tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557458849091969678.post2446268649344875781..comments2023-06-15T09:13:45.467-04:00Comments on Liberty's Torch: Futures: A Sunday RuminationFrancis W. Porrettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05862584203772592282noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557458849091969678.post-35047297566011942852013-07-22T23:49:24.456-04:002013-07-22T23:49:24.456-04:00It is Wonderfull when "The Holy Spirit" ...It is Wonderfull when "The Holy Spirit" does His Thing.Greg RNnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557458849091969678.post-5310299876092652682013-07-21T23:06:15.653-04:002013-07-21T23:06:15.653-04:00Three years ago I returned to the Church after a f...Three years ago I returned to the Church after a forty year absence. <br />As a (now) practicing Catholic, this post 'bout knocked the breath out of me; I wish I had the talent to express what I feel as eloquently as you have done.<br />Especially to the people I know on the edge of understanding. <br /><br />"And my people, upon whom my name is called, being converted, shall make supplication to me, and seek out my face, and do penance for their most wicked ways: then will I hear them from heaven, and will forgive their sins and will heal their land." <br />2 Paralipomenon 7:14doubletroublehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04378163493817522427noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557458849091969678.post-52110451163109675242013-07-21T13:52:45.328-04:002013-07-21T13:52:45.328-04:00Well done missive, and in a direction I myself hav...Well done missive, and in a direction I myself have taken of late. I am re-reading That Hideous Strength.<br /><br />I do, however, agree that the American state, as conceived by the Founders, was a force for good. Canals, roads, street lamps and police promote the common good, and promote commerce and felicity. Obviously we no longer have good morals, or good sense, so we can no longer conceive of anything so down to earth.<br /><br />It did my heart good to read this, Francis. Good work.Bruce Hanifyhttp://www.brucehanify.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557458849091969678.post-91581348564214737692013-07-21T08:32:25.923-04:002013-07-21T08:32:25.923-04:00Jesus worded that statement as He did precisely be...Jesus worded that statement as He did precisely because of our need to interpret "the things that are Caesar's." What things <i>are</i> Caesar's? What have you agreed to concede to the State? Are any of those in your possession?<br /><br />The contractarian logic behind a constitutional republic such as ours embeds certain defined "concessions to Caesar." As long as the State remains within those bounds, it's acting, as nearly as is possible for a human institution, within Christian ethical norms. When it goes beyond them -- and yes, America's governments go <i>way</i> beyond them -- it's thieving and tyrannizing.<br /><br />Saint Paul was being a bit naive when he said, without qualification, that government is a force for good. But then, he <i>was</i> a Pharisee before the illumination on the road to Damascus.Francis W. Porrettohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05862584203772592282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557458849091969678.post-11649301231606764092013-07-21T08:24:35.921-04:002013-07-21T08:24:35.921-04:00Thank you; that was inspirational.Now I need to re...Thank you; that was inspirational.Now I need to read your books.<br />Cheers<br />Differhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15581662615586346808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557458849091969678.post-1512731335766720422013-07-21T07:53:54.838-04:002013-07-21T07:53:54.838-04:00Great observations! I thoroughly enjoyed the arti...Great observations! I thoroughly enjoyed the article. Help me out with something: I completely agree with the idea that to acquire the property of another, the State must violate Christ's commandment not to steal. But how do we reconcile that with the admonition to "render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's?" While I'm too cowardly to be a tax protestor (at this point), I've always had trouble wrapping my head around those two concepts.Roman Connoreply@blogger.com