Bishop William Joensen says the White House exploited the Oval Office prayer. More than 2,500 Catholics now ask the ten silent bishops to follow him and Archbishop Grob.
Grown up Catholic clerics, living in our political climate, could not imagine the prayer visit turning into a photo op for Trump? I call BS. Why didn't they walk out instead of walking in to the Oval Office?
Mark, I suspect they were softened up by a 90-minute discussion session where Trump's "top domestic policy" aides listened attentively to their concerns, taking notes, and promising to "look into it."
We teach our children to share (i.e., "If you want to play with your buddy's toy, offer to lend him yours."), so the share-and-share-alike mechanism is well ingrained. I doubt their conservative seminary education equipped them with much of a Machiavellian skill set. These are, after all, diocesan bishops, not those sent to Rome for further training.
What is the way out, once in the situation, without causing harm from vengeful, powerful people to your flock?
(The slight twist to the prayer for people in positions of responsibility, that I've used - praying that they see the TRUE light - would likely go right over their heads.)
These bishops are seriously out of touch. Whenever it comes to these kinds of invites, they needed to do their due diligence. Everything with Trump is always a photo op.
Simple, more probably (as in the sense of Matthew). Most of those who choose a religious life (and this applies to other religions, as well) have much of their attention and energies turned to other matters than those of us who "live in the world."
I will continue to disagree with you on that. These are not just priests and brothers. I believe even clergy are more political in nature than you. One does not just become a bishop without some political games. They need to be noticed, to stand out over their peers, be seen as agreeable. These are priests who work in parishes and diocese for the most part, not priests who study scripture 12 hours a day. Parish and diocesan priests and bishops are supposed to be administering to and supporting the members of their parish and diocese. How can they do that if they aren't cognizant of the issues in the world around them?
Maybe next time these bishops could use their heads. Do they live under rocks? An invite from someone from the traitorous Heritage Foundation should have been a flashing warning signal. Anyone this close to Trump will forever be stained.
Maybe next time these bishops should use their heads. An invite from someone from the traitorous Heritage Foundation should have been a flashing light warning signal. Anyone around Trump will be forever tarnished with his stain.
Of the 12 MAGA Roman Catholic (arch)bishops who now claim they were duped by the Heritage Foundation to pray over Drumpf in the Oval Office last Thursday:
• 7 of them (EXCLUDING my diocese, Birmingham in Alabama, Rapid City South Dakota and Des Moines, Iowa and the 2 Eastern Rite dioceses) have settled or have pending sexual abuse cases for approximately $350 million.
Can’t the morbidly wealthy Heritage Foundation help their supplicant bishops financially with those settlements?
Let me add another to your question. Why would you trust The Heritage Foundation to do anything involving Trump honestly? They have been "in bed" with him and McConnell for years. Actually, since the Obama administration. It's them that picked the judges that got seated on the Supreme court during Trump's first reign. There's no secret there so it's hard to believe they "feel duped". Maybe embarrassed that it's finally out in the open?
I want to add something. One of my own family admitted years ago that he was voting one issue only, abortion. That was all that was important. And please, I do not want to get into the right or wrong of that.
Meanwhile, the country was falling apart and up popped MAGA birthed from the Tea Party. Trump, always the opportunist, moved right in, added a new persona and took the controls.
In actuality, Judges that got seated by Trump all over this country not only the Supreme court, including the one down in Florida that personally handles Trump's problems.
Actually, the Heritage Foundation and its predecessors have been in bed with the GOP since at least Reagan. That is when they started playing the long game getting control of the courts and allied the GOP with conservative Catholics and Evangelical Christians by taking on the anti-abortion mantle.
If you lie down with dogs, you will wake up with fleas. Now those fleas are coming back to bite you. What did you think goes on in that White House? POLITICS, and I still cannot believe you were all too naive to see it.
Nothing is an accident or coincidence. Trump wanted 12 bishops there. 12.
Bishop J, HOW did you NOT SEE THAT COMING!!!!
They were caught in their classic Catholic arrogance
Grown up Catholic clerics, living in our political climate, could not imagine the prayer visit turning into a photo op for Trump? I call BS. Why didn't they walk out instead of walking in to the Oval Office?
Definitely. Ostensibly, these prelates are intelligent men and astute politicians. What have they to gain from this?
Recalling: “Cui prodest scelus, is fecit,” meaning “He who profits from the crime has committed it.” - Lucius Seneca the Younger
What did they expect!?!
Mark, I suspect they were softened up by a 90-minute discussion session where Trump's "top domestic policy" aides listened attentively to their concerns, taking notes, and promising to "look into it."
We teach our children to share (i.e., "If you want to play with your buddy's toy, offer to lend him yours."), so the share-and-share-alike mechanism is well ingrained. I doubt their conservative seminary education equipped them with much of a Machiavellian skill set. These are, after all, diocesan bishops, not those sent to Rome for further training.
What is the way out, once in the situation, without causing harm from vengeful, powerful people to your flock?
(The slight twist to the prayer for people in positions of responsibility, that I've used - praying that they see the TRUE light - would likely go right over their heads.)
They may have had a conservative seminary education but they live in this political climate with this particular regime. Shame on them.
Going to the whitehouse and then complaining about being blindsided by “politics” is unbelievable.
They all should have known better, especially since the invitation came from Heritage.
I mean, what did they think would happen? Have they not beenpaying attention for the last decade?
These bishops are seriously out of touch. Whenever it comes to these kinds of invites, they needed to do their due diligence. Everything with Trump is always a photo op.
Are they stupid or what
Pride, one of the seven deadly sins.
Simple, more probably (as in the sense of Matthew). Most of those who choose a religious life (and this applies to other religions, as well) have much of their attention and energies turned to other matters than those of us who "live in the world."
I will continue to disagree with you on that. These are not just priests and brothers. I believe even clergy are more political in nature than you. One does not just become a bishop without some political games. They need to be noticed, to stand out over their peers, be seen as agreeable. These are priests who work in parishes and diocese for the most part, not priests who study scripture 12 hours a day. Parish and diocesan priests and bishops are supposed to be administering to and supporting the members of their parish and diocese. How can they do that if they aren't cognizant of the issues in the world around them?
This came on the heels of Melania stealing credit from Pope Leo re: Ukraine. Hello??!!!???!
The Sister of Charity in NY wrote a statement that resonates with many of us.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1e9vm8Qh1Z/?mibextid=wwXIfr
I continue to look to the nuns for moral direction.
I really wish they had doused him with holy water. Wonder if it would burn him?
Maybe next time these bishops could use their heads. Do they live under rocks? An invite from someone from the traitorous Heritage Foundation should have been a flashing warning signal. Anyone this close to Trump will forever be stained.
Maybe next time these bishops should use their heads. An invite from someone from the traitorous Heritage Foundation should have been a flashing light warning signal. Anyone around Trump will be forever tarnished with his stain.
Of the 12 MAGA Roman Catholic (arch)bishops who now claim they were duped by the Heritage Foundation to pray over Drumpf in the Oval Office last Thursday:
• 7 of them (EXCLUDING my diocese, Birmingham in Alabama, Rapid City South Dakota and Des Moines, Iowa and the 2 Eastern Rite dioceses) have settled or have pending sexual abuse cases for approximately $350 million.
Can’t the morbidly wealthy Heritage Foundation help their supplicant bishops financially with those settlements?
Let me add another to your question. Why would you trust The Heritage Foundation to do anything involving Trump honestly? They have been "in bed" with him and McConnell for years. Actually, since the Obama administration. It's them that picked the judges that got seated on the Supreme court during Trump's first reign. There's no secret there so it's hard to believe they "feel duped". Maybe embarrassed that it's finally out in the open?
Sigh
Exactly.
I want to add something. One of my own family admitted years ago that he was voting one issue only, abortion. That was all that was important. And please, I do not want to get into the right or wrong of that.
Meanwhile, the country was falling apart and up popped MAGA birthed from the Tea Party. Trump, always the opportunist, moved right in, added a new persona and took the controls.
In actuality, Judges that got seated by Trump all over this country not only the Supreme court, including the one down in Florida that personally handles Trump's problems.
Actually, the Heritage Foundation and its predecessors have been in bed with the GOP since at least Reagan. That is when they started playing the long game getting control of the courts and allied the GOP with conservative Catholics and Evangelical Christians by taking on the anti-abortion mantle.
Dear Bishops,
If you lie down with dogs, you will wake up with fleas. Now those fleas are coming back to bite you. What did you think goes on in that White House? POLITICS, and I still cannot believe you were all too naive to see it.
Amén! 🙏🏼