DEAR BROTHER Ted Lieu (D-CA),
In life we shared some great conversations and faith experiences. Notably, on your office shelf, you revere a symbol from the To Encounter Christ retreat we shared. A reminder of our unsurpassed identity and mission in Jesus Christ. What He did for us. What He does for us.
What He wants to do for us.
To keep this simple: God has gifted you with a tremendous intellect. You know the logical necessity of the principle of non-contradiction. Accordingly, you know that if faith (add "marriage" or "gender" or any other concept) is whatever anyone wants it to mean, it means everything. Which is to say, nothing. You have nothing to say to anyone about anything. Ever.
You know it's impossible not to judge. To disagree would prove the point. It would require that you judge me. (Not in the sense of "to condemn," but "to morally evaluate." CCC, 1778) You know that what matters is that we judge correctly. Not based upon a truth we can presume to create, but in Whom we are created: "[W]e are endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable rights."
As love is sacrificially desiring the good of another, please recognize my love expressed here out of great concern that, in partaking of the Body and Blood unworthily, you are bringing condemnation upon yourself. (1 Corinthians 11:27-32)
On the personhood of the unborn: The same legally accepted method in determining the personhood of a criminal (DNA) verifies the personhood of an unborn child.
Particularly with the killing of an unborn person, any freely chosen action knowingly and directly leading to abortion, including political power exercised for the same, is a grave matter. Accordingly, "[those] obstinately persevering in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to holy communion." (Canon 915)
In life we shared some great conversations and faith experiences. Notably, on your office shelf, you revere a symbol from the To Encounter Christ retreat we shared. A reminder of our unsurpassed identity and mission in Jesus Christ. What He did for us. What He does for us.
What He wants to do for us.
To keep this simple: God has gifted you with a tremendous intellect. You know the logical necessity of the principle of non-contradiction. Accordingly, you know that if faith (add "marriage" or "gender" or any other concept) is whatever anyone wants it to mean, it means everything. Which is to say, nothing. You have nothing to say to anyone about anything. Ever.
You know it's impossible not to judge. To disagree would prove the point. It would require that you judge me. (Not in the sense of "to condemn," but "to morally evaluate." CCC, 1778) You know that what matters is that we judge correctly. Not based upon a truth we can presume to create, but in Whom we are created: "[W]e are endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable rights."
As love is sacrificially desiring the good of another, please recognize my love expressed here out of great concern that, in partaking of the Body and Blood unworthily, you are bringing condemnation upon yourself. (1 Corinthians 11:27-32)
On the personhood of the unborn: The same legally accepted method in determining the personhood of a criminal (DNA) verifies the personhood of an unborn child.
Particularly with the killing of an unborn person, any freely chosen action knowingly and directly leading to abortion, including political power exercised for the same, is a grave matter. Accordingly, "[those] obstinately persevering in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to holy communion." (Canon 915)
Of course, you are free to believe what you want. You are free to go where you want. But what you propose, what you believe, is not Catholic. Moreover, you are choosing hell. In this world and the next. And paving the way for others.
In this very moment and definitively one day you will stand before the ultimate Supreme Court. Before Them you are culpable. You will be held accountable. You will face the horrific reality of your actions. Your soul is in danger.
We are praying for you.
DEAR BISHOPS,
If you were interviewing someone most qualified for a position on your cabinet, someone whom you knew allowed another person to be killed, someone on record for publicly supporting the same for any reason... if upon questioning this candidate if he fully subscribes to the Catholic faith, and he responded, "Yes!" -- would you accept the answer? Would you admit him to your cabinet?
What is more consequential-- the patently false "Amen" as an integrity condition of a position, or the patently false "Amen" as an integrity condition to "Body of Christ" -- that is, an acceptance of what Jesus clearly, undeniably, fundamentally, essentially teaches?
If belief is no more than an affirmation of fact, if it has nothing to do with a total, personal acceptance of a way of life (duly noting attainment is a process), then Satan would be the greatest saint.
If this very day someone approached to receive the Holy Eucharist and, upon taking Him, cast Him to the ground and began trampling Him underfoot, what would you do? Would speaking be enough? Would any of his protestations, regardless of ignorance or assertions of conscience, keep you from acting? Even if your life was threatened?
Presuming the answer, ask yourself: Why?
Because it's a horrific offense against God.
Because of the integrity of the Holy Eucharist.
Because self-sacrificing action punctuates what we really believe.
Because that's why you were ordained.
Ted's words reveal the splintered soul of a world suffering for loss of heroic, loving, compelling witness to what we really believe. To the point of self-sacrificing action.
The short of it: Whether the Holy Eucharist will be an occasion of eternal condemnation or salvation is in your hands. Literally. The clouds have been swirling. This is your moment. You are the Light of the World. You are successors of the Apostles. Appointed and anointed to bring the Kingdom. We are looking for authentic, joyful, courageous, godly leadership. Holiness. We are eager to follow Jesus. To give our lives for Him. And we're looking to you.
We are praying for you.
