I’ll give it a try tomorrow morning. I really enjoy Letters to Leo and I have forwarded to friends, fellow members of the Order of Malta and our parish priest.
I’m a 52 y.o. (Almost 53) who over the last 6 years has embraced my faith. I also was raised by a Chicago Democrat mother, and have found myself becoming more liberal over the last 15 or so years. I had a conversation w a customer at work and it came up that I attend the Basilica here in Milwaukee, and she said she was married there, but found another parish when they started having security in the parking lot. The church is in a lower income neighborhood. I’m often approached by people on my way in to daily mass asking for food, money, anything, including a man the other day on a cold rainy morning standing there in socks. I was in tears that I wasn’t in a position to help him. But I admit that I judged her for her reasons for leaving the parish, and not kindly. I also know though, that I am attending Mass both Sunday and daily with people that didn’t vote the same as me. Conventual Franciscans run the parish and have for over 100 years. As a Franciscan myself, I know the Friars tend to be more liberal. My customer would be appalled to know they quietly hired more security to stand at the doors and exits as we are in a highly Hispanic neighborhood and ICE has been seen. The friars want none of their parishioners to be harassed. They leave politics out of their homilies, and focus on the love of Christ. It takes a ton of $$ to maintain a building that is over 100 years old, and is one of the top tourist spots in the city. They know not to upset the apple cart that’s bringing the dollars in, but if you listen closely you can hear the subtle messages in those homilies. It’s tough to be a liberal Catholic.
Is your church doing anything to support and help the people who stand outside asking for food, money, clothing? My church has a food window where people get a meal. There is another window where people can get clothes. A third window is a food pantry to help those who need more food to fix for their families. My church is in the downtown area. There’s a railroad bridge that is next to the church. It’s common to see 3-4 homeless people sleeping under there. If your church isn’t helping enough maybe find another one that does especially if it’s hard being a liberal Catholic.
Yes, we have a weekly food pantry that regularly feeds about 120 families. We also have a limited storage space to have some clothing we give away. While the church office is open they will give away $5 McDonald’s cards to anyone who is hungry. We collect supplies for the local pregnancy resource center. With Franciscans running the parish, the poor are well taken care of.
I feel you. Sometimes there are people I feel comfortable with,discussing Trump and his evils, other times there are people I don’t feel comfortable doing so. My whole family can’t stand him, and my dad used to express his criticisms of Trump with me. Mom wouldn’t want to talk about it, but I don’t think she approved of him either.
Thank you, for the article, my grandmother, always said when , I was having a bad time, oh yeah of little faith. She and I would pray together. Especially on days that were hard on her or myself.
Just as God raised up a pope from behind the Iron Curtain to help defeat communism, God has raised up a pope from the Americas to defeat MAGA authoritarianism — and to call our nation back to a land of dreams and dignity for all who inhabit it.
As one of the liberal Catholics who has sung in a church choir since 1987, I struggle every Sunday to go to Mass. We prayed for the soul of Charlie Kirk but not Renee Good. The most prominent churchgoer at Mass is supposed to be Jesus. But today, in America, it’s the elephant in the room that is taking up all the space.
I have a genuine question, what does it mean to be a Democrat left? Besides abortion, immigration and matters of the faith that one can never agree on.
What are some values of the left that are compatible with the Catholic faith?
Recognize employees rights to collectively bargain for wages and working conditions, providing more affordable care, making food accessible to people with insufficient money, Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. The Republicans want to cut all these, avoid making simple and manageable reforms, and cut taxes for the richest, who are often getting handouts from the government for their businesses. Some of the policies they encourage are designed to prevent advancement or keep barriers in place to keep people behind.
Isn't that kind of making a deal with the devil as you are supporting a party that goes against the teachings of the church on several major issues like abortion, transgenderism, homosexuality, etc?
Why not look into a Christian Democratic party like the American Solidarity Party?
Third parties do not do well in a constitutional system like ours. We don’t have room for them unless we decide to undertake the necessary reforms. I don’t see it in our current environment. There is little chance of this happening unless we can heal divisions and stop listening to people who want to destroy our constitutional government for plutocratic and theocratic rule.
Fair points, but it's a bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy.
3rd Parties don't do well. So I won't support them. So they won't do well.
As for healing divisions, all sides are responsible for it and both are for plutocratic and theocratic rule (remember the modern left is drifting more and more to a form of gnosticism, which is heretical).
However, vote for who you think will do the best. :)
It’s very simple - the Catholic faith is rooted in one overarching tenet “to love God and thy neighbor”. As a lifelong Catholic I find it very unsettling — even upsetting — that I find myself loving my “neighbors” less because they have different political opinions than I do in this moment. I fall into the liberal Catholic camp. To many Catholics, where a politician stands on abortion is often the primary reason they vote for a political candidate. I speak only for myself when I say I NEVER consider it. Yet in all other aspects of life they ignore where a person stands on abortion. People don’t canvass their co-workers, their dentist, their hairdresser, public schools teachers, shop owners about where they stand on abortion. I believe those of us who are liberal Catholics are willing to accept that we can still love our neighbors even if they believe in the woman’s right to abortion should only be determined by the woman and her doctor. That does not mean we can’t try to persuade people that an abortion is violating the sanctity of life. We can still be there when people need our support and want our opinion. We can be the neighbors Jesus wants us to be. Alas, being in this small percentage of the Catholic faithful is a lonely place.
I strongly believe abortion is a grave immorality of our time, not the only one, but a grave one that cannot be ignored in the public square. I agree with Chris, Catholics should have a more wholistic approach to the pro-life issue (death penalty, immigration, euthanisia, IVF). I think the republican party has been more consistent in being pro-life than democratic party. I am open to hearing what the ideal Democratic Catholic should vote for. I just don't see the Democratic Party presenting anywhere close to that ideal. (FYI, i dont think the Republican party is better, but I do think they are closer to the ideal than the Democratic party).
I completely agree about the holistic approach to life. I cannot understand how someone can be claim to be prolific but be for the death penalty. I am really encouraged and heartened that Pope Leo is addressing this. And I really appreciate hearing your viewpoint.
I resent being told by the Catholic Church how I should vote because of one issue. There is never going to be a world where abortion does not happen legally or illegally. It’s an unfortunate truth. Homelessness, hunger, poverty, drug addiction all lead to death. How is allowing these conditions to take hold in a just and thriving society any different than allowing abortion? I believe they are one and the same and the Democratic Party focuses on them more than the Republican Party. We have nearly 40 million Americans living in poverty. I believe the Catholic Church should be focusing on that as much as possible.
As a young activist I was greatly inspired by the likes of Dan and Phil Berrigan, Dorothy Day, and others less well known, so I'm very glad to hear this.
As the only Protestant in a Catholic Bible study years ago, I applaud you and this work. I can see that you are on the right path. Be very proud of your faith, your Pope, and of the openness to all people. All are created equal seems to be a difficult concept for many Christians. You have the platform and opportunity to reach more with your faith being open than when it is closed.
I will pray for you. I’m not a Catholic but a fellow traveler in Christ nonetheless. I have followed all news of Leo eagerly and am so glad to find this resource. Thank you!
How can I share and perhaps give gift subscriptions to Letters to Leo to my Catholic friends? I am a subscriber.
Hi, Richard. I'm not 100% sure how Substack does that, but I think you can do it this way: https://www.thelettersfromleo.com/gift
I’ll give it a try tomorrow morning. I really enjoy Letters to Leo and I have forwarded to friends, fellow members of the Order of Malta and our parish priest.
Let us know how it works! Thank you for your support.
I’m a 52 y.o. (Almost 53) who over the last 6 years has embraced my faith. I also was raised by a Chicago Democrat mother, and have found myself becoming more liberal over the last 15 or so years. I had a conversation w a customer at work and it came up that I attend the Basilica here in Milwaukee, and she said she was married there, but found another parish when they started having security in the parking lot. The church is in a lower income neighborhood. I’m often approached by people on my way in to daily mass asking for food, money, anything, including a man the other day on a cold rainy morning standing there in socks. I was in tears that I wasn’t in a position to help him. But I admit that I judged her for her reasons for leaving the parish, and not kindly. I also know though, that I am attending Mass both Sunday and daily with people that didn’t vote the same as me. Conventual Franciscans run the parish and have for over 100 years. As a Franciscan myself, I know the Friars tend to be more liberal. My customer would be appalled to know they quietly hired more security to stand at the doors and exits as we are in a highly Hispanic neighborhood and ICE has been seen. The friars want none of their parishioners to be harassed. They leave politics out of their homilies, and focus on the love of Christ. It takes a ton of $$ to maintain a building that is over 100 years old, and is one of the top tourist spots in the city. They know not to upset the apple cart that’s bringing the dollars in, but if you listen closely you can hear the subtle messages in those homilies. It’s tough to be a liberal Catholic.
Is your church doing anything to support and help the people who stand outside asking for food, money, clothing? My church has a food window where people get a meal. There is another window where people can get clothes. A third window is a food pantry to help those who need more food to fix for their families. My church is in the downtown area. There’s a railroad bridge that is next to the church. It’s common to see 3-4 homeless people sleeping under there. If your church isn’t helping enough maybe find another one that does especially if it’s hard being a liberal Catholic.
Yes, we have a weekly food pantry that regularly feeds about 120 families. We also have a limited storage space to have some clothing we give away. While the church office is open they will give away $5 McDonald’s cards to anyone who is hungry. We collect supplies for the local pregnancy resource center. With Franciscans running the parish, the poor are well taken care of.
I feel you. Sometimes there are people I feel comfortable with,discussing Trump and his evils, other times there are people I don’t feel comfortable doing so. My whole family can’t stand him, and my dad used to express his criticisms of Trump with me. Mom wouldn’t want to talk about it, but I don’t think she approved of him either.
Thank you, for the article, my grandmother, always said when , I was having a bad time, oh yeah of little faith. She and I would pray together. Especially on days that were hard on her or myself.
This is such a powerful statement:
Just as God raised up a pope from behind the Iron Curtain to help defeat communism, God has raised up a pope from the Americas to defeat MAGA authoritarianism — and to call our nation back to a land of dreams and dignity for all who inhabit it.
As one of the liberal Catholics who has sung in a church choir since 1987, I struggle every Sunday to go to Mass. We prayed for the soul of Charlie Kirk but not Renee Good. The most prominent churchgoer at Mass is supposed to be Jesus. But today, in America, it’s the elephant in the room that is taking up all the space.
I have a genuine question, what does it mean to be a Democrat left? Besides abortion, immigration and matters of the faith that one can never agree on.
What are some values of the left that are compatible with the Catholic faith?
Our commitment to the common good of all, including the poor and people we have left out of our society.
Okay, but how does the Democratic Party achieve that in their policies and laws that is different from the Right?
Recognize employees rights to collectively bargain for wages and working conditions, providing more affordable care, making food accessible to people with insufficient money, Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. The Republicans want to cut all these, avoid making simple and manageable reforms, and cut taxes for the richest, who are often getting handouts from the government for their businesses. Some of the policies they encourage are designed to prevent advancement or keep barriers in place to keep people behind.
Isn't that kind of making a deal with the devil as you are supporting a party that goes against the teachings of the church on several major issues like abortion, transgenderism, homosexuality, etc?
Why not look into a Christian Democratic party like the American Solidarity Party?
Third parties do not do well in a constitutional system like ours. We don’t have room for them unless we decide to undertake the necessary reforms. I don’t see it in our current environment. There is little chance of this happening unless we can heal divisions and stop listening to people who want to destroy our constitutional government for plutocratic and theocratic rule.
Fair points, but it's a bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy.
3rd Parties don't do well. So I won't support them. So they won't do well.
As for healing divisions, all sides are responsible for it and both are for plutocratic and theocratic rule (remember the modern left is drifting more and more to a form of gnosticism, which is heretical).
However, vote for who you think will do the best. :)
https://www.solidarity-party.org/
It’s very simple - the Catholic faith is rooted in one overarching tenet “to love God and thy neighbor”. As a lifelong Catholic I find it very unsettling — even upsetting — that I find myself loving my “neighbors” less because they have different political opinions than I do in this moment. I fall into the liberal Catholic camp. To many Catholics, where a politician stands on abortion is often the primary reason they vote for a political candidate. I speak only for myself when I say I NEVER consider it. Yet in all other aspects of life they ignore where a person stands on abortion. People don’t canvass their co-workers, their dentist, their hairdresser, public schools teachers, shop owners about where they stand on abortion. I believe those of us who are liberal Catholics are willing to accept that we can still love our neighbors even if they believe in the woman’s right to abortion should only be determined by the woman and her doctor. That does not mean we can’t try to persuade people that an abortion is violating the sanctity of life. We can still be there when people need our support and want our opinion. We can be the neighbors Jesus wants us to be. Alas, being in this small percentage of the Catholic faithful is a lonely place.
I strongly believe abortion is a grave immorality of our time, not the only one, but a grave one that cannot be ignored in the public square. I agree with Chris, Catholics should have a more wholistic approach to the pro-life issue (death penalty, immigration, euthanisia, IVF). I think the republican party has been more consistent in being pro-life than democratic party. I am open to hearing what the ideal Democratic Catholic should vote for. I just don't see the Democratic Party presenting anywhere close to that ideal. (FYI, i dont think the Republican party is better, but I do think they are closer to the ideal than the Democratic party).
I completely agree about the holistic approach to life. I cannot understand how someone can be claim to be prolific but be for the death penalty. I am really encouraged and heartened that Pope Leo is addressing this. And I really appreciate hearing your viewpoint.
I resent being told by the Catholic Church how I should vote because of one issue. There is never going to be a world where abortion does not happen legally or illegally. It’s an unfortunate truth. Homelessness, hunger, poverty, drug addiction all lead to death. How is allowing these conditions to take hold in a just and thriving society any different than allowing abortion? I believe they are one and the same and the Democratic Party focuses on them more than the Republican Party. We have nearly 40 million Americans living in poverty. I believe the Catholic Church should be focusing on that as much as possible.
As a young activist I was greatly inspired by the likes of Dan and Phil Berrigan, Dorothy Day, and others less well known, so I'm very glad to hear this.
I’m an Episcopalian and I’m with you. 🙏 Thank you.
As the only Protestant in a Catholic Bible study years ago, I applaud you and this work. I can see that you are on the right path. Be very proud of your faith, your Pope, and of the openness to all people. All are created equal seems to be a difficult concept for many Christians. You have the platform and opportunity to reach more with your faith being open than when it is closed.
I will pray for you. I’m not a Catholic but a fellow traveler in Christ nonetheless. I have followed all news of Leo eagerly and am so glad to find this resource. Thank you!