Copy
My last newsletter to you was on July 25. A lot has been happening since then.
View this email in your browser

Before tonight's debate ...

Dear <<First Name>>,

Yes, a lot has been happening in the past two months -- in my life and in our world. My own story is still unfolding, and I'll probably talk about it in bits and pieces as time progresses. Don't worry, it's mostly all good and hopeful, even in these difficult times. My apologies to those who have missed my messages and morning "coffee chats" on Facebook and elsewhere.

More immediately relevant to the multiple events -- dare I say crises -- unfolding before our collective eyes, I find the above quote, attributed to Eleanor Roosevelt, timely in addition to timeless. I first heard this in an oft-repeated bit of advice from a high-school seminary professor. I guess it stuck. What distresses me about the incivility of today's political discourse is that it seldom rises above the "small minds" level. Even more distressing, is how quick we are to see the problem in others and how slow to see it in ourselves.

Perhaps it might be helpful tonight as we suffer through the first presidential debate to keep a scorecard as to which of the three levels the discussion is on at any given moment. Better than counting up your opponent's lies while justifying your own candidate's momentary . . . uhm . . . "lapses."

For a good reflection on people, events, and ideas, check this out: https://personalexcellence.co/blog/great-minds/

However, if you can read only one thing in preparation for tonights' debate, it should be this piece by theologian Brett Salkeld appropriately titled, "Holding Your Nose: How to Vote Like a Catholic" from the Church Life Journal of the McGrath Institute for Church Life of the University of Notre Dame. He makes a strong point that there is no such thing as a "Catholic vote" -- and never has been -- but that there is a Catholic way of voting, being informed by Catholic principles in making imperfect decisions in a complex world.

One thing that is ignored by those who claim that you are committing a grave sin or not even being a Catholic by voting a certain way is something that Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, later Pope Benedict XVI, wrote in 2004:

When a Catholic does not share a candidate’s stand in favour of abortion and/or euthanasia, but votes for that candidate for other reasons, it is considered remote material cooperation, which can be permitted in the presence of proportionate reasons.

While the whole document argues quite forcefully that a politician who promotes abortion should not receive Holy Communion, the last sentence of the document addresses the situation of the Catholic voter. You can find the whole document here.

Here too is some good advice from a source with impeccable conservative Catholic credentials: "Argue Politics Like a Christian: 7 Rules".

Yesterday, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles held the annual Priests' Gathering online. There were more than 400 archdiocesan priests participating on Zoom. While this way of meeting has is limitations, and there were some technical glitches, I really like that what used to occupy the better part of a whole day could be accomplished in two hours. After a lengthy report on the current state of the Archdiocese (during these times, Christian hope is more appropriate than happy-clappy optimism!), the second hour was devoted to a talk by Arthur C. Brooks. His point is that there is only one way to address the "Culture of Contempt" we are living in, and that is in all our thoughts, words, and actions -- especially in our political discourse -- cultivate love, specifically, love of enemies. Love doesn't eliminate differences, but enables us to transcend them. Listening to one another will help each of us enrich and refine our own ideas.

I hope the Archdiocese will make his talk public, but if not, his thinking is readily available in his wonderful book from last year, Love Your Enemies: How Decent People Can Save America from the Culture of Contempt. You can also find numerous talks he's given on the subject on YouTube.

I think his words will take on a more profound urgency as we approach the first Tuesday of November, and whatever its aftermath may be.
Meanwhile, we need a little levity . . .

Smiles

I was watching an Australian cooking show,
and the audience clapped when the chef made meringue.
I was surprised as Australians normally
boo meringue.
Yesterday I ate a clock.
It was very time consuming.
Especially when I went back for seconds.

When one door closes and another door opens, you are probably in prison.

It's the start of a brand new day, and I'm off like a herd of turtles.

Age 60 might be the new 40, but 9:00 pm is the new midnight.

The older I get, the earlier it gets late.

When I say, "The other day," I could be referring to any time
between yesterday and 15 years ago.

I remember being able to get up without making sound effects.

I had my patience tested. I'm negative.

Remember, if you lose a sock in the dryer, it comes back
as a Tupperware lid that doesn't fit any of your containers.

When someone asks what I did over the weekend, I squint and ask,
"Why, what did you hear?"

Don't bother walking a mile in my shoes. That would be boring.
Spend 30 seconds in my head. That'll freak you right, out.

My luck is like a bald guy who just won a comb.
Blessings, Peace, and Love,
Do you like my email messages?
If so, why not forward this message to a few friends and invite them to subscribe.
Click here to browse the archive of past messages and subscribe.
Each person has to subscribe her- or himself. Anti-spam and privacy laws discourage me from adding anyone to the list myself. I do not share this list with anyone, and am using a highly reputable mailing service (with a delightfully off-beat name), and so your contact information is safe with us.
(Want to send your own emails with your own ever-widening circle of friends? For small users, MailChimp is free and easy to use. Try it! They make their money on the big commercial gorillas, not on little baboons like you and me.)
Follow Me on Twitter Follow Me on Twitter
My Facebook Page My Facebook Page
My YouTube Channel My YouTube Channel
The Pilgrim Shepherd The Pilgrim Shepherd
Banquet of the Word Banquet of the Word
LinkedIn LinkedIn
Email Email
Copyright © 2020 Fr. Tom Welbers, All rights reserved.


Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list

Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp