Mike -these words are so very true… Being faithful takes work, great communication and prayer. Running away when things get tough is the opposite of faith (I expect that from the likes of Sean Hanity and JD Vance!)
Thank you for your honesty and willingness to share about your faith. That’s not only easy. As a Catholic convert married to a cradle Catholic, I very much understand where you’re coming from. We have stepped back from the church after raising five teenagers in it including three daughters. It was hard to square our feelings about the importance of comprehensive women’s health and the open condemnation of abortion and birth control while fighting for our daughters to have the rights they deserve. I still consider myself a spiritual person and faithful. I still consider myself a Catholic. And I’m horrified by the actions of Trump against the Pope. Faith is complicated and in today’s world, if it’s not complicated to an American, I believe they’re not paying attention.
I couldn’t agree with you more. And personally I can’t think of a single man, other than our current occupant of the WH, who would ever compare themselves with the most consequential human being ever to walk on this earth.
My son and daughter-in-law tried to have kids for quite a while. Nothing seemed to work for them. Finally, with her clock ticking remorselessly, they started the IVF process. Time and again, no success. During one of the cycles they went in to get the latest results. The doc said he had news for them. The last attempt had failed, but my daughter-in-law was pregnant! My grandson just had a birthday party. The little guy is a budding politician. He was having a great time with his little friends. We don't know exactly why, but if not for the IVF, he would not be with us now. The Catholic church needs to reconsider their position on IVF. Why do they contend that fertilization must occur in one particular place? No one can predict which union will survive and which will fail. We can only provide the opportunity to observe the miracle and provide the conditions that allow growth.
I'm glad that you addressed this issue. Trump supporters, who are lashing out at the Pope, do so because, as you said, they are insecure, and dressing it up as conviction. It might be POLITICAL conviction, but it is not conscience-driven or spiritual conviction. And, I'm really wondering if it is even political conviction.
Those people would rather die - and kill off half this world - than admit that they were wrong, especially after having invested so much of their ego and their money into Trump. So, they choose heresy and blasphemy over Truth. They choose a vile representation of a man over the leader of their faith. Their soul doesn't matter any longer; only being right does. NO past generations would ever have taken up for a politician like this. People used to know what mattered. They used to have REAL convictions. My grandmother could have taught them something about convictions.
She was raised a good Austrian Catholic girl, and her loyalty to her faith never wavered. Apparently, my grandfather made the wedding arrangements when he and my grandmother married in Germany, 1916, because the ceremony was a civil one. I have their marriage certificate for it.
I also have their marriage certificate for their SECOND wedding ceremony on the SAME DAY. That one was in a CATHOLIC church and conducted by a priest. My grandfather was Lutheran, and didn't think anything about having a civil ceremony - but that little Catholic girl did. My grandmother never insisted on anything in her life, except abiding by the church's teachings that you are not really married if you are not married by a priest. She was willing to give up the man she loved - not a POLITICIAN - to remain faithful to her religious beliefs. THAT is conviction, not fear of being wrong. There is a huge difference.
Mike, I feel the same way about some of the Catholic teachings you mentioned. The way I look at it,we’re all going to have to answer to God,someday,for our actions. Each and everyone of us. Remember when you went to confession as a kid and one of the lines to the confessional was really long and another was really short?We’d all go to the priest that was the fastest and nicest. I think the Church will change some of its antique ways. It’s just going to take time. Ave Maria,gee it’s good to see ya’!
I appreciate you sharing your perspective. I see it as a worthy journey that you are on and am glad for your family.
Trump never had faith, never had the concept of service. Compassion is not in his normal range of emotions outside of (possibly) family members. Trump has never read the Bible, not even any part of it. The closest Trump comes to being religious is believing in hell and figuring that is where he will end up. Many people have a 'faith' that is focused on fear, hate and even greed. I find that sad, but just because they call themselves Christian does not mean I take any guidance from them.
Thanks Mike for sharing your feelings about your faith, at least you're honest and not just following some asshole who doesn't have a religious bone in his rotting body.
Thank you, Mike, for sharing your very insightful thoughts.
Mike -these words are so very true… Being faithful takes work, great communication and prayer. Running away when things get tough is the opposite of faith (I expect that from the likes of Sean Hanity and JD Vance!)
Thank you for your honesty and willingness to share about your faith. That’s not only easy. As a Catholic convert married to a cradle Catholic, I very much understand where you’re coming from. We have stepped back from the church after raising five teenagers in it including three daughters. It was hard to square our feelings about the importance of comprehensive women’s health and the open condemnation of abortion and birth control while fighting for our daughters to have the rights they deserve. I still consider myself a spiritual person and faithful. I still consider myself a Catholic. And I’m horrified by the actions of Trump against the Pope. Faith is complicated and in today’s world, if it’s not complicated to an American, I believe they’re not paying attention.
I couldn’t agree with you more. And personally I can’t think of a single man, other than our current occupant of the WH, who would ever compare themselves with the most consequential human being ever to walk on this earth.
My son and daughter-in-law tried to have kids for quite a while. Nothing seemed to work for them. Finally, with her clock ticking remorselessly, they started the IVF process. Time and again, no success. During one of the cycles they went in to get the latest results. The doc said he had news for them. The last attempt had failed, but my daughter-in-law was pregnant! My grandson just had a birthday party. The little guy is a budding politician. He was having a great time with his little friends. We don't know exactly why, but if not for the IVF, he would not be with us now. The Catholic church needs to reconsider their position on IVF. Why do they contend that fertilization must occur in one particular place? No one can predict which union will survive and which will fail. We can only provide the opportunity to observe the miracle and provide the conditions that allow growth.
Rich S. Octogenarian and Contrarian
I'm glad that you addressed this issue. Trump supporters, who are lashing out at the Pope, do so because, as you said, they are insecure, and dressing it up as conviction. It might be POLITICAL conviction, but it is not conscience-driven or spiritual conviction. And, I'm really wondering if it is even political conviction.
Those people would rather die - and kill off half this world - than admit that they were wrong, especially after having invested so much of their ego and their money into Trump. So, they choose heresy and blasphemy over Truth. They choose a vile representation of a man over the leader of their faith. Their soul doesn't matter any longer; only being right does. NO past generations would ever have taken up for a politician like this. People used to know what mattered. They used to have REAL convictions. My grandmother could have taught them something about convictions.
She was raised a good Austrian Catholic girl, and her loyalty to her faith never wavered. Apparently, my grandfather made the wedding arrangements when he and my grandmother married in Germany, 1916, because the ceremony was a civil one. I have their marriage certificate for it.
I also have their marriage certificate for their SECOND wedding ceremony on the SAME DAY. That one was in a CATHOLIC church and conducted by a priest. My grandfather was Lutheran, and didn't think anything about having a civil ceremony - but that little Catholic girl did. My grandmother never insisted on anything in her life, except abiding by the church's teachings that you are not really married if you are not married by a priest. She was willing to give up the man she loved - not a POLITICIAN - to remain faithful to her religious beliefs. THAT is conviction, not fear of being wrong. There is a huge difference.
There shall have always been a separation between church and state for a reason. Did DJT and his so called Christian followers not read it??
If you even consider politics, when communing with God, you are not any sort of a follower of God, and are instead a tool of Politics.
Very insightful article Mike.
Mike, I feel the same way about some of the Catholic teachings you mentioned. The way I look at it,we’re all going to have to answer to God,someday,for our actions. Each and everyone of us. Remember when you went to confession as a kid and one of the lines to the confessional was really long and another was really short?We’d all go to the priest that was the fastest and nicest. I think the Church will change some of its antique ways. It’s just going to take time. Ave Maria,gee it’s good to see ya’!
So well said. Thank you.
Thoughtful and beautifully written. I’m also so happy you have been blessed with your son.
Excellent commentary!!!
I appreciate you sharing your perspective. I see it as a worthy journey that you are on and am glad for your family.
Trump never had faith, never had the concept of service. Compassion is not in his normal range of emotions outside of (possibly) family members. Trump has never read the Bible, not even any part of it. The closest Trump comes to being religious is believing in hell and figuring that is where he will end up. Many people have a 'faith' that is focused on fear, hate and even greed. I find that sad, but just because they call themselves Christian does not mean I take any guidance from them.
Thank you for sharing something so personal.
Thanks Mike for sharing your feelings about your faith, at least you're honest and not just following some asshole who doesn't have a religious bone in his rotting body.