Rick Santorum: the Too Far Right’s Radical Dominionist Theolotican on a Dangerous Rip

Disclaimer: The right to one's religious beliefs is a sacred aspect of our American Values.

However, when one religious sect, organization, or leader begins to trespass against the Founding Freedoms (even egregiously misquoting and misrepresenting the Founders' words and intentions), which we have enjoyed as a nation, established around a carefully crafted secular governmental structure, then it is time to ask citizens of this nation--of whatever faith or no-faith--to earnestly attempt to determine if this kind of relio-political theolotics is acceptable for the entire public.

Ask whether such intrusions should be passed over when our votes are cast for representation in civic government? If these radicals take a path of study and research and their mounted crusade becomes onerous to such parties as may want to preserve America's historic separation of church and state. Now we must reject these who may be attempting to radically co-opt government for their form of theocracy, claiming that any rejection of their erroneous attempts to religiously inject religion into government is a process of anti-Christian persecution of themselves. Calling themselves "persecuted" over their promotion of such radical ideology is an expected protective reaction and a typical defensive tactic-in itself erroneous and incorrect.

Rick Santorum is undermining the stature of the Roman Catholic Church in America and is engendering a backlash of Know Nothing blow-back reminiscent of the KKK ugly anti-Catholicism of the 1920's.

If only the more sensible American Catholic Bishops could guide Sen. Santorum back to basic truth-telling and the vital balance necessary for the preservation of universal religious tolerance--the mature attitude we have striven as a country to achieve for so many decades.

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Rick Santorum is a Christian Nationalist. He supports a "Christian" America, he, as other Christian Nationalists, refuses to accept separation of church and state, and they are bound to continue to set out to mold, force, the rest of society to conform to their peculiar and specific sense of what is morally right and wrong-both politically and religiously. They're prime backers of the Right-to-tell-you-how-to-run-your-life-for-you crowd which is mounting its church-based efforts to Christianize American society. Sen. Santorum and such groups hold a theocratic and narrow definition of Christianity and morals based in historic Fundamentalistic, Strict Catholics, and capitalistic Calvinism. This is best exposed in Sen. Santorum's blatant attack on "mainline" Protestant churches, whom Rick claims are at the end of their influence and purposes-no longer "Christian."

Many of the religious far right are strident Puritans akin to that of the John Calvin's Geneva during the fifteenth century. Another part of the "values voters block" include individuals such as Santorum, who is symptomatic of the crusading uber-Catholic conservatives who want to see Roman Catholicism made dominate in America. This group includes Ann Arbor's Tom Monaghan of Dominoes fame. Monaghan has created distinct enclaves of "pure" traditional Roman Catholic belief, such institutions as the Ava Maria University in his idyllic theoloplis Florida town, Ava Maria, east of Naples. Tom Monaghan, Ave Maria's founder, has been criticized in the press for proposing that contraceptives, abortion, and pornography be banned from the university and the town itself. In 2007, Monaghan drew criticism from Catholics both inside and outside the university when he removed theologian Joseph Fessio as provost.

Mr. Monaghan is reputed to be a member of Opus Dei and has been aligned with a number of other very conservative Catholic organizations and causes. Santorum is a close ally of ,if not a member of Opus Dei. Both Monaghan and Santorum are knights of magistral grace in the Sovereign Military Order of Malta (Monaghan materials here are drawn from Wikipedia).

On the Reader:
See "Opus Delusional: Santorum - God’s Avenger" - "St. Santorum Fails the Defender of Truth Test" and more on Rick Santorum and the 2012 GOP Primary.

Response to religious right use of religion in politics in "Let the government be the government & Let the church be the church".


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Opus Delusional: Santorum - God’s Avenger

A Rick Santorum led "Opus of Delusions," whip roiling the "Madness of Crowds," is but a toehold clue (insight) on a larger more dangerous rad religious right "crusade" to purify America and rectify the moral defects of modern society. Heading up such a "drive" Santorum has risen to stand against the majority. America, this spring is host to the "theater of the absurd" and the highly inflammable.

Rick Santorum has lit the fuse on a ticking bomb of renewed religious bigotry and sharp sectarianism. His efforts if allowed to metastasize can poison the well in the commons for all of America.

Allowing Santorum's crusade to succeed is to see the religious cultural war-as rudely introduced to politics by radical Catholic Pat Buchanan at the Houston GOP National Convention, 1994, is alarming. Buchanan's infamous presentation of "Cultural War" (as a political goal) engulfed this nation in an apocryphal fury which, still smoldering, will and can tear asunder American's unifying social and cultural fabric.

"We go out of our course to make ourselves uncomfortable; the cup of life is not bitter enough to our palate, and we distill superfluous poison to put into it, or conjure up hideous things to frighten ourselves at, which would never exist if we did not make them."
-- Scottish journalist Charles Mackay

The astute observer will conclude the Religious Rightist called together as "the Texas 150" met and anointed Rick Santorum as their choice for GOP nominee. Santorum is "God's man" to be elected by their "social conservatives"- the so-called "values voters." This religious cabal of autonomous religious authority figures (and the flocks they command) are driven by what has been described elsewhere: "a binary, Manichean vision of life and a hunger for conflict."

As a group, these devote religionists (cum political powers) have a highly malleable command in hectoring the religious voting block: "Their minds appear to have no more give and take than that of a terrier staring down a rat hole," that is, they continence "no compromise" on their issue no hint of dissuasion. Note, their loyalty and their commitment to a distinct set of "social issues" (to which they are called to support by their aggressive religious leadership) is without equal. Mediocre in their vote-getting efforts, they are not!

Albrecht Durer woodcutting "The Penitent" (1510) which
shows a man scourging himself (British Museum).

Suffering Santorum ("santorum" literally means "saint") & the Martyr’s Complex

This quote is the verbatim claim of candidate Santorum describing how American institutions and our nation's way of life are falling to evil forces:

"This is not a political war at all. This is not a cultural war at all. This is a spiritual war."

"And the Father of Lies has his sights on what you would think the Father of Lies, Satan, would have his sights on: a good, decent, powerful, influential country the United States of America. If you were Satan, who would you attack in this day and age?"

Take Note: This is not a "dog whistle, it's a disaster siren to his base: Rick Santorum isn't about politics per se; in his mindset he's all about serving God and suffering for one's beliefs. Religious fervor buoys Rick and his social conservative supporters (who project into the politics of such candidates as George W. Bush, and now specifically, Rick Santorum) their fears of evil and the unknown which they harbor and labor under.

Rick's surname is a term derived from Latin meaning: "connected to someone acting as a saint, or who has connection with religious things (a sacristan)." What a perfect candidate for a kind of "martyrdom" in a hostile political arena. Yet Santorum seems to be saying: Bring it on!

For Sen. Santorum and his "values voters following" modernity, technology, and science are very spiritually threatening. Fighting off these threats feeds driving motivations for the aggressive religious right's desperate commitment to be "winning for Jesus." It all centers in promoting their exclusive, banded, "Jesus polices." This fanatical faction expects national leadership and policy to flow from their man once ensconced in White House. With close observation, we can extrapolate a partial portfolio of their prime goals and aims in this crusade. It's not a comforting picture.

The hot winds of a swilling and rabid religious storm are following, surrounding and supporting the front -running GOP candidate, Rick Santorum. Out of this storm we see that Rick has assumed role similar to that of one Father Coughlin of the troubled and turbulent 1930's, a cleric and strict Catholic. Coughlin was an arch-provocateur and agitator riling the fears and paranoia of religious conservatives. Eventually Father Coughlin crossed the line and his ranting was unplugged, long after deep damage was done to the country.

Coughlin's 1930's flock of extremists believed in no compromise. Coughlin's militant crusaders and fans were individuals for whom the Devil is real and the Devil's disciples are both identifiable and clear targets (think: liberals, secularists, 1960's activists), enemies perfectly attacked as the "enemies of God's people " and even "enemies of God himself." These terms were part and parcel of Dr. James Dobson's attack on Congress's judicial appointments and Sen. Patrick Leahy, all who opposed Dobson's intrusion into the process with his church based /national crusade designed to skew the SOUS appointment process toward the religious, extreme right's wishes.

Identify Santorum as a man lost in a one dimensionist's moral delusion, conceiving of only stark Black or lily White, he's Manichean. "Manichean" is widely applied as an adjective to a philosophy or attitude of moral dualism, according to which a moral course of action involves a clear (or simplistic) choice between good and evil, or as a noun to people who hold such a view." (Wikipedia)

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Operating in the religio-political arena which the "spiritual" leadership of Protestant-based Moral Majority remnants (ala Jerry Falwell) engendered are folk who can be moved by panic stampede. Appealing to them we now find Santorum. This faction, led by Tim LaHaye (still in the business of religious king-making) wants to mount Santorum's kind of red-meat political slug-fest. Santorum willingly provides fodder-hate radio style.

"Men, it has been well said, think in herds; it will be seen that they go mad in herds, while they only recover their senses slowly, and one by one."
-- Scottish journalist Charles Mackay (who warned and informed his readers of "the madness of crowds.")

On the Reader:
See Also: "Diehard Fundamentalist Evangelicals & Pentecostals have essentially a no-choice “choice” for GOP Candidate for President"and "St. Santorum Fails the Defender of Truth Test".
More on Rick Santorum and the candidates in the 2012 GOP Presidential Primary on the Gazette.

Original PART 1 and PART 2.

Newt's Crafty Ploy: Outfox the Values Voters In South Carolina

It's another sample of Newt Gingrich's crafty redefinition of his own soiled character: Being "scrubbed up" by his knelling confession to the great Dr. Dobson, and additionally (for good measure), Newt's subsequent bold decision to convent to Roman Catholicism.

"From a Catholic point of view, Newt's sins no longer exist-they've been absolved. He's made a fresh start in life. So Newt will continue to sin and confess but there aren't going to be a lot of Catholics who will hold that against him. They understand why being a Catholic makes a difference." 

Source: Reported by based on Max Blumenthal's conversation with Deal Hudson, a Catholic political adviser to President Bush and Karl Rove, founder of the seminal Catholic journal, Crisis magazine.

Newt's conversion was all "a cold hard calculation." It was Newt's choreographed attempt to enter the "sacred circle" of the "born again" which satisfies the soulful approval/acceptance by the far right religious base of the GOP. It's these folk who go "all out" in blind support for a high profile "redemption" testimony.

There it is: Gingrich's grandiose game plan - lay claim to the "open-armed" "welcoming willingness" of millions of Fundamentalist, Evangelicals, and Pentecostals to believe in, and accept the sexually addicted Gingrich into the company of the "saved"-all scrubbed up.

BUT is it real?

Is it morally transformative?

Is it believable?

Is it a calculated sham?
Will it work to win over Protestant Evangelicals?

Newt's 180 degree turn to Catholicism, is it a deceptive device to find favor and "redemptive acceptance" from the Religious Right voting base in spite of his life-long low-life sexual history?

Conservative students at Catholic University protested Newt's showy conversion:

"When Catholic University announced in January 2005 that Newt Gingrich would deliver a speech on campus, a group of students rose up in protest, accusing the twice-divorced, admitted philanderer of violating the Catholic values that their school was founded upon."
-- Max Blumenthal

Excerpt from Huffington Post, "Newt Gingrich Marriage Infidelities: Church Forgives, But Voters?":

"On the issue of him cheating on wife one with wife two, and on wife two with wife three, and the hypocrisy that comes along with Gingrich being a key figure in the Bill Clinton impeachment process, it's not going to be lost on many evangelicals, who do care about sexual morality," said Laura Olsen, a political science professor at Clemson University in South Carolina.

"BUT A BIG PART OF EVANGELICAL THEOLOGY IS THAT WE ARE A FALLEN HUMANITY AND WE ARE NEVER GOING TO LIVE UP TO PERFECT IDEAL. ... IT'S MORE OF A QUESTION OF SAYING 'I HAVE MADE A MISTAKE, I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT MISTAKE AND I NEED TO TURN TO GOD,'" OLSEN SAID.

"Roman Catholics such as Gingrich -- he converted to the religion of his wife in 2010 and has fashioned himself as a Christian fighting an increasingly secular world -- differ substantially from evangelical Protestants in several ways, from their belief that bread and wine transform into the blood and body of Christ during Mass to the role of the pope and priesthood.

"But when it comes to forgiveness, there are similarities. While Catholics are required to confess their sins to priests in order to be absolved, they are also encouraged to pray and confess in private to God, as is common among evangelicals, who tend to identify with an experience of personal conversion, a strong personal relationship with God and a need to spread the gospel. Both strains of Christianity uphold the varied interpretations of the original sin, the idea that either humans or humanity lost innocence after the fall of Adam and Eve.

"In the Roman Catholic Church, where civil divorces aren't recognized, Gingrich also has needed to convince authorities that his previous marriages were not really marriages.

"Gingrich began the annulment process, which may take years, in 2002 with a request that the Archdiocese of Atlanta declare "null" his marriage to his second wife, Marianne Gingrich. Church observers believe he asked around the same time to annul his first marriage. Both requests presumably were successful, as Gingrich is now in good standing with the church.

"Church records on annulments are kept confidential and Gingrich's current priest, Msgr. Walter Rossi of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., declined to talk specifics about his parishioner. Experts in canon law, the internal rules of the church, say it's unlikely that a twice-divorced and twice-remarried man could join a Catholic church without his previous marriages being annulled."
(emphasis added)

Ask any of the 150 Texas Far Right Religious Leaders who endorsed Santorum how they stand on high moral principle. Some of that crowd still hold support for Newt rather than Santorum. They plan to promote an endorsement for Gingrich in spite of his past immoral sexual behaviors. He said that's past history, didn't he?

Where's the Moral Consistency in the behavior of these Gingrich supporting Texas 150; self-proclaimed religio-politicians and moral leaders?

What does it say about the "values voters" and their endangered commitment to God's 10 Commandments, when "winning at politics" undermines their moral principles and basic religious values?

See also:
Obama is the Anti-Christ & Dead Jerry Falwell has sent urgent word from Paradise “Vote Gingrich”
Let the government be the government & Let the church be the church.

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The 'Mouse' in the Room in the 2012 Republican Presidential Primary Seeking the Defeat of Barack Obama

Why Are Libertarian Leaning Republicans, the GOP’s True BLUE R.I.N.O.’s, Suddenly Afraid of the ”Mouse” That Scares the 'B' Juses Out of Their Effort to Unseat Pres. Obama?

The "Mouse" in the elephant's cage is not really so small a fright as it once was back when Jerry Falwell joined Frank Schaeffer (Christian Right leaders such as Tim LaHaye have credited Schaeffer for influencing their theological arguments urging political participation by evangelicals. (American terrorist) Randall Terry, the founder of Operation Rescue, also acknowledged the influence of Schaeffer"- Wikipedia) together these two created a powerful coalition of values voters/so-called social conservatives who could join the Misogamy of Phyllis Schafley's anti-ERA crusade ("Sexual harassment on the job is not a problem for virtuous women" ) with the roiling Jim Crow sentiment that brought the Dixicrats into the Republican fold en mass under Barry Goldwater and Barry's ardent refusal to approve the Civil Rights legislation of the early 1960's.

Catering to the social conservative activists and pastor-led "church going voters"in Iowa has become a GIANT PROBLEM for the national Republican nomination process. Giving "social conservatives" the wheel and the driver's seat in legislation and candidate selection is seen as a clear path to SURE DEFEAT and the easy reelection of President Barack Obama.

An ardent Social Conservative may win the primary, and almost surely lose the November national election.

Always there has been the GOP Establishment's ability to slip stream, mollify, the anti-abortionists and ilk; just as every GOP president since Reagan has done so well. Now, having used this "morals issue" over and over, it's time to give the so-called "Social Conservatives" the big bone they are demanding, that they have worked so slavishly to obtain-a moral over-ride, cart blanche to enact any or all the raft of legislation these Hard/Harsh/Disciplining Fundamentalists, driven by "strong faith," desire.

The frothing desire of so-called "Social Conservatives" to enact all the oppressive and repressive laws and legislation they desire has the ability to stymie the Marketplace Corporatists (whose heyday of economic advantage has hidden under the skirts of "Social Conservatives." )

Here is the rub. If the "social conservatives" do not come out for a "strong convictions GOP candidate," sit on their hands and not vote at all, then the rolling advantage and heyday of Marketplace Entrepreneurals (given special advantage by Evangelicals, Pentecostals, and Strict Catholics) will dry up and their commercial and legislative, unearned advantage will have to be won by Corporatists and "Market Fundamentalists" on their own merits.

No more True Believers handing out a free ride to Wall Street con men, Ken Lay, Enron, Koch Industries, and Amway could change and moderate the rancorous American political scene in a most healing manner.


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Hank Payne’s Utter Failure to Occupy the Moral High Ground vs. Michael Moore’s Progress Thereunto

Henry Payne's gnawing away on Michael Moore with shabby grievances is very small on his part.

Payne's real arguments made on the Detroit/Mackinac News and Michigan View, center against Moore and the Occupy Movement and with the power and the authority of the Roman Catholic Church, and several vicars of Christ - its popes.

Hank is on thin ice and at risk as a credible moral voice and/or guide.

Early in the anti-poor legislative blitz mounted by the Michigan TeaPublican super majorities in Lansing the Detroit News, the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, the Mackinac Center (aided and abetted by the cynical Detroit News pinchpennies Nolan, Frank, Dr. Gary, Hank, and the peanut gallery of hand-cranked memographers of corporate pap and propaganda at the mighty Mackinac Center mischief mill) simply ignored the sharp criticism directed by the Michigan Conference of Catholic Bishops against Rick Snyder and crew as they took down and compounded the absolute plight of the poor in Michigan.

SEE: Letter from the Michigan Catholic Conference Calling for Greater Attention to Poor and Unemployed in the Michigan State Budget to Governor Rick Snyder and Michigan Legislative Leaders on April 11, 2011 begins:

"We, the Roman Catholic Bishops of the seven Dioceses in Michigan, take this opportunity as proposals are being advanced by our legislators to craft the state budget, to call on you, our executive and legislative leaders, to carry out your responsibilities with greater attention to the needs of the poor, the unemployed and other vulnerable persons who make up a large part of the citizens of Michigan."

Michael Moores' Rich Catholic Heritage Stands Opposed to Hank Payne & Cadre's Thinly Varnished Parsimony & Bitter, Ascorbic Civic Cynicism
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The American Conference of Catholic Bishops has enunciated a Set of Principles partially annotated from Wikipedia as below:

1.) Sanctity of human life and dignity of the person -

2.) Call to family, community, and participation - According to the Book of Genesis, the Lord God said: "It is not good for the man to be alone". The Catholic Church teaches that man is now not only a sacred but also a social animal and that families are the first and most basic units of a society. It advocates a complementarian view of marriage, and family life, religious leadership. FULL HUMAN DEVELOPMENT TAKES PLACE IN RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHERS. The family-based on marriage(between a man and a woman)-is the first and fundamental unit of society and is a sanctuary for the creation and nurturing of children. Together families form communities, communities a state and together all across the world each human is part of the human family. HOW THESE COMMUNITIES ORGANIZE THEMSELVES POLITICALLY, ECONOMICALLY AND SOCIALLY IS THUS OF THE HIGHEST IMPORTANCE. EACH INSTITUTION MUST BE JUDGED BY HOW MUCH IT ENHANCES, OR IS A DETRIMENT TO, THE LIFE AND DIGNITY OF HUMAN PERSONS.

CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING OPPOSES COLLECTIVIST APPROACHES SUCH AS COMMUNISM BUT AT THE SAME TIME IT ALSO REJECTS UNRESTRICTED LAISSEZ-FAIRE POLICIES AND THE NOTION THAT A FREE MARKET AUTOMATICALLY PRODUCES SOCIAL JUSTICE. THE STATE HAS A POSITIVE MORAL ROLE TO PLAY AS NO SOCIETY WILL ACHIEVE A JUST AND EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF RESOURCES WITH A TOTALLY FREE MARKET. ALL PEOPLE HAVE A RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ECONOMIC, POLITICAL, AND CULTURAL LIFE OF SOCIETY and, under the principle of subsidiarity, state functions should be carried out at the lowest level that is practical.

3.) Rights and responsibilities -

4.) Preferential Option for the poor and vulnerable - Jesus taught that on the Day of Judgement God will ask what each of us did to help the poor and needy: "Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me." This is reflected in the Church's canon law, which states, "THE CHRISTIAN FAITHFUL ARE ALSO OBLIGED TO PROMOTE SOCIAL JUSTICE and, mindful of the precept of the Lord, to assist the poor from their own resources."

Through our words, prayers and deeds we must show solidarity with, and compassion for, the poor. WHEN INSTITUTING PUBLIC POLICY WE MUST ALWAYS KEEP THE "PREFERENTIAL OPTION FOR THE POOR" AT THE FOREFRONT OF OUR MINDS.

The moral test of any society is "how it treats its most vulnerable members. THE POOR HAVE THE MOST URGENT MORAL CLAIM ON THE CONSCIENCE OF THE NATION. WE ARE CALLED TO LOOK AT PUBLIC POLICY DECISIONS IN TERMS OF HOW THEY AFFECT THE POOR."

Pope Benedict XVI has taught that "love for widows and orphans, prisoners, and the sick and needy of every kind, is as essential as the ministry of the sacraments and preaching of the Gospel". THIS PREFERENTIAL OPTION FOR THE POOR AND VULNERABLE INCLUDES ALL WHO ARE MARGINALIZED IN OUR NATION AND BEYOND-UNBORN CHILDREN, PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, THE ELDERLY AND TERMINALLY ILL, AND VICTIMS OF INJUSTICE AND OPPRESSION.

5.) Dignity of work - Society must pursue economic justice and the economy must serve people, not the other way around. Employers must not "look upon their work people as their bondsmen, but ... respect in every man his dignity as a person ennobled by Christian character." Employers contribute to the common good through the services or products they provide and by creating jobs that uphold the dignity and rights of workers.

Workers have a right to work, to earn a living wage, and to form trade unions to protect their interests. All workers have a right to productive work, to decent and fair wages, and to safe working conditions. Workers also have responsibilities-to provide a fair day's work for a fair day's pay, to treat employers and co-workers with respect, and to carry out their work in ways that contribute to the common good. Workers must "fully and faithfully" perform the work they have agreed to do.

In 1933, the Catholic Worker Movement was founded by Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin. It was committed to nonviolence, voluntary poverty, prayer, and hospitality for the marginalized and poorest in Society. Today over 185 Catholic Worker communities continue to protest injustice, war, racism, and violence of all forms.

6.) Solidarity - "Solidarity is undoubtedly a Christian virtue. It seeks to go beyond itself to total gratuity, forgiveness, and reconciliation. It leads to a new vision of the unity of humankind, a reflection of God's triune intimate life...." It is a unity that binds members of a group together.

All the peoples of the world belong to one human family. We must be our brother's keeper, though we may be separated by distance, language or culture. Jesus teaches that we must each love our neighbors as ourselves and in the parable of the Good Samaritan we see that our compassion should extend to all people.[ SOLIDARITY INCLUDES THE SCRIPTURAL CALL TO WELCOME THE STRANGER AMONG US-INCLUDING IMMIGRANTS SEEKING WORK, A SAFE HOME, EDUCATION FOR THEIR CHILDREN, AND A DECENT LIFE FOR THEIR FAMILIES.

7.) Complementarianism - "God gives man and woman an equal personal dignity" but also that the harmony of society "depends in part on the way in which the complementarity, needs, and mutual support between the sexes are lived out."

8.) Charity - "In a culture without truth, there is a fatal risk of losing love. It falls prey to contingent subjective emotions and opinions, the word "love" is abused and distorted, to the point where it comes to mean the opposite. Truth frees charity from the constraints of an emotionalism that deprives it of relational and social content, and of a fideism that deprives it of human and universal breathing-space. In the truth, charity reflects the personal yet public dimension of faith in God and the Bible.

9.) Subsidiarity -

10.) Distributism - DISTRIBUTISM HOLDS THAT SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC STRUCTURES SHOULD PROMOTE WIDE OWNERSHIP OF CORPORATIONS AND IS THE BASIS FOR ANTI-TRUST LAWS AND ECONOMIC COOPERATIVES INCLUDING CREDIT UNIONS. Rerum Novarum, Quadragesimo Anno and Centesimus Annus are Catholic Social Teaching documents which advocate economic distributism.


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What progress for good and the public commons have you to offer, Hank?

Have you new material that can substitute or supersede those of Michael Moore's Catholic Church's goals and principles?  If you do have advanced revelation and superior moral proposals for the future, please share them with us all.

See Also: "Is Michael Moore God’s Man for This Hour of National Crisis? " , "Henry Payne IV v. Mike Moore: Contrasting 2 Lives" and "Occupy Payne: Bloomfield Hills"

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Is Michael Moore God’s Man for This Hour of National Crisis?

Michael Moore's Focus on "Social Justice" Arises Directly out of His Catholic Education: Praise God!

"Progress has brought us both unbounded opportunities and unbridled difficulties. Thus, the measure of our civilization will not be that we have done much, but what we have done with that much. I believe that the next half century will determine if we will advance the cause of Christian civilization or revert to the horrors of brutal paganism. The thought of modern industry in the hands of Christian charity is a dream worth dreaming. The thought of industry in the hands of paganism is a nightmare beyond imagining. The choice is between the two."
-- Theodore Roosevelt

Michael Moore was schooled a Catholic. His sense of social justice is derived from his religious training and beliefs as a Catholic.

"Is there anyone here who, if his son asks him for a loaf of bread, will give him a stone?"
-- Matthew 7:9

Let's look at Moore's Roman Catholic Catechism for some insight:

"Here is a quotation from the official Catechism of the Roman Catholic Church which illustrated the Church's position regarding the economics of poverty. This is to be found in Article 7 "The Seventh Commandment: You shall not steal," paragraphs 2401 through 2463. Notice that the seventh commandment establishes the right of private property, for without some recognition of private property there could be no such thing as stealing for everything would belong to everyone. Hence one cannot accuse Catholic doctrine of supporting views expressed by French anarchist Pierre-Joseph Proudhon in his book 'Property is Theft.'

"Article 2402 of The Catechism states that 'The goods of creation are destined for the whole human race. However, the earth is divided up among men to assure the security of their lives, endangered by poverty and threatened by violence.'

"Article 2403 of The Catechism states that 'The right to private property, acquired by work or received from others by inheritance or gift, does not do away with the original gift of the earth to the whole of mankind. The universal destination of goods remains primordial, even if the promotion of the common good requires respect for the right to private property and its exercise.'

"Article 2406 of The Catechism states 'Political authority has the right and duty to regulate the legitimate exercise of the right to ownership for the sake of the common good.'

"Consider the exercise of 'eminent domain' when highways must be constructed. Consider the anti-trust laws which prevent any single Corporation from becoming so powerful that it would exercise unfairness in the competitive market place..."

Thus concludes William Buell, blogger.

America Has Been Too Long Under the Sway of a Cult of Mammon and Unrelenting Greed: Our Present Day Paganism

The ongoing press of libertarians and malcontents in defense of rampant greed rides in large part on the atheism and anti-humanitarian dementia of Ayn Rand, Milton Friedman, Alan Greenspan, et al. These powerful influences have co-opted and sanctified the financial barbarism which is the basis of many of their fortunes (not all) and the power-lust of the top 1%; who find little shame in their dominance and suppression of the 99% - including the working poor, the disadvantaged, the handicapped, the mentally addled; nor do they recant their shortcuts which took them to this haughty pinnacle.

"In what other land or age does one find selfishness enshrined as a virtue and a whole population of individuals drinking their self-worship neat, unadulterated by any idolatry of tribe or class? Where, but here, and when, but now; could "I DID IT MY WAY" be the music most often played at funerals?" 

-- Commenter from FirstThings.

The Detroit News/Mackinac Center charges against Michael Moore's motives lie squarely askew God's Plan.

Note the brilliant summation of Roman Catholic Archbishop Dom Helder:

"When I give food to the poor, they call me a saint, But when I ask why the poor have no food, they call me a communist."

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