Liberal Christians, take heart

Michael Moore recently identified himself as Catholic. Some people might be amazed. I am not.

I am an alumnus of Regis University and Creighton University—Jesuit institutions. As a student, I was exposed to organizations like Pax Christi and others providing outreach to American Indian nations, the poor and oppressed both in the U.S. and abroad. Whether one participates in these or not, the message was clear, at least to me: Catholicism (and Christianity in general) is about reaching out to others, to social and economic justice for everyone.

My significant other often laments, “Lord save me from ‘good Christians.’ ” The term “good Christians” has to be in quotes because she means those who wear the mask of religious righteousness and push their values on others. Quick to pass judgment on everyone, they conveniently forget Jesus’s admonition that “as you judge others, you too will be judged…” And of course, “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.”

I can appreciate those who feel alienated by organized religion because of the churchgoing hypocrites who infest our society. A lawyer working for credit-card companies slapped a lien on my house is a fellow Creighton alum. Despite that, he decided that it’d be better for me to be homeless now than find a way for me to meet my debt obligation in a way that benefited both me and the creditor. I’m sure he rationalized that I deserved it.

The Christian quote that has run through my mind a lot lately is, “The love of money is the root of all evils.” Lots of people seem to have forgotten that one. Not just the aforementioned lawyer. Vise Grip tools now made in China while DeWitt, Neb., the former factory site, languishes in unemployment. Corporate executives like to blame liberal politicians and “big government” for “forcing” them to make these decisions. Rubbish. Without regulations, they’d still fatten their own wallets at the expense of the masses—and the environment.

This has been going on a long time. The Lakota Sioux got screwed out of the Black Hills after gold was discovered in their homeland. I assume that the perpetrators, being white guys, considered themselves Christian. But their spiritual leader’s admonition about the love of money was a little too inconvenient to remember.

Some people might think Mr. Moore should be excommunicated if for nothing else but for speaking up for reproductive rights and gay rights. No. I’m probably not the only one to see these as issues of personal, religious and medical ethics, out of the scope of law enforcement.

I say to Michael, “You go! Rock on!”

Ruling could undo thousands of foreclosures

Ruling could undo thousands of foreclosures

Shared via AddThis

Cheers to Massachusetts! Victims of Wells Fartgo have a chance to get their houses back! I hope this spreads nationwide! Maybe the new word of the coming months/year/decade will be forereopening!