Being is the essence out of which all things evolve. This blog is an ongoing conversation of being in various facets and areas of life, including the personal and the professional from which relationships of all kinds are formed and teams built in all communities, virtual or real, at home, at work, in politics and at play.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Being Religious Leaders
Have I been tone death or have religious leaders of all faiths been eerily silent on health care reform? It used to be that they stood for something.
You know, I was just thinking that yesterday. Are the religious leaders too afraid of the court of public opinion to stand up for what's right? It's a sad situation indeed. We need more people like you, Judith, to speak out for us. I appreciate your courage on speaking out on this issue. I'm too shy (i.e. chicken shit) to be political, but I will speak out for what's right. I do appreciate you! Blessings!
Chicken Shit? Not even! I can't even imagine NOT speaking out. A good friend from middle school emailed me late last night and spoke of my "courage and smiles." urage." We don't change much, eh?
Regarding religious leaders and public opinion, I think there is no position today where politics do not affect, even faith. Churches themselves have become so political and corporate that they are thinking about their dollars.
Religious leaders, I fear, are thinking about themselves. This is shameful. They have a moral responsibility to speak up on such issues. They have a responsibility to provide moral leadership.
For some reason, in our generation, religious leaders (for the most part) seem to be silent when it counts. They are no longer the voices that plead the case for the voiceless. Disappointing, that it is lone individuals or independent organizations (who incidentally often have a religious/faith affiliation) to 'make noise' and raise awareness on these issues. I just think that religious leaders nowadays are too concerned about who their friends are, and how they are perceived...
Catherine - I think you are right on and how shameful it is indeed. Were is the Catholic Church, for example, on this issue, not to mention the likes of the Religious Right? I have, by the way, heard a few nutballs on the Right basically calling for the murder of President Obama. The more moderate voices on the Right have not even condemned these. Shame on each and every one of them.
Here's the Catholic Church's position. They are uncomfortable with abortion coverage, but they believe it is a basic human right to have access to health care.
Zorro - The article is 15 years old! Has the Church not spoken out since then? The "debate" is raging now! I can't respect this whether they are uncomfortable or not with the issue of abortion.
By the way, I did very much appreciate the way Fathers at Nortre Dame handled the issue with the President's position during the commencement ceremony. There I was most pleased. When I lived in Rome I came to know some wonderful nuns and priests. How special they were indeed.
Mother Teresa is among my favorite people in the world; she was wise and worldly. By all accounts she was quite the savvy one with regards to getting the needs of the poor people of India met. she dealt with the wealthiest people in the world for their needs, not hers--not that all should be or live as she did, obviously.
Mother Teresa was also known to perform more than a few miracles regularly. I have followed her life since childhood. Has she been sainted by the Catholic Church yet?
7 comments:
You know, I was just thinking that yesterday. Are the religious leaders too afraid of the court of public opinion to stand up for what's right? It's a sad situation indeed. We need more people like you, Judith, to speak out for us. I appreciate your courage on speaking out on this issue. I'm too shy (i.e. chicken shit) to be political, but I will speak out for what's right. I do appreciate you! Blessings!
Chicken Shit? Not even! I can't even imagine NOT speaking out. A good friend from middle school emailed me late last night and spoke of my "courage and smiles." urage." We don't change much, eh?
Regarding religious leaders and public opinion, I think there is no position today where politics do not affect, even faith. Churches themselves have become so political and corporate that they are thinking about their dollars.
Religious leaders, I fear, are thinking about themselves. This is shameful. They have a moral responsibility to speak up on such issues. They have a responsibility to provide moral leadership.
I appreciate you too, Marion.
For some reason, in our generation, religious leaders (for the most part) seem to be silent when it counts. They are no longer the voices that plead the case for the voiceless. Disappointing, that it is lone individuals or independent organizations (who incidentally often have a religious/faith affiliation) to 'make noise' and raise awareness on these issues. I just think that religious leaders nowadays are too concerned about who their friends are, and how they are perceived...
Catherine - I think you are right on and how shameful it is indeed. Were is the Catholic Church, for example, on this issue, not to mention the likes of the Religious Right? I have, by the way, heard a few nutballs on the Right basically calling for the murder of President Obama. The more moderate voices on the Right have not even condemned these. Shame on each and every one of them.
Here's the Catholic Church's position. They are uncomfortable with abortion coverage, but they believe it is a basic human right to have access to health care.
http://www.nytimes.com/1994/08/25/us/health-care-debate-catholic-church-catholic-leaders-dilemma-abortion-vs.html
Thanks, Zorro. I'll check it out. It is, however, one thing to take a position in writing and it is quite another to be heard. Do you think?
Zorro - The article is 15 years old! Has the Church not spoken out since then? The "debate" is raging now! I can't respect this whether they are uncomfortable or not with the issue of abortion.
By the way, I did very much appreciate the way Fathers at Nortre Dame handled the issue with the President's position during the commencement ceremony. There I was most pleased. When I lived in Rome I came to know some wonderful nuns and priests. How special they were indeed.
Mother Teresa is among my favorite people in the world; she was wise and worldly. By all accounts she was quite the savvy one with regards to getting the needs of the poor people of India met. she dealt with the wealthiest people in the world for their needs, not hers--not that all should be or live as she did, obviously.
Mother Teresa was also known to perform more than a few miracles regularly. I have followed her life since childhood. Has she been sainted by the Catholic Church yet?
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