The Dangers of Self-Determination

Friends, our culture is obsessed with self-determination: finding our own voice, setting our own agenda, doing things according to our own lights. But is this problematic? And what does the Bible have to say about self-determination?
On today’s episode of “The Word on Fire Show,” Brandon Vogt and I discuss how, in the Christian tradition, heroes are never those who “find themselves,” but rather those who heed the voice of God and remain obedient to the mission that God has given them.
A listener asks, how do you possibly balance a passion for baseball with your faith life?
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[@josephgabadi9342]

The catholic Church is full of intellectual clergymen, but Bishop Baron is probably first among equals in evangelisation. There is hardly a day I don't listen to him talk . Thanks BRB. My wife and I love you. ( from Abuja aNigeria)

[@Athonite]

I'm Orthodox, but I always enjoy seeing Bishop Barron. 👍 👍

[@marypinakat8594]

May you be an inspiration to many viewers in KZbin☆ Your presence is a blessing☆

[@splinterbyrd]

I am a Nommos from Sirius B, and I also always enjoy seeing Bishop Barron. He is a Zillon from the Planet Thaarg, and has great wisdom. 👌

[@siegeheavenly3601]

Same here.

[@TheMacadilla]

😇✨

[@williamwatkinson5838]

@@marypinakat8594 BRAVO Mary you are correct what Bishop Barron is saying is Correct A. M. D. G.

[@shirleenfinney9193]

Stay strong and more faithful now more than ever, Bishop Barron. The Lord is with you.

[@GodAesthetics]

I was raised in the Catholic Church and a confirmed Catholic. That was in 1991. I haven’t been to the church since then. Bishop Barron and Jordan Peterson over the last few years have brought me back to the Catholic church. I wish I had someone to listen to back in 1991 like Bishop Barron maybe I would have never drop out of the church.

[@AMOwen1]

Thank you. I like to invite God into everything. May the world go to Jesus to change this crazy time in life. Amen

[@johnodonnell4269]

John O’Donnell. Lord, thank you for Bishop Robert Barron. A Real Shepherd. I’m watching you from Glasgow, Scotland U.K. God bless your work. 🙏✝️🧎🏽‍♀️

[@NicholasKramas]

This is what I've accepted recently. When i was a kid I thought, "God, let me help, take the energy you would give to me and give it to someone who really needs it, I can direct my life, I can avoid temptation, I've got this." And it's not that I've completely embraced evil, but it was very foolish and prideful of me to refuse the love and guidance of God for my own self aggrandizement, self determined, myopic interests. My life is incredible, but when u look back at the moments where I do feel shame and embarrassment, it's almost always the moments I assumed ultimate authority for my path.

[@lindanugent4904]

So Identify with that...

[@marypinakat8594]

Nicholas Kramas, Fabulous comment, and beautifully scripted ...

[@NicholasKramas]

@@marypinakat8594 thank you! :) God wins

[@arryserrano4373]

👏👏👏♥️♥️♥️✌️🦋

[@marypinakat8594]

@@NicholasKramas ☆

[@brendamyc3057]

Who else loved the fact that Charlie Brown grew up to be a cool English guy who maintained his love for baseball? He also didn’t want it to get in the way of his love for God. What a good man!

[@ucheuju9348]

I found out that I was involuntarily obsessed with being the main star of egodrama without keying into the Theodrama. Bishop Barron made me realise this shortcoming

[@nathanngumi8467]

Word. The glory of God is man fully alive. St. Irenaeus, pray for us.

[@daisyviluck7932]

I loved the Heather and Brett interview. I loved seeing three serious adults having an honest conversation without sneering and gotcha questions and crap

[@markorcutt2115]

Longer Podcasts have an advantage where a listener can pause it and come back to it when the time is available

[@leeseaman6068]

I love this combination of thoughtful theology, meaningful philosophy and intellectual appeal that Bishop Robert Barron provides, which I feel is rejuvenating the health of Christianity in this world. The first time I heard of self-determination was from a historical perspective when Woodrow Wilson brought this concept up in the Treaty of Versailles after World War One, and in that particular context national self-determination was a valid and vital concept to give people the opportunity to establish or in many cases re-establish their own collective identity and culture. That said, I find it novel how Bishop Robert Barron brings this concept up in an individual sense. Regarding Martin Scorcese, one cannot forget his 2016 film "Silence", which looked at how the Jesuits attempt to make Christianity a national religion in Japan roughly 300-400 years ago, so it's interesting that Bishop Robert Barron should mention him in regard to the violence that is sometimes portrayed in the Bible. The idea of "theonomy" really means putting God first before everything else; allowing God to determine who we are in his mysterious ways. I like the way Bishop Robert Barron describes this as a "tricky spiritual space to move into" because it takes great faith and patience to find this space. A very inspiring and blessed discussion. Thank you Bishop Robert Barron and Brandon Vogt. God bless you both.

[@moniquemonique6074]

Thank you Bishop Barron. Thank you Brandon. I hope to see you in person some day. God be with you & bless you & your families & your parishioners always.

[@brendamyc3057]

Bishop, did you also notice that people aren’t allowed to be satisfied were they are and grow in that? People constantly push others to move to the next bigger and better thing. This causes a person constant psychological distress because it creates a complex of thinking one is never good enough.

[@pinkpaprika8410]

Current news from the US have more than once reminded me of episodes in the Old Testament. May your words be taken to heart by everyone who hears them!

[@JullianRoman]

It’d be great if you did a programme on the Sacrament of Confession. I think you’ve never done one, and it is so much needed now. ... and always really

[@Myjc33]

I have learned so much from, Bishop Barron, and I cannot thank God enough for his passion and love for Christ!

[@anapatriciag8510]

Bishop & Brandon, Your insights and reflections are so deeply appreciated!! You nailed it every time! 🙏👍😊

[@gloriajuarez5131]

Thank you Bishop Barron and Brandon always a pleasure listening to you both. May God Bless you 🙏🏽🙏🏽

[@claudiosaltara7003]

I loved bishop Barron from the very first video I saw on my first IPad. His personality, his enunciation and the subject he talked about gave the impression he was a great prelate and I am not changing my mind.

[@sandragzmn]

Please make word on fire books available in kindle! So more people can easily access it especially in asia. Thank you !!

[@deliamillanes7141]

When podcast conversation is honest, straightforward, relevant, I don’t care who are the talkers, you will catch my attention. 🗣️👂

[@Philip-uy3bx]

The POSITIVITY of Brandon Vogt!

[@jimeddleman8511]

“Each one did right in his own eyes.” Is stated 3 or 4 times in Judges.

[@thebradleysoncatbirdhill6849]

Such a beautifully stated and poignant commentary and analysis of our current culture which at times seems literally upside down! Thank you, Bishop Barron, for clarity, as always! 🙏🙏🙏

[@donny_doyle]

As a Catholic, I really enjoyed you conversation with Lex. Both of you are a joy to watch and listen to... these types of discussions are so important. Thank you Bishop Barron.

[@diplomaticexorcist6130]

The Prodigal Son's self determination.

[@johnrooney507]

Adam and Eve firstly.

[@levismadore556]

Dear bishop Barron, as my mind marries the composition of this excerpt on theonomy with the composition of your homily on the Trinity as a living act of « image making », I now see how image making from either autonomy or heteronomy deformed must leave such a low resolution imprint on mankind. I cannot but imagine how a human life lived in the relational space of theonomy must leave God’s imprint on earth enriched by the unicity of character of the person who lived thusly. Mother Theresa left a high resolution image of an aspect of God’s love unique to who she was, as did Jean-Paul II. Bless all of you at W.O.F. Levis Shalom

[@ddonovan2965]

Wow it's amazing or maybe providential that this came out today. I was realizing and saying to someone that the only way you can have peace inside is if you do what you think is right...when you say and do what you know to be good and true, even when it's hard and unpopular, and so when you face that challenge with courage it gives you peace, even if the impact of your words or actions don't change the situation. And I thought that this means that you have to fight and struggle for peace. Peace doesn't equate to a lack of conflict. I will have to go back and say that it has to be in obedience to God's will and not merely your own, when your own will is molded by His. I thought this would go without saying but thank you for making this distinction Bp Barron!

[@williamwatkinson5838]

A. M. D. G.

[@davidpapagib3638]

Be as self-determined as you want to be, throw "through the grace of god" at the end and you are covered.

[@Linda-qq5mg]

Bishop Barron, you are so good at explaining things! Thank you so much.

[@christinafochi4070]

Beautiful teaching. Which ended too soon. Thank you Bishop Barron.

[@Rugbylacroose4life]

Thank you Bishop.

[@maryshivy2799]

Thanks for great direction today in the midst of baseball and finding God to direct our lives.

[@brain1poo]

A quote from The Who!! I love this guy.

[@user-yo2zt5ws6t]

I love the thought that god puts the choices in front of us but he gives us the freedom to make the choice. Once we get to far away from the plan he has set out for us we encounter pain/problems/fear/shame etc. The closer to the path the clearer our choices become and the path he has laid out become easier to see. God is the director we are just always good actors that follow the play he has laid out for us.

[@lornavaughan1684]

Very interesting. Thank you Bishop Barron and Brandon, may GOD bless you both. Stay safe. ➕ ❤

[@eleanorbertuch135]

As always 🥰thank you both 💕

[@MaximusLight]

One of the good things I remember my father telling (who came from a military family): "You choose who you want to be, what kind of person you become." As in what kind of character or person I grow into, it came along with what it means to sacrifice for other people and working for the greater good. I've always found that it really helps guide you figuring out what's appropriate in self and corporate determination, even if it doesn't provide all the answers; it also looks a lot like working with God on this issue as you might guess. :P

[@splinterbyrd]

Sounds good, but it isn't true. You can't choose your own personality.

[@davidjohnzenocollins]

@@splinterbyrd I agree with that, but perhaps a distinction can be made between personality and character. Perhaps.

[@markorcutt2115]

Maybe instead of choosing the person you want to be, you can commit to be the person you were created, which becomes the subject of your prayerful reflection in the embrace of our ever merciful God.

[@normaodenthal8009]

A very timely message, so thoughtfully explained. There is no such thing as a self made man or completely autonomous person. We all only exist in relationship with one another and are each other’s keepers.

[@imnotanalien7839]

This was such a wonderful discussion. The Jews coming out of slavery.. parallels serfs (Europe) coming to ‘a new unknown wild land’ (America)… both slave and serf had to become ‘new’ self reliant and free individuals. It’s quite a deep similarity with the exact same problems. Can humans learn from past social cycles? Great discussion… ♥️✝️

[@valq10]

Serfdom was over in Europe long before the Mayflower had her maiden voyage.

[@Ericviking2019]

@@valq10 serfdom is still alive in Russia today, they voted it in….

[@danserrano100]

Wonderful, truly cool. Thank you Bishop and Brandon.

[@SevenDeMagnus]

Thanks Bishop.

[@margokupelian344]

I think people are willing to listen to these long podcasts bc there is so much going on in our world today, new ideologies, new trends, redefinitions of social and moral concepts that people are drawn to them to have an idea of what’s going on around us, no matter how long these podcasts are. In other words, they want to find solutions and answers to the chaos in the world and in the church.

[@DavidCelestialKnight]

Great. Thank you for upload this

[@loumendez9768]

Well done Bishop Barron! The green light is ON.... He Is Here

[@Coco2345ful]

Totally fascinating! Thank you and God bless!

[@l2084]

Brilliant teaching !

[@IMMANUELFRANCY]

Thank you bishop Barron ❤️🙏

[@francesbernard2445]

The euphemism, "Self determination" is often being offered to men while other men with better moral standing are pointing out to other men how other men could improve their walk. Like when there is too many kings around and never enough following of the chief in the order of Melchizedek representative of the Lord possible. In contrast with how women are often being told only that they are stubborn instead. In my mom's case in addition to being told she was stubborn often she was getting told that she was way too tall. While wanting to be regarded as girly girl enough instead of continuing to work alongside the men on the farm. What an inspiring video this was from start to finish in contrast with the realities we must all continue facing from here again. Like writing another speech while trying to help mind the church, the farm and the wine making too.

[@ritadefalco2938]

Thank furuuu tr

[@mbtvalli]

Excellent analysis, commentary and conversation. So helpful.

[@brendamyc3057]

It’s entering the spiritual space of the coincidence of opposites which can only be accomplished through Grace. The coming together of the two in union.

[@josephsulfaro8485]

Fantastic Video this is!!!

[@zinaj9437]

Time is...flexible. Our Life Teen Mass was about an hour and forty minutes long when we first started having them...and the teens didn't want it a minute shorter. Now, they've been cut to about 45 minutes.

[@abraham_froman]

Hype to hear this Lex podcast

[@denisehubbell5236]

As an African American descended from slaves and catholic how do I fit into that “DNA”? You make me feel left out and invisible…

[@kindsir2734]

This was terrific, let's see we have blended faith in God with many diverse things including Brit who loves baseball. Can I suggest a subject you and Bishop Baron would cover on a future podcast?

[@katherinevargas4514]

I love your work🙌🏻🙌🏻thank you 💗

[@kwall1464]

I’m so excited for that Lex interview!

[@marypinakat8594]

"I will put my law within them , and I will write it in their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people," says the Lord. - BIBLE (Jeremiah 33: 3 edited)

[@ancillatheresecortes1773]

I deeply appreciate the solicitude His Grace! Yeah, I stumbled. My lines last night was affected by someone's comment/ critique not with the entry. Perhaps, it was not the intention of the person behind to disappoint me or it might be that I have a negative connotation with what I heard. Anyway, I'll just try to open up next week to clarify the matter. Perhaps, it's also His way of pushing me to open up as I am trying to evade the occasion thinking that my sharing is just nonsense or it can be shared later... that's already a pattern I noticed. God is indeed dealing me accordingly... Thanks for the help and for all those who prayed for me. Godrewards! Deo Gratias! 💖🙏💖🙏💖

[@nepodobnik]

I am not catholic but i regulary listen to Bishop Barron. He is a great evangelist and a great storyteller. Also great as chatecism and explainig the message of the Bible. I also want to leave this here not conected to the video but it needs to be said. Religion should be as far away posible from politics.

[@mlucasohio]

A question in your nerves is lit Yet you know there is no answer fit To satisfy, insure you not to quit To keep it in your mind and not forget That it is not he or she or them or it That you belong to. (But for The Lord's)

[@dynamic9016]

Interesting.

[@gARBLEMUM]

Talk to him every day and he doesn’t ever respond. Great friendship

[@franklloyddelacruz6972]

in our eager journey to become an "I" we tend to usurp the one true I AM.

[@IvanGarcia-cx5jm]

Since Lex videos are so long, I usually use the URL trick to save the time where I am at by appending &t=3600s (this would be 1 hour into the video) into the URL, so the next day when I open the browser I continue where I left off. It takes me a few days to finish one of those videos.

[@mikewilliams235]

First. Amen.

[@JohnR.T.B.]

"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If a man does not abide in me, he is cast forth as a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned." ~ John 15: 4-6 ~

[@dm20422]

✝️

[@Miguelc13280]

Bishop Barron, Theonomy is by surrendering to God and continously seek His will. It is also to continously feel His presence and be directed in His will. It is like a continous dialogue where we are motivated to be with Him, listen and feel His presence. Complete surrender, just be our best and work hard on being our best for He glorify in us; but always let Him direct our path continously. In a seprate subject, I have a question regarding the Holy Spirit which I want to send to you. I just do not how to send it over to you. God bless you. You are to me the most truthful and relaible person to rely on to do my best in life.

[@lindanugent4904]

Thank you both so much, you bring sanity back into this craziness going on. I'm holding on to faith by reading the Bible , attending a prayer group and trusting in Jesus promise to us that he remains with his faithful until the end... Have you any advice to me as a grandmother and mother of how to guide my grandchildren apart from example... I'm heartbroken watching and listening to them being bombarded with all this woke agenda, my youngest grandson has become very affected with it and it's manifesting in nausea, I too get that same manifestation when coming into contact with a bully... Thank you again , I appreciate your ministry.

[@wolfthequarrelsome504]

With respect, give them the example of you going to confession and Mass (you shouldn't receive communion if your not a confirmed Catholic) and when you're there ask God to guide you.

[@lostat400]

You have probably heard of the phrase, the big lie. "A lie told once remains a lie, but a lie told a thousand times becomes the truth, and the bigger the lie, the better."- Joseph Goebbels What makes Darwinism the biggest of all lies, is that Darwin kills God The facts, far from supporting Darwin's theory, disprove it. ( see below ) . If no Creator, then no God. If no God, then nihilism, and the " common good" which is derived from God's law is replaced by relativity and : “Everyone doing what is right in his own eyes.” Darwin defined evolution as "descent with modification," the idea that species change over time, give rise to new species, and share a common ancestor. So, Man evolved from Ape's, and Ape's from another species, and so on, going back to the start- the simplest life form, the single cell. The mechanism that Darwin used to explain his theory of evolution was Natural selection. What Darwin didn't know was: DNA/Genes carry the information that determines your traits , which are features or characteristics that are passed on to you - or inherited - from your parents. Each cell in the human body contains about 25,000 to 35,000 genes. [Each distinct gene chiefly controls the production of specific proteins, which in turn affects the traits of the individual. Individual humans have two alleles, or versions, of every gene. Because humans have two gene variants for each gene, we are known as diploid organisms. The greater the number of potential alleles, the more diversity in a given heritable trait] When we talk about evolutionary inheritance, what we are actually referring to: is the transfer of genetic sequences ( DNA) from one generation to the next. Mutation when it does occur can only change or degrade existing information/DNA code, it does not add new information/ DNA code, and it doesn't add a new body plan. It certainly doesn't explain how you could go from, a single cell, like yeast, to a multicellular organism like a human. Yeast: It contains just over 12 million base pairs ( DNA) packaged in 16 chromosomes. Yeast have approximately 6,000 genes in all.

[@antonolandersson5019]

I agree and try to live according to God’s will. Although I find it hard to imply this teaching in a practical sense, especially since I’ve been deceived to follow the wrong path before and almost ended up giving my soul away at the crossroads. It’s a hard balance between determination and follow the will of God. How do I know if my will for a change is according to God’s will? If the present situation calls for a change, how do I know if the change is directed by God or my self-determining will. Surrendering to God’s will can then lead to a passivity in your own life because of the fear of changing your life the wrong way. Maybe the answer is in the qoute ”the glory of God is a man fully alive” and listening to the that call however vague it might feel 🙏🏻 God works in mysterious ways for sure.

[@gogogolyra1340]

Thats what prayer is for. Knowing the will of God is a skill that needs to be exercised every single day by meditating on His word and having one-on-one time with Him. The world may label prayer as passive and a waste of time BUT there is no other way around it. Time with God is time well spent

[@antonolandersson5019]

@@gogogolyra1340 Amen

[@arryserrano4373]

Yes‼️👏👏👏♥️♥️♥️✌️🦋

[@j.m.8008]

At 4:38, you note a recent article Bishop Barron wrote about determining our own self. Can you link which article you are referring to? Is it an academic article? I’d like to read it. Thank you in advance.

[@garyvanhagen3001]

Thank you for a profound explanation of the difference of the hetero, auto, and theo. Where does the world go from here ?hopefully the theosology. 🙏🙏🙏

[@YeridaBills]

Thanks Bishop Barron, the answer to self determination is not to proclaim yourself a deity in charge of a state like Hitler, one evil step beyond the Soviet Union, but to surrender to God's will as much as possible while not giving in to the deadly sins; no one does this more than the Pope, who surrenders to God daily in confession and in golden age.

[@Andantalas]

You tapped into one of my favorite verses in the Bible when you quoted that verse from Judges. You covered it well. Let's go further. I like to see that verse with the verse in Samuel in mind where the people demand a king, Samuel gets angry, and God tells him the people aren't him, the people are rejecting God as their king. To understand this, we need to look at the history of God's overtures to mankind, and their responses. God creates humans and gives them everything in the physical world, with more on the way. Humanity rebels. God allows the humans who have rebelled against their king, and even gives them a guide to understand when they getting it wrong, making mistakes, and putting themselves in the place of God (each gets humbled in the way they are most godlike, and pain tells them when they are going astray i.e. thorns). Humans mess it up irrevocably, God cleans the slate of wickedness to let us try again (the flood). We still mess it up, so God creates a people out of a family to introduce concepts we need to survive (10 Commandments as a tutor). All this People have to do is obey the King of Kings and they will prosper from having His favor and the inside track to how a civilization flourishes. They refuse to obey their king, then reject him in favor of a king they can control who will assert their will on the other nations. Of course, they're forgetting why God is called the King of Kings. At the right time, in the right place, Jesus comes. He gives a living example, reconciles us with Himself, and gives the Holy Spirit because we never could do it after the fall with our autonomy apart from the living Spirit of God living in and through us, advancing God's kingdom. Why? God is objectively good. When we want good, we agree with Him. We are broken, and need God's help to want what is good with specificity. This is the worl of the Holy Spirit. Wanting God's way is enough when the Holy Spirit is at work within us through the grace paid for by Jesus Christ. The highest role of self determination is to want what is good, therefore, as am independent moral agent to agree with God. This brings us to the line in Revelation regarding those in Heaven, these are the ones who have overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony.

[@evanb4189]

I think you missed the similarity to Judges. A lot of the obsession wirh self-determination and hatred of tradition/institutions is driven by those leaders failures. How many people left the church over the sex abuse scandals?

[@jojo_mcelwee6591]

❤️

[@michaelbergfeld8751]

Great video! And i finally see unfold your vision on kingdom, there where other utterings seemed to go into the direction of a total reject. So excuses for having fallen over you. On the other hand you are really very intellectual and not always fully diplomatical, but that is hardly, even impossible to get in speech. So me the most has to improve.

[@paulpeca5912]

Anyone know when Lex's pod with Bishop Barron is coming out?

[@tinman1955]

The greatest mystery to me is...how anyone could endure sitting thru something as tedious as a baseball game.

[@Crusader33ad]

Will any of the bishops and especially the cardinals in the USA support the overturning of roe? Few of the heirarchy inspire me.

[@parishvicar7612]

I am genuinely surprised there was no mention of self-determination and its impact on ecclesial governance. In other words, what does the bishop's obedience to God say of his exercise of power? Given the number of stories in the media about bishops not always governing well, this seems to me an odd oversight. On the other hand, our society is obsessed with self-actualization, self-empowerment, and the culture of "me." Part of "adulting" is seeking the good of the other. It is something both society and the church (and all of us, from time to time) struggle with.

[@scottcalabrese9491]

Bishop, what would you say to the people who view the word of God, presented through the Bible and through the church, as just another form of heteronomy? Thank you for all you do! 🙏🏻

[@scottcalabrese9491]

*Note to self - listen to the entire video prior to posting question 😂

[@francisbertolini2538]

Superb! I’m so ignorant it’s laughable.😁

[@happyguy5165]

One character who does not triumph by finding himself: Luke Skywalker. Gotta say, I admire George Lucas for looking (like Tolkien did) at ancient and religious wisdom, Christian included. Luke wins by overcoming the things about himself that cause problems (E.g. his impatience), by refusing to kill his rival, and showing self-sacrificial love to redeem his rival - his father. More heroes should be like that - true Christ-like heroes.

[@glorianova7557]

❤️🙏❤️🙏

[@JohnR.T.B.]

I believe most of the faithfuls are struggling with the supposed "conflict" between "my interests" and "God's interests", as though if I give in totally to God, I will be a loser in life for God; but if I try to do well in life, I do not give myself totally to God and hence failing in the faith. Needless to say, to follow God is about surrendering attachments to worldly wealth, power, and pleasure as faithlessness dictates. I suppose, a change of perspective, a life transformed and converted into the Heart of Christ, through pain and suffering, will always say yes to God and His will regardless of life situations; and in the end the eternal crown of glory.

[@theresapeters5424]

👍

[@carissavisscher9648]

Can someone enlighten me as to how having an individual orientation of theonomy is different then a theocracy running the state? Because we don’t want a theocracy do we?? We know how that turns out.

[@Philip-uy3bx]

It's the HOW of questions posed.??

[@Philip-uy3bx]

Relativity

[@marlonmoncrieffe0728]

🤔📺 I wonder what Bishop Robert Barron think of 'THE OLD MAN IN A CAVE' from 'The Twilight Zone' which criticizes lacking faith versus self-determination...?

[@IvanGarcia-cx5jm]

Lex does research at MIT, but I don't think he is a professor there. I have seen deep learning lectures at MIT from him, but I can't find evidence he is a professor there. Maybe if he heard that Bishop Barron said that he is a professor at MIT he would feel real good :D

[@claudiosaltara7003]

I don’t understand this ‘Baron Controversy’. Did he step in somebody’s toes and had to be put in his place?

[@jonathandnicholson]

Hi Robert, just wondering what you meant by the British committing genocide against the Irish?

[@johnrooney507]

Definitely a hot button topic and not sure if that was the appropriate word, however there is plenty of evidence that the British government ( not every Brit) treated the Irish very terribly, religious persecution, evictions from homes, farms etc. British Catholics went through it first with Henry VIII and afterwards.

[@jonathandnicholson]

@@johnrooney507 My contention was about the word genocide not 'did the British/UK Government do unpleasant actions then or before...

[@lindanugent4904]

@@jonathandnicholson would you call starvation unpleasant because I wouldn't the establishment sent grains out of Ireland why the people starved its called the famine .

[@wolfthequarrelsome504]

@@jonathandnicholson there is a stateable case on the question of English/British attempted genocide in Ireland on several occasions in history which has never been answered. But the Irish are a forgiving nation so I don't think it will ever be.

[@jonathandnicholson]

@@lindanugent4904 Genocide means ‘the deliberate killing of a large number of people from a particular nation or ethnic group with the aim of destroying that nation or group.’ Show the intent.