Comments for The Never Ending Culture Wars at http://www.thecatholicthing.org , comment 1 to 7 out of 7 comments http://www.thecatholicthing.org Tue, 18 Jun 2013 23:05:15 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2011/the-never-ending-culture-wars.html#comment-7675 Paraphrasing Professor Peter Kreeft three things are necessary to begin to fight the culture war: 1) Acknowledge that we are at war 2) Identify our enemy 3) Identify and execute strategies to defeat the enemy According to Kreeft: "Our enemies are demons. Fallen angels. Evil spirits." And the strategy to defeat the devil is to become saints. He continues: "It is simply giving God a blank check. It is simply islam, complete submission. Fiat. Mary’s thing. Look at what it did 2000 years ago when she did it; it brought God down from heaven and thus saved the world." - TomM Wed, 10 Aug 2011 10:11:09 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2011/the-never-ending-culture-wars.html#comment-7673 "Before long, marriage in a Catholic Church will be deemed a religious ceremony without legal standing." And how is this a problem, exactly? In most of Europe, this has been the position since 1804. Indeed, to perform a religious "marriage" for a couple not legally married is a crime, an attack on civil status. Everyone gets married at the Mairie and, then, those who wish, can have a religious ceremony. The clergy support the law; they have no wish to act as public functionaries. - Michael Paterson-Seymour Wed, 10 Aug 2011 06:18:36 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2011/the-never-ending-culture-wars.html#comment-7672 In terms of Catholics fighting back, it seems to me that it is Catholics fighting "Catholics" in too many cases. Somehow we have to get our own act together. We are greatly lacking in solidarity - partly because many people in many parishes do not have the background, information and knowledge to understand what the Church teaches. A few years ago, in a Florida parish, the new pastor (who had taught Moral Theology at a seminary) announced that he was going to give a series of presentations/lectures. They included abortion, contraception, euthanasia, just war theory,reproductive technologies, and, stem cell research. The parish hall was set up with 25 chairs but I think about 75 people showed up. And they continued to show up for the remainder of the series. People are looking for answers and the ability to defend their faith. I don't know what the answer is in terms of high-level Catholics like Sebelius and Cuomo, but there is a great need to educate Catholics on the major issues. Many have never been exposed to the whys of the Catholic position. Since most parishes do not have Moral Theology educators, creative approaches to adult education need to be implemented. There are some fabulous speakers on these and other key subjects - whether in person, CD, DVD, etc. The subjects could be covered from the pulpit, parish or multi-parish sessions (maybe after Masses on Sunday or evenings), in small, neighborhood group sessions -- or the information could be part of a parish library for take-out. Maybe there could be an effort to get the "Best of the Best" speakers to cover the issues on DVD, for example, and have a national effort to get them to parishes - along with some creative marketing techniques to encourage people to attend. And, of course, prayer, prayer, and prayer to open people's hearts to want to know the Truth. - Sherry Wed, 10 Aug 2011 05:42:11 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2011/the-never-ending-culture-wars.html#comment-7671 Put in the same spot, what would Muslims do? - Yezhov Wed, 10 Aug 2011 04:48:03 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2011/the-never-ending-culture-wars.html#comment-7670 "Fight back"? How, George. Storm the Bastille? The leftist media that dominate this nation mount the daily blitzkriegs in the culture wars. Half the country is dead from the neck up, and most of the other half is dead from the waist down if one were to believe the ED commercials. Besides, from what I read, Cuomo, a nominal Catholic, is riding a wave of popularity along with Bloomberg. Perhaps it's time to wave the white flag, sound retreat, regroup and erect moat and stockade to keep the vandals Lincoln warned about away. - Grump Wed, 10 Aug 2011 04:04:49 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2011/the-never-ending-culture-wars.html#comment-7669 Is there not a connection between the financial wreakage and the bleak battlefields of the Culture War? It seems these two phenomena may be part of a seamless garment of destruction perpetrated by the enemies of civilization. May God help us and may we have the courage and tenacity to help ourselves. - Ray Hunkins Wed, 10 Aug 2011 03:36:29 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2011/the-never-ending-culture-wars.html#comment-7668 Mr. Marlin, a good place to start would be with the Knights of Malta, the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem and the Knights of Columbus and have them pool their wealth. Then in a series of ads in the New York Times, they would explain the position of the Church vis a vis its "Catholic" politicians and the entire government at large. AFTER this happens, contact me and I would be happy to contribute. - Manfred Wed, 10 Aug 2011 03:29:25 +0100