Doing the right thing

  Today, when I was going with my mother to do a bit of scrap metal, we witnessed black smoke not too far from where I live.  Well, we went a bit further up, and noticed there were no fire engines, nor firefighters in that locale.  I wanted to run in, but mother warned me against it.  Eventually, however, the fire got so bad, that I couldn't just wait, so I, another two men, and my mother all rushed in.  Now, there was no one in there (Thanks be to God!), but I couldn't let someone else's life be on my conscience.  Even if I would have died (I obviously did not), I would know that at the moment of my death, I'd have died doing the right thing.  I found out who owned the house, though I had never met him, I'd most certainly have risked my life for him.  And why would that be the right thing to do?   Well, we know Jesus is still alive, correct?  We know he is alive in the Eucharist, no?  But we don't know him in the same way his Apostles knew him, yet he saw fit to die for the sinner typing this and the sinners reading this.  He died to save our lives.  And I would have gladly done that for this man.

Pope Francis is not a communist or a socialist

  The reason I post this is because I keep seeing people on Twitter saying this stuff, and it frustrates me.  So many people are trying to force political terms on a religious leader, which is a problem in and of itself.  It should be remembered that Karl Marx, though an ethnic Jew, was antagonistic toward religion.  So with that, I leave you with the Catechism's view of Capitalism and Socialism.  From the Catechism:

2425" The Church has rejected the totalitarian and atheistic ideologies associated in modem times with "communism" or "socialism." She has likewise refused to accept, in the practice of "capitalism," individualism and the absolute primacy of the law of the marketplace over human labor.207 Regulating the economy solely by centralized planning perverts the basis of social bonds; regulating it solely by the law of the marketplace fails social justice, for "there are many human needs which cannot be satisfied by the market."208 Reasonable regulation of the marketplace and economic initiatives, in keeping with a just hierarchy of values and a view to the common good, is to be commended."

Let's stop trying to force modern political terms on the ancient ideas of Christianity.  
(Note: Spelling and grammar errors are due to distractions)

Being Pro-Life, and not just saying we are

  I was listening to Catholic Radio yesterday, I think Trent Horn and Patrick Coffin.  They were taking calls from Pro-Choice people, only, and I realised that, I don't find the pro-choice argument very convincing.  That said, I can understand why some people think pro-life people are hypocrites, because some are.  Now, I am not going to get into the political aspect of this (though I think abortion should be illegal and have no problem saying this).  There's one problem I have with terminology.  Catholics shouldn't be liberal or conservative.  Those are secular terms that do not reflect the realities of faith.  Back to the Pro-life cause.  One thing we Catholics have excelled at is social justice.  We have made sure people have had clean water, were treated fairly, and had enough to eat.  I would argue that, taking a stance against abortion is in itself, if we are to use secular terms, "liberal".  Many of the more liberal minded people really are sincere that people might not have enough to eat, might end up homeless, or might get involved in crime if steps are taken to prevent these actions.  Those are, in and of themselves, noble actions.  Until the subject of abortion comes up.  We often hear that Pro-life people don't care about babies after their born.  This is untrue.  The Catholic Church having orphanages (as well as other religious groups) is proof this is false.  Maybe it is true; maybe some children will be unwanted by their parents, but no child is truly unwanted.  The fact that the number of abortions outnumbers the number of adoptions is cause for concern.  Abortion is in fact murder, it is the killing of another human being.  Now, they are right to say some "Conservative" People aren't very consistent with being pro-life (and to some extent, that is true), but I would argue, as someone against capital punishment (CCC #2267), that I find it ironic that some more liberally minded people think capital punishment is unjust (and indeed, in many cases it can be), but the common logic for Pro-Choice people is that it is better to kill an unborn child than to bring an unwanted one into the world.  Telling people abortion is wrong does not mean you are judging their soul.  It does not mean you are condemning them to hell.  And when you pray to end abortion, (I cried during my whole Rosary today), pray for those that have had abortion, those that have thought about having an abortion, and those souls killed through abortion.  Not to say there are some bad ways to deal with abortion.  For instance, the Westboro Baptist Church version of protesting is probably not the ideal way to get people on your side.  I have been involved with Aiken County Pro-Life, I have gone to the capital of South Carolina to March for life (can't make it to DC), I have prayed outside of abortion clinics when I worked next door to one.  I did the life chain for a few years.  And somewhere, I got slack.  But now, now that I've heard what pro-choicers have to say, I think it's time to once again, walk the walk, instead of just talk the talk.  God Bless.  Pray for an end to abortion, please.