Greetings on this the Thursday of the Third Week of Advent
Readings: GN 49:2, 8-10; PS 72:1-2, 3-4AB, 7-8, 17; MT 1:1-17
Obsession with Death by Commission
Attorney General William Barr, an ostensible Catholic has updated the federal inmate execution policy thusly:
“If a State does not permit the death penalty in the jurisdiction a defendant is convicted, the statute directs the court to designate another State whose laws does “provide for the implementation of a sentence of death, and the sentence shall be implemented in the latter State in the manner prescribed by such law”.
Let me simplify, the federal Judge is to SHOP for a State that has a death penalty with a manner of execution suitable to his/her liking and to move the inmate to that State and execute the prisoner.
Pope Francis has made it quite clear that capital punishment is not a State sponsored activity permissible by Church law. Period. Assemble and listen, sons of Jacob, listen to Israel, your father.
This is a commission of sin.
Before President Trump’s term ends AG Barr has made certain that at least five more executions will take place (estimate). Already 2020 was a modern-time record for executions. While you were entertained by the Apprentice President, he was busy killing people in the name of the People of these United States of America.
This is the state of affairs of the American Republican Party and American Catholic Church.
Obsession with Death by Omission
Abortion is of grave matter and can be a mortal sin as we account the conditions of mortal sin. The Church should do everything it can to encourage a woman to want her baby. In this country the regulated right to abortion is difficult, at best, for Catholics to endure given the consequences. We do, however, recognize it is an individual decision not a decision of the State.
The key difference is this: Capital Punishment is an Act of Vengeance. Abortion is an Act of Desperation. Two difference types of problems. Two different types of solutions.
Yet we are not powerless in the face of such catastrophic decisions. We can advocate for and fund supporting services to change a No to a Yes for life but by an act of Free Will not demanded by force of law alone. Abortion is primarily a solution of poverty. Not all, but primarily.
He shall defend the afflicted among the people, save the children of the poor.
This is the Catholic solution. But it is rejected by the American Republican Party and American Catholic Church controlled by the Party. Make no mistake they are busy purging the Republican party of any idea of social justice as a way to incentivize life affirming choices. They use derisive terms like ‘social justice warriors’ to describe anyone that disagrees with them. Lots of titles RINOs, Never-Trumpers, Democrat, etc, etc. Stalinists with American Flags on their ballcaps.
If they have their way, they will purge the Catholic Church of people who profess social justice and the Beatitudes as the guiding rule for our governance and ways of life. The Way is not the way of Law but of Charity.
Gospel
The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
Have they even read the genealogy of Jesus in the Gospel according to Matthew?
Ruth was outside the people but made as one of their own.
David committed unspeakable crime to take a woman to be his wife and the Kingdom continued by her child.
Do you not know the curse of Jechoniah? I doubt so if you don’t feel the twinge of guilt.
All these things point to the difficulty of life and life decisions and the mercy of God. If you believe in Jesus then you must accept, as God accepts by permissive will, the difficulties we create and live and yet he still claims us. The ‘curse’ was not kept because God doesn’t curse we we understand curses.
Policy Shift
Put an end to Capital Punishment.
Fight abortion not by Law which is dominance but by Charity which is love. Advocate with the new Administration!
Using Census tract data cross referenced to abortion frequency tracts, provide Church and public funding for:
- Daycare, adoption and fostering.
- Income replacement
- Counselling and crisis intervention
- Healthcare, prenatal and postpartum, minimally
- Orphanages (yes, it is time to return to the days of orphanages for unwanted children).
- CDC conduct authentic research, recommendations.
You will see abortion wither away. The thing is you see a moral dilemma is providing services but no dilemma in law making prohibitions as the highest form of faith. Law over charity is inferior and insufficient understanding of Church teaching. Period.
The Catholic way:
The Forgotten Way
I will write again with the title In the Middle. It is a long forgotten way of understanding community. It is something the Lord has been trying to teach us from the first day of creation.
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry
Deacon Gerry Palermo 