I feel, my brothers and sisters, that I need to make a few points of clarification about my homily yesterday at the 10:00 a.m. Mass. I hope and pray this helps:
Firstly, I was in no way being supportive of President Obama in most of what he has stood for and decisions he has made in his presidency. I hope nobody would argue that his words and actions, for instance in the area of the right to life and religious freedom have been extremely contrary to our Church's teaching and has been very bad for our country and devasting to the lives of unborn children, their mothers and others.
In my homily, I was trying to convey that President Obama's recent actions or at least intentions when it comes to prison reform is in line with what our Pope has said about the need for prison reform and reflects the love and mercy of God which we are called to have and share toward everyone, including those who are in prison.
Given what happened to Jesus in His ministry, when some wrongly rejected Him and everything He said and did, to their detriment and ultimately to His death, we must, be careful about totally rejecting someone and everything they say and/or do unless everything they say and do is contrary to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Even then, we should follow the example and teachings of Christ and not reject or worse hate them, but pray for them and for their conversion. To act as if anyone or anything is hopeless is to try to close the door on God, which we in truth cannot and should not try to do.
I pray that those who are upset with me over what I said in my homily, will reflect on the points I have made here and bring them to prayer. Please pray for me as I pray for all of you every day.
God bless you!
Fr. Bill
Firstly, I was in no way being supportive of President Obama in most of what he has stood for and decisions he has made in his presidency. I hope nobody would argue that his words and actions, for instance in the area of the right to life and religious freedom have been extremely contrary to our Church's teaching and has been very bad for our country and devasting to the lives of unborn children, their mothers and others.
In my homily, I was trying to convey that President Obama's recent actions or at least intentions when it comes to prison reform is in line with what our Pope has said about the need for prison reform and reflects the love and mercy of God which we are called to have and share toward everyone, including those who are in prison.
Given what happened to Jesus in His ministry, when some wrongly rejected Him and everything He said and did, to their detriment and ultimately to His death, we must, be careful about totally rejecting someone and everything they say and/or do unless everything they say and do is contrary to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Even then, we should follow the example and teachings of Christ and not reject or worse hate them, but pray for them and for their conversion. To act as if anyone or anything is hopeless is to try to close the door on God, which we in truth cannot and should not try to do.
I pray that those who are upset with me over what I said in my homily, will reflect on the points I have made here and bring them to prayer. Please pray for me as I pray for all of you every day.
God bless you!
Fr. Bill