How Catholic faith changed my life

[trotsky]

by Jeb Bush

http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/21/opinions/jeb-bush-pope-francis-visit/

Millions of American Catholics, like me, are excited that Pope Francis is making his first journey to the United States. In our Holy Father, we have a model of personal holiness and deep concern for the most vulnerable among us. He reminds us to speak out for the persecuted, advocate for the unborn, comfort the afflicted and welcome the stranger.

The pundits would like to make him out to be a politician, but his charge is much greater than that: He is the spiritual leader to the largest group of Christians on Earth and an inspiration to all people of good will.

The church that Francis leads never tires of proclaiming the dignity of all people -- a truth that is also at the heart of our form of government that pledges liberty and justice for all. It underlies the first freedom in our Constitution, the freedom of religion, a freedom that too many in our government have lost sight of in recent years.

...

After I lost my first campaign for governor of Florida in 1994, I took stock of my life and my beliefs, and I decided to fully embrace the faith that had been guiding my family and me for many years. I attended Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults classes. I gained a deeper appreciation for the sacraments of the church and the grace they impart. I studied Catholic Church doctrine, and how it is renewed in every age. The more I learned, the more I appreciated the rich history of the church and its teachings, and my heart was changed by God's hand.

The story of a man and his deep religious faith.

[mr blur]

1. Yes, but did Gawd tell him to run for President? That's what we need to know.

How come Gawd can't make his mind up which Republican he actually wants? I thought he was supposed to be omniscient.

[Warren Stupidity]

6. Different gods.

Everyone has their own personal God. Back in the old days we had to time share a single deity. Now we each have our own personal pocket god. Instead of having to meet at a god access portal to connect with the central server deity, we are all connecting with our pocket god anytime we need to, which on observation appears to be, for most people, pretty much all the time.

[rug]

2. You're flailing, trotsky.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/18/AR2006091801149.html

http://www.christianpost.com/news/joe-biden-says-catholic-faith-rituals-helped-him-through-death-of-son-unsure-of-presidential-run-145109/

https://www.au.org/tags/sonia-sotomayor

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=16920600

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/22/us/politics/in-pelosi-strong-catholic-faith-and-abortion-rights-coexist.html?_r=0

[beam me up scottie]

3. WTF? The "dignity of all people"?

Except for those uppity women and lgbt folks, right Jeb?

According to Frankie they don't deserve the same rights as heterosexual men.

[Warren Stupidity]

4. Yes but for some reason posting this is "flailing".

Unfortunately that poster neglected to post any words explaining his descent into personal attack rather than discussing the issues, leaving instead a splatter of links. I guess words are difficult.

[beam me up scottie]

5. They do seem to struggle, don't they?

Tsk.

Must be Dawkins Derangement Syndrome, the symptoms include scouring the internet for hit pieces on atheists (including and especially Richard Dawkins), developing sweaty palms and a dry mouth whenever an atheist posts something critical of the RCC on DU, and nightmares about secularists stealing your binkie.

[Warren Stupidity]

7. You forgot one of the most telling symptoms.

Sudden ukey crapout syndrom. SUCS is truly awful when it happens.

[beam me up scottie]

8. !

[rug]

11. You know, warren, you have a creepy habit of talking about posters, not to posters.

Is there something you're afraid to say directly?

And before you talk about "descent into personal attack", read your own posts instead of performing for the groundlings.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1218213062#post7

[AlbertCat]

12. to flail

means to flounder or struggle uselessly.

I don't know what "trotsky" is struggling with here. He just posted some schmaltz from Jeb. And it certainly wasn't useless if it produces a barrage of links. Talk about flailing.

[trotsky]

14. Meh, whatever it is, is invisible to me.

Sounds like desperation and unresolved anger though.

[cleanhippie]

16. "Desperation and unresolved anger".

Exactly that.

Plus passive aggressiveness, projection, and hatred.

[rug]

18. It's really a mistake to diagnose oneself.

[AlbertCat]

9. and my heart was changed by God's hand....

..... a tire iron and a few lug nuts.

[AlbertCat]

10. a freedom that too many in our government have lost sight of in recent years.

Not on the D side of the aisle.

[guillaumeb]

13. The best you can do in response is to post a symbol? Interesting.

But to present some nuance here, consider what Jeb Bush actually said. When he said:

Millions of American Catholics, like me, are excited that Pope Francis is making his first journey to the United States. In our Holy Father, we have a model of personal holiness and deep concern for the most vulnerable among us. He reminds us to speak out for the persecuted, advocate for the unborn, comfort the afflicted and welcome the stranger.

I have no problem with Bush's analysis. The difference comes when we discuss HOW to speak for the persecuted, etc.

I accept that Bush truly believes what he says he believes, but do his actions reflect his beliefs? Can any GOP politician who demonizes immigrants be said to welcome the stranger?

[trotsky]

15. "Can any GOP politician who demonizes immigrants be said to welcome the stranger?"

Can any Democratic politician who supports abortion rights or marriage equality be said to "respect life" as the Catholic church teaches?

[guillaumeb]

17. What did Jesus say about abortion or marriage equality?

I will wait for your scriptural references.

[trotsky]

19. What did Jesus actually say about the poor?

I will wait for your references that were written by disinterested third party historians.