Why Catholics should be involved in politics | Think Like a Jesuit, Episode 4

We've heard it said: "The church should stay out of politics." Or maybe, "Don't preach politics from the pulpit." But...what does that really mean?
In this episode of "Think Like a Jesuit," Paddy and Eric discuss the mentality behind these comments. What's the relationship between the church and politics, and what role should Catholics play in the political sphere? They draw from Ignatian spirituality to give you some tools to think through these questions.
---
America Media is the leading provider of editorial content for thinking Catholics and those who want to know what Catholics are thinking. To become a subscriber, visit www.americamag....
******
Sign-up for our newsletter: bit.ly/2Ka4SOi
******
Follow us on Social Media:
• America Media on Facebook: bit.ly/2Kal3Ll
• America Media on Twitter: bit.ly/2viJosZ
• America Media on Instagram: bit.ly/2Ka5q6O
******
Support more videos like this: bit.ly/2vgqm6A

[@ebrush4669]

I want to be a Catholic American and not an American Catholic. Period.

[@EuropeanQoheleth]

Right on.

[@agresseur7184]

I find the best advice in dealing with political discourse comes from Vatican II's advice of how to converse with other religious and that is to focus on Grace and Its role in the how, why and where. After all politics is a religion of the administration of civil society.

[@antoinetteabouantoun1530]

Did any one read the Jesuit Oath? I recommend everyone to read it. I was confused with the method.

[@gerry30]

Jesus is fully immersed in our lives yet not one word about the purpose of that immersion is not for Jesus to have a front row seat on what we do but to transform us by His grace to turn towards HIm and repent of sin. The end result is not politics but to go to Heaven and not Hell. Render undo Caesar what is Caesar's, render unto God what is God's. Put God first to repent from sin and then take that transformed person in Christ into the realm of politics. Otherwise, it's a Hell bound person with a darkened by sin intellect pulling others towards Hell with sinful political positions.

[@agresseur7184]

"If all men are by nature equally free and independent. All men are to be considered entering into society on an equal conditions; as relinquishing no more, and therefore retaining no less one than another of their natural rights. Above all are they to be considered as retaining 'equal title' to the free exercise ..to the dictates of their conscience. While we assert for ourselves to embrace, to profess, and to observe the religion which we believe to be of divine origin, we cannot deny an equal freedom to those whose minds have not yielded to the evidence which has convinced us" - James Madison.

[@margemenner4073]

oh my goodness, that is what I have been trying to say. God gives us free choice. Our laws should reflect that.. I am 87 and had 8 pregnantcies one was a miscarriage, the last child I refused to have an amnocisis.. I told dr I am placing my trust in God. That child is now taking care of me. The blessed Mother was very involved in that preg, I feel that this problem is medical and should be left to dr.,and husband & wife.God bless you for your report.

[@rickmalloy4808]

In the early 1980's, the Catholic Church in Chile took a strong stance against the Pinochet regime. All persons involved in, or supporting torture, as a means of countering political opponents, were excommunicated. Priests were instructed to ask those, many military personnel, who presented themselves as Padrinos (Godparents) if they had anything to do with torture. If they did, they could not be Padrinos. Many on the right politically left the Catholic church and joined evangelical congregations. Was this too much involvement in politics? The church's and the churches response, or lack thereof, to Nazis in the 1930s and 1940s has been studied and examined. So, the church has to be political. "To not be political" is itself a political choice. How should we be political? Be led by the Old Testament prophets. Strive to apply the Beatitudes. Carefully measure political choices by the lessons in Matthew 25. Read, re-read and read again Vatican II's LUMEN GENTUINM and GAUDIUM ET SPES. Pray and listen to Jesus. And as St. Augustine counseled, "Ama Deus et fac quod vis." (Love God and do what you will)

[@stephenmcguire7342]

Does the doctrine of the Universal Reign of Christ the King not apply to politics and can it be accomplished by politicians or priest who deny that reign extends to His deposit of morality He commanded the Apostles to go forth and teach the nations?

[@elenataylor-garcia8781]

LOL! Great discussion. I thought the end was so funny. It was like "Church chat" on SNL. The evil spirit is trying to get you to disaffiliate! And that's all the time we have today so thanks for joining us on Think Like a Jesuit! 😆

[@vanessagarcia6665]

Do they have a podcast?

[@powerliftingcentaur]

Unlike the other videos in the series, I shall have to watch this at least two more times, thinking, before I can respond. Am I blinded by my anger? Am I am blinded by my impulsiveness to accuse the American Church on how it spends its money on politics, and how the video fails to even mention…The Money? Now, tonight, the first listen, it just isn’t my time to speak.

[@JGAstaiza]

«Aufer a nobis, quæsumus, Domine, iniquitates nostras: ut ad Sancta sanctorum puris mereamur mentibus introire. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.»

[@LuisRamirez-vv4dk]

Politics are killing the Church. Please stop.

[@darlameeks]

Pope Francis, quoting Aristotle, said, "Man is by nature a political animal." My voter's guide is found in Matthew 25:31-46 in which Jesus revealed what the Judgment of the Nations ("nations" meaning "people groups") will look like. He will separate the nations like sheep and goats. One group saw His blessed face in the faces of the poor, the sick, the immigrant, and the prisoner, and they loved Him in them. The other group didn't. Both groups will be equally amazed and confounded at His Judgment. This passage simplifies things for me a great deal, not just because of what Jesus mentions, but what He conspicuously does not mention. (Isaiah 58:1-14 also tells us what God considers to be a just or unjust society.)

[@danclark1364]

recently i had a kinda dream where for over and hour i went through every sin in my life. It was peaceful and i accepted them all and it brought me peace as i knew i was forgiven

[@VinnyZoomer]

Go to confession.

[@danclark1364]

@@VinnyZoomer TO JESUS YES BUT NOT TO A PRIEST ,, ONLY JESUS CAN FORGIVE SINS

[@VinnyZoomer]

@@danclark1364 you’re in the wrong place buddy. Please come back into communion with Christs one and only Holy and Apostolic Church.

[@EcclesiastesLiker-py5ts]

"My kingdom is no part of this world." Why sell gold to buy copper?

[@RcruzLA]

Drink champs is cool but I would prefer to kick it with these guys.

[@JGAstaiza]

Awsome.

[@fredericaharwkes9550]

They should not be involved in politics

[@tonylarimer1326]

Pope Leo the 13th my bad.

[@lisaweber3798]

The church should not be political. The church's mission is to talk about God and religion, and not promoting the evil of the Republican Party.

[@SenorCinema]

What’s evil about the Republican Party?

[@lisaweber3798]

@@SenorCinema Its support for authoritarianism

[@hoseinexile07]

Being a Christian is and always has been a political act one way or the other. An apolitical Chruch is worthless when it says nothing in the face of injustice. At any event, silence is now perceived as complicity, so even silence is a political stance. What you seem to be saying is that you don't want the Church to be *partisan.*

[@EuropeanQoheleth]

@@SenorCinema Its greed in economics leading to climate change denial and even supporting brutal rightwing dictatorships during the cold war, some racists and bigots plus how they seem to be only against gay marriage until someone they know comes out. What's evil about the Democrats is abortion, new age practises and gay marriage of course.

[@cubby831]

⁠​⁠​⁠​⁠​⁠@@hoseinexile07yes, I don’t believe the church should be partisan since a persons definition of “injustice” can be different from others.

[@danclark1364]

WE NEED TO UPHOLD THE BIBLE AND THE TRUTHS JESUS TAUGHT AND THE 10 COMMANDMENTS ARE THE BASIS AKA TONIGHT STARTS THE TRUE 7TH DAY SABBATH ,, TRUE RELIGION IS CARING FOR WIDOWS AND ORPHANS..

[@artelli449]

Hmmm, the Bible says we should NOT call you guys father, also the Bible says marriage is important for our society, not to burn with lust !!

[@kamilziemian995]

America asking "Why Catholics should be involved in politics" is like Putin asking why he should be involved in Ukraine. I'm from Poland, you can guess what I think about Russia.

[@paulthomas955]

Please, for your soul, do NOT think like a Jesuit!

[@gerry30]

One of the problems of citing Vatican II for political activism is that Vatican II was a very politicized council and not particularly doctrinal.

[@EuropeanQoheleth]

Wrong on both counts.

[@gerry30]

@@EuropeanQoheleth No. I'm right. A bunch of non-sociologists decided to make their ham-handed prescriptions for society while undermining the faith and morals, orthopraxis and liturgical worship of the Church.

[@verntoews6937]

The Jesuits in Catholicism is like Sharia in Islam Eustace Mullins and Walter Veith have much to say about you

[@EuropeanQoheleth]

None of it charitable or worth reading I bet.

[@verntoews6937]

@@EuropeanQoheleth remaining ignorant and in the dark is your option

[@verntoews6937]

@@EuropeanQoheleth there is nothing charitable about Satan's Jesuit henchmen

[@peterbeaumont7619]

The church should keep it's nose out of politics.Stop trying to dictate people lives.

[@myguitardidyermom212]

Wat

[@americanbolshevik2053]

Marxism leninism and Catholicism are not contradictory

[@EcclesiastesLiker-py5ts]

Didn't Marx call religion opium of the people? Didn't Lenin and Stalin persecute the Catholic church, along with the Orthodox, Jehovah's Witnesses and others? Indeed the other communists in Russia did too, just less severely. Marx and Lenin seemed to think the two were contradictory. Besides, as Christians we have hope for a real utopia, where the grain overflows the hills, where no resident will say I am sick, where every one shall build a house and live in it, plant a vineyard and eat of it, not building for another to dwell in, not planting for another to eat. That is a reliable utopia, for God's word is trustworthy. When God foretold the fall of Babylon, it fell, and is still fallen. He says he'll set up a kingdom, ruled by Jesus, and that's a trustworthy promise. Humans are imperfect, but God is perfect.