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Originally Posted by Arduinna  I must be dense, because I have no idea what the OP is trying to imply. But I'd be suspicious of any priest that doesn't stand up for the morality that the Church teaches, if personal beliefs don't affect your decisions and actions in the world it's pretty hollow.
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I'll try to explain without going outside of the scope of the forum rules. It isn't the issue of morality at question here. Of course one will be affected by their religious and spiritual convictions on moral issues, and should talk about those convictions. What I am questioning is accusing persons (especially politicians) or other groups of folks of things that aren't moral issues, but portraying them as if they were this were absolute truth and because they did or are ___ they are bad, unAmerican, out to get us, etc... When nothing of the sort can be proven and even if they were ___ or did ___ it would mean none of those things. So, basically fear mongering and a perpetuation of bad political propaganda that has no basis in factual evidence or at the very best construed.
I'm ok with discussing issues that one would vote on using moral arguments, facts, and scripture to show how ones faith convicts them to vote one way or another... even if I were to ultimately disagree, I feel those discussions/sermons are important. I don't put a label on my politics even one as broad as conservative or liberal. I am me and I vote for whoever I feel is mostly in line with what I feel is in the nation's best interest regardless of political party affiliation.
What I am not condoning, or at least am conflicted about is name calling (as in derogatory) or using whole groups of people and turning their identity into the equivalent of something bad. Or, calling someone else and referring to someone as these terms to infer that they are somehow evil or bad, or trying to trick us into some kind of new world order or such as that. At this point, to me that is going too far, especially when it slaps in the face statements from those people themselves, and actions (their "do") which shows us otherwise. Should we not pray for those who we feel are "lost" spiritually... whatever our religious faith? Judging or condemnation without love or those words as a disguise for hate (the way I am feeling at this point) is immoral. And with a confidence in God's love for us be reassured that as we walk the path we are led to walk it will end in the way that God has planned in our best interest if we are remaining faithful. In that hope we can show love and compassion to even those we might perceive as our enemies in hope that they too find spiritual peace and relationship with God/Creator/Universe.
An example would be the Buddha coming first to those asthetic monks with whom he spent time... those who had mocked his change of heart... first with his message of enlightenment. They becoming his first disciples.
Another is Jesus asking the Father to forgive them for they know not what they do. Even when He cleared the temple of the moneychangers if one had come to Him asking for His teaching He would not have witheld it, and spoke civally with those who asked questions of Him.
Peace... begats peace in my opinion. And my heart is heavy with all the name calling and accusations instead of beneficial discussion and openess. But, I suppose that might only be dreaming... in the world of polictics.
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