I am trying to understand how you think liberalism and Christianity go hand in hand. Being a libertarian, I find fault with the Right and the Left equally. The compassionate conservative movement (what most people call the religious right) is based on the old progressive platform of Christian Socialism. Modern day liberals, like yourself, hate this; but you can never quite grasp the fact that conservatives just have a different view of progressivism.

Your side (liberals) would have us feed the hungry, shelter the poor and clothe the naked all on the taxpayer dime. Forced charity through taxation amounts to nothing more than theft in my book. If anything, your Catholic Church is as much to blame for this as big government. The church should be putting the government out of business in the arena of “feed the hungry, shelter the poor and clothe the naked.” But, sadly, they do not.

The conservatives want to use the power of government to force people to live, what they consider to be, a moral lifestyle. The liberals want to use the power of government to force people to be charitable and help their fellow man. The Christian libertarian, like me, understands that both philosophies are flawed. The do not take into account flawed human nature. Both sides are fighting for their own form of progressivism, while the libertarian fights for freedom across the board.

In the end, the way you live your life, your salvation, and your donations to charity are personal decisions. No one can do it for you. I have no right to tell you how to live, and I have no right to elect government officials to impose my views on you, morally or economically. The Christian libertarian seeks to remove the power of government from the individual person’s life, and allow them to make their own choices. If you want people to live a moral life, lead by example. If you want people to be more charitable, lead by example.

Charitable giving, just like salvation, can not be forced on anyone. To do so, is theft, and a sin. Conservatives and liberals both have it wrong when trying to equate their political philosophy with their Christian theology. The Christian libertarians have it right.

No such thing as a “vast right wing conspiracy, pal. Just liberal loser philosophy.

Watching that event with my pal, Kevin Swanwick, we both were mesmerized and just slightly overjoyed to be reminded yet again that the basic tenets of Liberalism are in perfect harmony with our Christianity – our Catholicism:

So Kennedy killing a woman, and the “waitress sandwich” are fine in the Catholic community? I don’t think so. So murdering babies in the womb is Christian? Maybe you need to talk to the Pope, bud.

feed the hungry, shelter the poor and clothe the naked. Oh, how I wish the camera would have cut to Bush’s face the moment he was confronted with the most famous line (and justly so) from the Gospel according to Matthew:

Charity does just that, I hear your guy, Berry Obutthole, is not allowing tax credits for charity. Such an upstanding Christian, isn’t he.

“I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution which granted a right to Congress of expending, on objects of benevolence, the money of their constituents.” — James Madison

“I tell you this: whatever you did to the least of these brothers of mine, you did to me.”

Jesus of Nazareth

Amen

One can only imagine how uncomfortable that passage from the scriptures must have made him feel. Or how about the Sermon on the Mount?

“Blessed are the peace makers For they shall be called Sons of God.”

“Peace makers”, you know what happens after you win a war? Peace. Does that make George Bush a “peace maker”? I can quote you several instances of war in the bible. Solomon and David come to mind. Read your bible.

I imagine being confronted with the words of Jesus Christ might make old George just a tad uneasy. The prayers that were offered up by the youngest members of the Kennedy clan, in Teddy’s own words, were the most touching part of the entire day:

“That human beings be measured not by what they cannot do. That quality health care becomes a fundamental right and not a privilege. That old policies of race and gender die away. That newcomers be accepted, no matter their color or place of birth. That the nation stand united against violence, hate and war. That the work begins anew, and the dream lives on. We pray to the Lord.”

Lord hear our prayer.

Ecclesiastes 3
A Time for Everything
1 There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:

Again, read your bible.

After the mass had ended, and Kevin and I headed into town to get a cup of coffee, I was almost stunned by the good cheer I felt. Ted Kennedy’s funeral was truly a joyous event. Truth be told, it was damned-near therapeutic! The politics of joy as opposed to the politics of fear. There ain’t nothin’ like it in the world, Baby!

So how’s that hope and change? Didn’t Berry Obutthole quadruple the deficit? I believe that makes this Berry’s economy. Aren’t we still in Iraq and Afghanistan? Seems I remember better times under Reagan.

The stark contrasts between the ideals of the Progressive movement and the right wing’s backwards and greedy ideology were out in public Saturday for all to compare and contrast at Our Lady of Perpetual Comfort Church in Boston. The differences were so obvious, you could not have missed them had you tried.

Hey, pal! Did you forget that Uncle Teddy inherited his millions, like the greedy you talk about. Did Obutthole steal his millions from the poor, like you claim “greedy Conservatives” do? What about John F’ing Kerry? Or John Edwards? Talk about “greedy ideology” and hypocrisy. It’s like liberal loser talk out of their mouth and their ass.

Obutthole removed tax credits from charity, Uncle Teddy killed that woman in Chappaquiddick, invented the “waitress sandwich, and promoted killing babies in the womb. That is very Christian. You’ve got one sick mind.

“I tell you this: whatever you did to the least of these brothers of mine, you did to me.”

Jesus of Nazareth

One can only imagine how uncomfortable that passage from the scriptures must have made him feel. Or how about the Sermon on the Mount?

“Blessed are the peace makers
For they shall be called Sons of God.”

I imagine being confronted with the words of Jesus Christ might make old George just a tad uneasy. The prayers that were offered up by the youngest members of the Kennedy clan, in Teddy’s own words, were the most touching part of the entire day:

“That human beings be measured not by what they cannot do. That quality health care becomes a fundamental right and not a privilege. That old policies of race and gender die away. That newcomers be accepted, no matter their color or place of birth. That the nation stand united against violence, hate and war. That the work begins anew, and the dream lives on. We pray to the Lord.”

Lord hear our prayer.

After the mass had ended, and Kevin and I headed into town to get a cup of coffee, I was almost stunned by the good cheer I felt. Ted Kennedy’s funeral was truly a joyous event. Truth be told, it was damned-near therapeutic! The politics of joy as opposed to the politics of fear. There ain’t nothin’ like it in the world, Baby!

The stark contrasts between the ideals of the Progressive movement and the right wing’s backwards and greedy ideology were out in public Saturday for all to compare and contrast at Our Lady of Perpetual Comfort Church in Boston. The differences were so obvious, you could not have missed them had you tried.

http://www.tomdegan.blogspot.com

Tom Degan
Goshen, NY

As far as Teddy: At this point he’s in one of two places and for either one, doesn’t care much what’s going on now with health care.