Catholic Politician And Catholic Voters In the USA -- What To Do?

 

Joe Biden: Democratice presidential nominee

Photo courtesy: nypost.com/ 

Recently, Joe Biden has been nominated as the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party in the USA. He will contest President Donald Trump, renominated to run for the Republican Party. Joe Biden is a Roman Catholic. 

Some Catholic voters, mostly belonging to the Republican Party, are questioning the catholicity of Joe Biden as he supports abortion, homosexuality, and some other issues that go against the teaching of the Catholic Church.  

Please read below the pros and cons of the issues involved. 

• Trump or Biden? What's a Catholic voter to do? (August 28, 2020)
• Who's a 'Fake' Catholic? (September 2, 2020)
• In Photos: Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden (August 21, 2020)

Philippine President Duterte Calls God 'Stupid' For Allowing Adam and Eve To Commit Original Sin

President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines
Photo courtesy: www.washingtontimes.com

President Duterte (front) praying at a wedding Mass in a Manila church on Sept. 16, 2017
Photo courtesy: www.philstar.com

Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte, a Roman Catholic, in a recent televised speech in Davao, condemned the Original Sin story of Adam and Eve and termed God 'stupid' for doing that. 

 "Who is this stupid God? You [God] created something perfect and then you think of an event that would tempt and destroy the quality of your work," he said.

Criticizing the concept of the Original Sin, that automatically taints all human beings because of their descent from Adam and Eve, he told his audience:"You weren't born yet, but now you have original sin." He then added: "What kind of religion is that? I can't accept it."

His comments on God generated widespread adverse reactions, but President Duterte said what he spoke about God was his personal belief and that "not in a million years" would he apologize for blaspheming God this way.

This President, in the past, criticized Pope Francis in a crude language. He also cussed against and cursed Catholic priests in the Philippines. He claimed that he and another boy were abused by a foreign Jesuit priest when they were studying in a Catholic school.

For more on this issue, please read the following: 

• Philippine president blasts creation story, calls God 'stupid' (June 25, 2018)
• Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte Blames 'Stupid' God for Adam and Eve's Original Sin (June 25, 2018)
• Philippine President Duterte calls God 'stupid,' (June 26, 2018)
• Philippine president slammed for calling God 'stupid' (June 25, 2018)
• Bishops hit Duterte for calling God stupid [video] (June 26, 2018)
• Philippines' Duterte under fire for calling God 'stupid' (June 26, 2018)
• Cardinal Tagle breaks silence on Duterte remarks: Don't be distracted (June 27, 2018)
• Duterte seeks collaboration with Philippine bishops after calling God 'stupid' (June 27, 2018)
• 'Not in a million years!': Duterte defiant amid calls to apologize over 'stupid' God remarks (July 2, 2018)
• Palace: Evangelicals offer to wash Duterte's feet 'out of humility' (July 3, 2018)
• Duterte: I believe in God, but prove his existence -- via a selfie (July 7, 2018)
• Rodrigo Duterte says he'll resign as Philippine president if someone can prove God exists (July 7, 2018)
• Duterte: Show me proof that God exists and I'll resign (July 7, 2018)
• Duterte vows to resign if anybody can prove God exists (July 7, 2018)

(Updated on July 7, 2018)

Catholics in Politics

                                                   Artwork by Jerome D'Costa

Pope Francis, on April 29, gave a call to Catholics all over the world to engage in politics no matter how 'dirty,' frustrating and fraught with failure it is, reports the Catholic News Service. The Pope said individual Catholics must get involved and "embroiled" in politics because it is one of the "highest forms of charity" since he seeks the common good.

For more on this, read the following:

• Catholics must be active in politics, no matter how 'dirty,' pope says
• Lay Catholics should be involved in politics, Pope says

Almost two years ago, on September 16, 2013, Pope Francis gave a similar call to Catholics to participate actively in politics for the common good. You may read the following for details:

• Pope Francis on the Reason Catholics Should Be Involved in Politics
• Pope calls faithful to pray, participate actively in politics
• Pope Francis Was Telling Catholics to Stay Politically Engaged, But Avoid Turf Battles
• Pope Francis is Correct: A Good Catholic Meddles in Politics

Some persons see Pope Francis as a skilled politician, others see him as a "leftist" one. Some others express their apprehension on in which direction his politics will lead the Catholic Church to. On this you may read the following:

• The Pope is One of the Most Skilled Politicians on Earth
• Pope Francis Is More Than a Politician
• With New Pope, a More Open Catholic Church? 
• Pope Francis, Radical Leftist?
• Don't Pick Political Fights With Pope Francis
• The Pope and Politics: Messaging Francis' Hope and Justice 
• Will Pope Francis Break the Church?

 On more reflection on the issue of the Catholics and Politics, please read the following:

• Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Catholic Church
• The Participation of the Catholics in Political Life (The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith)
• Catholics in Political Life (U.S. Bishops' Conference)
• How are Catholics participate in political life?
• Religion and political affiliation
• Politics: Issues, Politicians and Holy Communion, and Voting (Catholic News Agency)
• Catholics and Politics and the J.F.K. Effect
• Catholics and Politics: The Dynamic Tension Between Faith and Power (A book by Kristin E. Heyes, Mark J. Rozell, and Michael A. Genovese, Editors)
• America's Catholic Moment, and Its New Breed of Catholic Politicians