on top of the socio-economic structure. … elite-minority private privilege is not equivalent to & will never amount to common health & common good / public good. … elephant-in-the-American-room: the US is really one-sided minority rule for elite-minority private privilege-interest. Corruption: There are several types of corruption: Extractive Corruption, Access Corruption ... Access Corruption is rampant in the US ...

Is Islam compatible with Western Civilization and democracy?

Okay! Never mind separation of church and state! I'll be back when he talks about CHRIST.

Replace the words, Government, Nation, Politicians with Church, Body of Christ, Clergy, and you've found the way forward for the Catholic Church. Plato versus Aristotle, Totalitarian top-down versus Democratic bottom-up. That's the key. Let the body of the Church begin to breathe again, and it will begin to grow. Great discussion beginning at about 16:00

..if men were angels.? 😱..

George Bernard Shaw was not a good man. Not exactly a man I would be quoting to follow as a guide. Is that man you hold high? Quoting him really makes me question your judgement. Intellectuals and Society by Thomas Sowell discussed him as well as Intellectuals by Paul Johnson. But the list of people who have pointed out this man's grave errors is large.

Matthew 16:13 13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? "Who are men [the people, not the leaders] saying He was?" Their answer is found in verse 14: 14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. They answered that there was no single opinion about the Person of Jesus, but among the masses there were different opinions. Some believed that Yeshua was John the Baptist, resurrected from the dead. Others believed He was Elijah, the one who was to come according to Malachi 4:5-6. A third opinion was that Jesus was Jeremiah the Prophet. Fourthly, still others believed that He was one of the prophets, perhaps Isaiah or Ezekiel. One thing is very clear: in general, the people recognized the supernatural authority they connected Him with one of the significant characters of the Old Testament or with John the Baptist of the New Testament. However, they failed to clearly discern who He really was. He was not Joh the Baptist; He was not Elijah; He was not Jeremiah; He was not Isaiah or any other prophet. Specifically He was Yeshua the Messiah, and no one else. So concerning the first question of this examination, people, in general, felt that Jesus had supernatural authority and must be a special Person, but they all guessed wrong in that they did not discern Him to be the Messiah Himself. This leads to the second question in verse 15: He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. Peter said "You are the Messiah the Son of the God, the Living One!" Jesus turned to Peter and made a series of statements The Source of Peter's knowledge First of all, He said in verse 17: And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. Yeshua first said that what Peter understood was a result of divine illumination, not something he learned from mere human reasoning. The Rock and the Church The second statement He made to Peter is in verse 18: And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. The key to this statement is the relationship between the name Peter and the word rock. The Roman Catholic Church, of course, has done much concerning this particular passage. It has taught that Peter was the first pope and that he was the rock upon which Jesus was to build His church. Based on this teaching that since Peter was the rock upon which the Church was built, beginning with Peter, then, there has been a continuous line of popes though apostolic succession. Therefore, the Roman Catholic Church can properly interpret the Scriptures. When they say this, they are saying that Matthew, who wrote the Gospel, did not understand the rudiment, simplicities, and foundation of Greek grammar. The simple point of Greek grammar is: You cannot modify a masculine by a feminine. A feminine noun can never modify a masculine noun. The word for Peter, petros, is a masculine noun and means "a small stone or pebble." Yeshua said, "You are Peter-Petros. You are a small stone-a small pebble-just like the small stone or pebbles in the stream shooting forth from the base of the cliff-rock, which overshadowed the town of Caesarea Philippi." On the other hand, when He talked about this rock, the Greek term He used was petra. Petra is a feminine noun which means "a massive cliff-rock," just like the one overshadowing Caesarea Philippi. So, Peter is a small stone, which make terrible foundations. You do not build a building on a foundation of small stones. But a house could be built on a solid, massive, huge cliff-rock, because that would be a firm foundation. So Yeshua said to Peter, you are Peter [petros, masculine noun, meaning a small stone], and upon this rock [petra, feminine noun, meaning a huge, massive cliff-rock] I will build my church. In other words: "Peter, you are a petros, a small stone like the ones in the river that are broken off this cliff. But upon the petra from which you were broken off, I will build My Church." It is Jesus who is the massive cliff-rock upon which the Church would be built. It would not be built upon Peter, but upon Peter's confession: "You are the Messiah, the Son of the God, the Living One!" Peter was not the rock but the small stone which was part of the rock; the rock itself was Peter's confession. Therefore, the Church was going to be built on the basis of the Messiahship of Yeshua. Jesus very death followed by His resurrection, that the foundation of the Church was laid. Indeed in this way He became the massive cliff-rock and at the same time served as the chief cornerstone of the foundation itself. Jesus began the high priestly ministry upon His Ascension, He took on His function as a priest, ever making intercession for us. By means His Ascension, He can function in His priestly office Heaven. Because there is a Man seated at the right hand of God the Father who is performing a high priestly ministry, the writer of the Book of Hebrews encourages believers to make use of this High Priest. As our High Priest, He represents us. Since He is a Man who was tempted in all points like we are but without sin, it ns that He is a sympathetic high priest. It is prophesied in Psalm 110:1 (One Thousand years before Jesus), where God the Father is viewed as speaking to the Messianic Son, to Him: Jehovah said unto my Lord, Sit you at my right hand, Until I make your enemies your footstool. After God the Son took on human form at the Incarnation, after He fulfilled in His life the purpose of the Incarnation, and after His death, Resurrection and Ascension, He was seated at right hand of God the Father. He left Heaven in the form of God, but He returned to Heaven having two natures: divine and human. He is now the God-Man and, as the God-Man, He fulfills the prophecy that He would be seated at the right hand of God he Father. The New Testament verifies that Psalm 110:1 speaks of the Messiah (Mat. 22:43-45; Mk. 12:35-37; Lk. 20:41-44). In fact, Yeshua quoted this very verse (Ps.110:1) to the Pharisees with the question, "Whose son was the Messiah to be?" They correctly answered, "David's." Then Jesus answered, "If the Messiah is David's son, why does David call Him Lord?" It was a question that the Pharisees could not answer. But the answer lies in the God-Man concept: as to His humanity, Yeshua is David's son, but as to His deity, He is David's Lord. Jesus is the one mediator between God, the Father, and men (1 Tim 2:5) It was necessary for e mediator to be human and that is why Yeshua became a man. Israel had the Levitical high priest as their mediator, believers today have the Lion of the Tribe of Judah.

Washington versus Trump!!!!

A preacher that politics is not a preacher, they are a politician. The good bishop is destroying faith in the clergy and in the church.

For more than a thousand years the church gave its support to absolute monarchs and even now the Pope is decided by group of Cardinals to oversee 1.3 billion Catholics. Say one thing, do another.

You have it wrong. The declaration of independence was adopted on July 2, 1776. Most of the signatures were obtained on July 4, 1776 with the final signatures of those who adopted it, there were 56, finally fixed to the document on August 4, 1776. So technically, we the United States of America declared his independence on April 2, 1776 was the executioner signing of the document which commenced on July 4, 1776 and finished one month later.

Please keep your religion to yourself.

You are our Bishop in America. Strickland was a good one too but he's been chopped down. Vigano has been cut off. Please talk about what Jesus would want you to talk about please

Catholicism ingested liberalism and is dying and yet refuses to notice it is the most bizarre thing to watch

too bad the Church wont stay out of politics