War: Civil Society

JMJ

Society seems to be ripping itself apart, both morally and socially.

Morally, the world continues its steady decline.

Israel vs Hamas

The confusion over the morality of the Israel vs Hamas War is one example.

It is a war and, this time, in response to the October 7th attack.

I've noticed two perspectives emerge from the two combatants. For the Israeli, it is that they are the only Nation that is not allowed to win a war. Public opinion is always at play in wars, but in the case of Israel against anyone in the area, public opinion quickly becomes a factor.

For Hamas and its supporters it is embodied in the phrase:

From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be Free.

This is the goal of Hamas, the elimination of the Jewish state of Israel according to its 2017 Charter (link). I understand that their original charter was more explicit. Tied to this is that Hamas obviously, prioritizes its goal over the Gazans that they govern. For this I recommend a read of Son of Hamas (link).

The key element here is that Hamas uses its own people as human shields. There have been reports of them holding people in place to thwart Israeli attacks. The deaths are tragic and working.

Ukraine vs Russia

I have seen people cheering on both sides of the Ukraine / Russia war. What I have recently heard, there was that two priests were arrested in the Russian occupied zones with reasons that seemed very similar to the reasons used to send Ukrainian priests to prison camps.

So things are not always as clear as they seem.

Abortion

The concept that it is murder to kill someone after birth as opposed to prior to birth is, a legal anomaly and ambiguous. There is no logical reason for the distinction as the generation of a human baby is a natural process - not a disease state.

Even in the cases of rape, the abortion kills one of the innocent parties and the rapist is left alive.

Beyond this, there are attempts to make into US law 'partial birth abortion'.

This is an absurdity that shows a society at war with itself.

Concluding Thoughts

While there are other examples of civil society at odds with itself, these three examples, show the human ability to maintain within their minds logical absurdities.

We need to pray for a return to sanity.

P^3

Comments

The Curious Case of Steve Skojec and the Dangers of Deep Diving into the Crisis Sub-Titled: The Failings of Others

+ JMJ It's been a while now since Steve Skojec sold 1P5 and abandoned the Catholic Faith. I've been a 'Trad' since 1982 and in those 40+ years I seen this death-spiral before with a similar end point. It seems that anyone who jumps into the fray unprepared for the enormous task of righting wrongs will, eventually, become discouraged by not the task but the people who surround them. I remember when Skojec complained of the treatment his family received from a traditional priest. This seems to have been the start of the end for him. So what can we learn from the likes of Steve Skojec, Michael Voris (maybe?), Louie Verrecchio, Gerry Matatix and other celebrity Catholics? Probably quite a lot about what not to do. First, don't burn out on the crisis? When you burn out, on work or anything else, little things assume a more greater importance than they are due. This is one of my 'canary in the coal mine' signals that I've been stretching myself too th...

Communique about Avrille Dominicans - SSPX.org

+ JMJ Having completed the review of the 'Avrille' perspective, this communique from the French District Superior is perfectly timed. I believe that the 'resistance' has lost rationality and further argumentation simply results in their holding on to their false ideal all the more firmly. Pray much ... First, for them to acquiesce to the grace of humility in order to obtain a clear perspective on the principles involved. Second, that we may remain faithful to the Church, and Her Dogmas, Doctrines and Principles. Lest we become that which against we strove ... P^3 Courtesy of SSPX.org

Morning and Evening and other sundry Prayers

+ JMJ Along the theme of P^3 (Prayer, Penance, Patience), and for my own reference ... here is a collection of Morning and Evening prayers from the Ideal Daily Missal along with some additional prayers. In this crisis of the Church, I do not think it is possible to do too much prayer, penance and have patience. P^3

A Reply to Martin Blackshaw’s FLAWED Remnant article titled: FLAWED: SSPX Advice on Abortion-tainted Vaccines

+ JMJ An article has appeared in the Remnant (link to article) and I am afraid that there are a number of flaws in it that need to be addressed. The author, Martin Blackshaw, believes that both the Church and the SSPX are misapplying the principle of Moral Theology called 'Cooperation In Evil'. Unfortunately, Mr. Blackshaw rests most of his arguments on citing authors that support his position, without considering the possibility that they are wrong. This highlights a key factor in this crisis: ignorance of the faith and its application . I don't am not singling out Mr. Blackshaw for this criticism, I have observed that it applies to laity and religious, superior and subject a like. No one seems immune in this enduring crisis, myself included. I further believe that this ignorance is why so many Catholics, both traditional and non, rely on their gut feeling or "Catholic conscience" for charting their way through this crisis of the faith. While...

Magisterium and Levels of Assent

+ JMJ Understanding the levels of assent to be given to the teachings of the Church is a critical success factor in walking the knife's edge during this crisis of the Church. The levels of assent are generally associated with the theological grades of certainty, which are not surprisingly mirrored by the censures for contravening the teachings of the various levels.

Tradicat

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