Washington D.C., Nov 2, 2020 / 12:03 pm (CNA).- Death. It’s a subject seen as sad, morbid and fearful, something that people would rather not think about, and certainly not discuss.
Yet for Catholics, death is an essential part of the faith.
“For those who die in Christ’s grace it is a participation in the death of the Lord, so that they can also share his Resurrection,” reads the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
The celebration of the sacraments hearken for a kind of death: death to self, death as a consequence of sin, a remembrance of Christ’s death and entrance into eternal life.
As the 20th century priest Fr. Henri Nouwen remarked, “Dying is the most general human event, something we all have to do.”
The question, he asks, is “Do we do it well?”
Hiding from death
Advances in medicine and technology have drastically increased life expectancies in the past century. In 1915, most people would not expect to live past age 55. A child born in the US in 2017 is expected to see their 85th birthday.
As a result, death has become something distant and even foreign, argues Julie Masters, a professor and chair of the Department of Gerontology at the University of Nebraska, Omaha.
“We get lulled into thinking death doesn’t hit us very often, because it waits until people are very old,” she told CNA. “We know that younger people do die, that middle aged people do die, but in this country, the majority of people who die are going to be older people.”
The average American in the 21st century simply doesn’t have the experience with death that previous generations had, she said. And this lack of experience can lend itself to fear and a tendency to ignore the uncomfortable unknown of the future.
“So we’ll put it off until we have to talk about it, and when we do talk about it, then we get in a pickle because we’re not sure what people want,” Masters said.
Hiding from death can have other consequences, as well. Cultural unease and inexperience with death can affect how we approach loved ones as they die.
“If we’re uncomfortable with death, if someone is dying, we may be unwilling to visit them because we don’t know what to say, when in reality we don’t need to say anything,” Masters said. “We may be less available to comfort them.”
Avoidance of death can also impact vulnerable members of society who are not actively dying, Masters warned.
“Our uncomfortableness with dying may be symptomatic of our desire to control dying and death,” she said. When that control or the fear of becoming a “burden” gives way to conversations about physician-assisted suicide, she continued, “we look at the most vulnerable and say ‘are they really worthy of living, think of all the resources they’re taking up?’”
“Each step in that slope, it gets easier to get rid of people who are no longer valuable or are vulnerable. Yet don’t we learn from the vulnerable?” she questioned. “They’re the ones who teach the strong what’s most valuable in life.”
But Masters also sees a desire to move towards a broader discussion of how to die well. She pointed to the spread of Death Cafes and other guided discussion groups that encourage conversations about death, dying and preparation for the end of life.
Churches can offer a similar kinds of programming, she suggested: “People want to talk about it, they just need the place to do that.”
What does it mean to have a ‘happy death’?
While a person may plan for their death, ultimately the circumstances of one’s passing will be out of their control. However, everyone can aspire to a “good” or “happy” death, said Fr. Michael Witczak, an associate professor of liturgical studies at The Catholic University of America.
He told CNA that the essential qualities of a happy death are being in a state of grace and having a good relationship with God.
The idea of a happy death, or at the very least the aspiration of it, gained popular consideration in the Ars Moriendi – a collection of 15th Century Catholic works laying out the “Art of Dying,” he noted.
The texts elaborate on the temptations – such as despair – that face the dying, questions to ask the dying, advice for families and friends, how to imitate Christ’s life, and prayers for the bedside.
Resources such as these, from ages of the Church that had a more daily experience of death, Fr. Witczak suggested, can be a good resource for beginning to live “intentionally” and to think more about death and how to die well.
Masters agreed that intentionality is key in shifting the cultural mindset on death and dying.
“What if people approached death with the same joy that they greet the birth of a new baby?” she asked.
It’s a fitting analogue, she argues. Both processes – birth and death – are the defining markers of human life, and natural processes that all the living will experience. Both processes also open the door to a similar set of unknowns: What comes next? What will it be like afterwards? How will we cope?
She added that the modern tendency to view death with suspicion and trepidation – or to ignore it altogether – reflects something about the culture.
“If we’re so afraid of death and dying, I have to wonder if we’re also afraid of life and living.”
Last wishes
Discussing death is the first step in making practical preparations for it.
Without planning, Masters said, loved ones may not know a person’s preferences for treatment, finances, or funeral preparations, which can lead to sometimes sharp divides between friends and family.
“When we get comfortable talking about death,” she noted, “we can let people know what our wishes are, so that hopefully our wishes are followed.”
Thorough planning includes setting advanced directives and establishing a power of attorney who can make medical decisions on one’s behalf if one is unable to do so.
It is also important to be aware of different care options in an individual’s geographic location. These include palliative care, which focuses on improving quality and length of life while decreasing the need for additional hospital visits. Not just limited to end-of-life situations, palliative care is available for a range of long-term illnesses, and seeks to relieve pain rather than cure an underlying condition.
Hospice care is also an option when the end of life approaches. At this point, the goal is no longer to extend the length of life, but to alleviate pain and offer comfort, while also helping mentally, emotionally, and spiritually to prepare for death.
Funeral planning and creating a will are also important steps in the preparation process. Even for the young or those without material possessions, planning for one’s death can be useful for grieving friends and family members, Masters said. She explained that the idea of creating an “ethical will” is a Jewish tradition in which a person writes a letter or spiritual autobiography, leaving behind the values and morals they found important in their life to pass on to the next generation.
The practice, which is growing in popularity, is available to anyone “to put down into words what’s given their life meaning,” and can have special meaning for those who “feel, because they don’t have a lot of wealth or a lot of possessions, that they have nothing to leave their family.”
Masters pointed to a student of hers who wrote an ethical will shortly before passing away in college and the example of her own grandparents instilling the recitation of the Rosary as people who left behind some of their most meaningful gifts to their loved ones.
“It’s a testament to what that person believed in. What a gift that is!”
Paul Malley, president of the non-profit group Aging with Dignity, stressed that planning the more specific details of end-of-life care can help respect a person’s dignity during illness or on the deathbed.
“Those who are at the end of life, whether they may be suffering with a serious illness or disability, tend to have their dignity questioned,” he told CNA.
The sick and dying are often isolated, receiving care from medical professionals, he explained. And while advanced care planning often focuses on decisions regarding feeding tubes, ventilators, and other medical treatment options, that discussion “doesn’t tell your family anything about what dignified care means to you.”
“It’s important not to just talk about caregiving in terms of medical issues,” Malley stressed. “That’s a small fraction of a day – the rest of the day plays out at the bedside.”
Aging with Dignity promotes planning for acts of comfort, spiritual issues and family relationships in order to make the time surrounding death easier and more dignified for all involved.
“These issues were never talked about when it came to end-of-life care or advanced care planning.” Among some of the requests participants make, he elaborated, are small acts of comfort like cool cloths on a forehead, pictures of loved ones in a hospital room, favorite blankets on a bed, or requests for specific family or friends to come visit.
Planning to incorporate what Malley calls “the lost art of caregiving,” was important to his own family when his grandmother died. “One of the most important things for her was that she always wanted to have her feet poking out of the blanket because her feet were hot,” he recalled.
Although nurses and care providers would often bundle her feet up to try to keep her warm, her family was able to untuck her feet afterwards so she could stay comfortable.
“That might be something that sounds very trivial, very small, but for her, for my grandmother, laying in that bed where she couldn’t get up and couldn’t reach down to pull up her own blanket, having her feet stick out at the edge of the blanket was probably the most important thing to her all day long,” Malley said.
The end of the earthly pilgrimage
For Catholics, spiritual preparation for death should always include the sacraments, Fr. Witczak said.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation, important for all the faithful throughout their lives, is a particularly important spiritual medicine for those nearing death.
Additionally, Anointing of the Sick should be sought for those who have begun to be in danger of death due to sickness or old age, and it can be repeated if the sick person recovers and again becomes gravely ill, or if their condition becomes more grave.
“The Church wants people to celebrate the sacrament as often as they need to,” Fr. Witczak said.
The Eucharist can also be received at the end of life as “viaticum,” which means “with you on the way.”
“It’s receiving the Lord who will be with you on the way to the other side,” said Fr. Thomas Petri, O.P., vice president and academic dean at the Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception at the Dominican House of Studies.
He added that the Eucharist can be received as viaticum more than once, should a person recover, and can also be given even if someone has already received the Eucharist earlier during the day.
A good death is a gift
Prayer, reception of the sacraments, and seeking forgiveness from God and one another can mark death as a time of peace, Fr. Petri said. Death can also be a time of surprise, as it “either amplifies the way a person has lived their life or it causes a complete reversal,” with some people undergoing profound conversions or surprising hardenings of the heart during their last days.
“Much of it really does rely on the will of God,” he reflected, adding that we should all pray for the grace of a holy death.
Dying a happy death is not only a blessing for the person dying, but can be a gift to others as well, Fr. Petri said, noting that family and friends can be drawn closer to one another and to God as the result of a holy death.
Masters agreed, adding that “the dying can serve as examples or role models,” by teaching others how to die without fear.
Ultimately, Fr. Witczak said, Christians “do” death differently because Christians “do” life differently.
“I think as human beings, death is a topic we’re afraid of and we’re told not to think about, and the Christian tradition keeps trying to bring it before people, not to scare people, but rather to remind people of their ultimate destiny,” he said.
“This is not simple and it’s something people ultimately have to learn for themselves, but it’s the important task of life. I think what the Church tries to do is to help people live their life fully and even live their death as an entryway into the life that is promised to us by Jesus Christ.”
Looking toward death and the vulnerability that surrounds it can be a vital way of encountering death – and overcoming the fear of it, he said.
Masters agreed, noting that those who have had encounters with death or profound suffering often “look at life differently.”
“They understand it is so fleeting. But because they know how close death is they look at life in a different way.”
For many people, this different approach to life includes an increased focus on family, friends and service, she said. “That’s how you’re remembered at the end of the day: what did you do for other people?”
Starting with even the most basic conversations about death, she added, can be beneficial for those wanting to confront mortality.
“When you can acknowledge that you’re going to die, you can begin to live your life.”
This article was originally published on CNA November 28, 2018.
[…]
To Bradley Gregory: You should be less disturbed by Trump’s promoting the Bible as a campaign strategy than you should be about Biden’s promoting baby-killing by abortion. It might be time for you to get far, far away from the poisonous culture that is Washington DC.
Biden vs Trump is a false dilemma. It is simply not true that criticism of one prohibits criticism of the other.
I think you don’t understand how politics works. Let me give you a primer.
One way to advance the cause of one candidate without saying you’re doing so is to carve away at the positive perception of his opponent. This is how CNS works in case you hadn’t noticed their news feed of the past.
I don’t think you understand how logic works. Let me give you a primer.
Wicca and Islam are very different from each other. They are mutually contradictory. That DOES NOT MEAN that condemning Islam as false means one is declaring Wicca to be true, nor that condemning Wicca as false means Islam is true. It is possible for both to be false religions. They are in fact both false religions. It is not the case that one MUST be true and the other MUST be false, with the only question being which is which; that is a false dichotomy.
It is also a false dichotomy to assert that either Trump is a stable genius or Biden is a stable genius, and the only issue is which is which. Neither one is. Likewise, neither one is some sort of holy crusader. They are both scoundrels.
I’m not much interested in the politics, because I understand it better than you do. I understand that my vote has never decided an election that involved more than 100 voters. I’ll wager yours hasn’t, either. And I know danged well that it has never happened, and it never will happen, that a presidential election was swung by one vote in the popular vote of any swing state. You have a better chance of winning the Powerball every drawing for the next year than of deciding a presidential election. Even if you are more interested in power than in truth, power is something neither of us have nor can get, so we might as well pursue truth instead.
Don’t worry about Trump. You’re not answerable for him. You are responsible for your own life. Redirect your focus to the right place.
As far as logic there is but one only a singular objective truth and a multitude of subjective truths (truthiness)…Islam is false for a spectrum of specific subjective reasons and Wicca is equally false for a different set of specific subjective reasons. Both must draw and abuse some aspect of the objective Truth to perpetuate their respective ideologies away from God.
Go, Deacon Peitler! Teach it, brother!
So you find it offensive that Pres. Trump is peddling a KJV Bible? Do you realize that if Pres. Biden wins re-election, the country will descend into great evil comparable to the holding of human slaves, the rise of the KKK and their violence against freed slaves, or the violent rule of the Mobsters during Prohibition, or even the proliferation of drugs and “free love” (sex with anyone except a spouse) during the 1960s?
The Democratic Party currently (and in the past, too, if you study history) has no respect for the rights of the States because they have no respect for the U.S. Constitution! Pres. Biden is currently pushing to see abortion enshrined as a “right” in that Constitution, and I’m guessing that he will cave to the persuasive LGBTQ+ community (especially those who are rich and powerful in the entertainment industry) and attempt to enshrine the “right” of children to be ‘transitioned” against their parents’ will in our Constitution! He is listening to the most extreme of the African American activists and pushing for a “Woke” retelling of history and huge financial reparations by those of us who never held slaves and often had relatives who were abolitionists! And he is listening to pseudo-science activists and attempting to “End Climate Change” by forcing Americans to pay for cars and energy sources that most of us simply cannot afford and never will be able to afford!
Pres. Biden gets a lot of us his cues (and huge financial donations) from wealthy entertainment professionals (not priests or pastors!) who make astronomical salaries that enable them to fly their own planes and helicopters instead of driving evil gasoline-powered cars that are supposedly destroying the environment. Many of these professional entertainers have no religion, or at best, a pseudo-religion that promotes humanism and affirms many sinful practices. (To be fair, there are entertainers who DO adhere to a traditional Christian/Catholic faith, but they are not feted by Pres. Biden or other powerful Democrats.)
And you think it’s awful that Pres. Trump is urging people to read the Bible and sending them a (gasp in horror!) KJV instead of the Douay-Rheims version?!! Really?!
Well, you COULD encourage your parish to purchase and hand out Catholic translations of the Bible for free, and I think that’s a great plan!
But it might be good, too, to start with fellow Catholics and encourage them to actually READ that Catholic Bible. While I was considering, along with my late darling husband, the possibility of converting from Evangelical Protestantism to Catholicism, I read the entire Catholic Bible through from cover to cover!! Have you?
Recently, I was part of a Catholic Bible study–and discovered that most of the participants had never READ the Bible outside of Mass (and even in Mass, they listened rather than read it)–and several of the Bible study participants didn’t even HAVE a Bible at home and had to go out and buy one to participate in the Bible study!
I’m glad to see that many of the current Catholic lay teachers and also popular clergy (e.g., Bishop Barron, Father Mike, etc.) are encouraging Catholics to read and study their Bibles. I hope that their study of God’s Word, will reveal to them that many “sinners” much worse than Pres. Trump were used by God throughout history to accomplish His Holy will (e.g., King David, Samson, St. Peter, etc.).
I know Catholics and others who plan to “vote their conscience” by casting their ballot for a third-party candidate who hasn’t a chance to win–but at least their consciences will be clear! But how can people who make that decision live with their consciences when Pres. Biden and the Democratic Party continue to dismantle our freedoms, destroy our economy, attack our traditional families and our religious freedom, and make heinous sins our “Constitutional Rights”?
I suggest that Catholics who are resistant to voting for Pres. Trump check out VP Mike Pence’s biography, “So Help Me God.” Yes, VP Pence has said that he will not publicly endorse Pres. Trump (but what will he decide to do in the privacy of the voting booth?). In his bio, he describes working with Pres. Trump–it’s not what you think. Much of the time, Pres. Trump would listen in respectful silence (and sipping endless Diet Cokes!) as his Cabinet or elected officials (Senators, Representatives, Governors, etc.) presented their information to him, and he would ask questions and try to learn as much as he could from them. This is not the Trump that our media shows us–but it’s the Trump that VP Pence knew, worked with, and respected (at least until Jan. 6).
I would also encourage skeptics to take a look at Pres. Trump’s children–all hard-working and scandal-free. When his young son Barron was attacked by the media (ahh, those fun-loving and totally-trustworthy media!), his Catholic mother did what many of us Catholic mothers would do and are doing!–she took him AWAY from Washington and kept him OUT of the public gaze, and the results are obvious today. Barron is a gentleman, a good student and athlete, and apparently respectful of his father–at a recent funeral, he was filmed offering his father his arm to help him up a curb.
My opinion of the “Free KJV Bible” with various American documents included is that this will not be the Bible that recipients read. It’s meant to be a “souvenir” of the election, something that people will probably store in a way that will prevent it from deterioration and humidity-damage and show their grandchildren–who hopefully will not ask, “What’s a Bible?” or even worse, “Grandma, Grandpa, burn that book–it’s illegal! You could go to prison if they find out you have it in your house! It’s dangerous enough that you still have Mass in the basement!”
I hope that my words will encourage my fellow Catholics to think deeply, pray much, take a closer look at the media, read more books than websites and social media, and vote wisely and prayerfully.
Ms. Sharon, please please please for the love of God and all that is holy just take your meds. Going off your crazy pills does not make you seem smart or insightful. Quite the opposite.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts Mrs. Sharon. Have a blessed Easter!
🙂
Sharon!! You go girl!! Thanks for that defense of President Trump. Every single thing you said is true. Every time I hear someone attack Trump it comes down to a lot of dripping hate. Yes, he can be abrasive. But if you ask them for SPECIFICALLY what he has done that is awful or wrong, you hear crickets. Nothing. Because there IS nothing.
Trump was a man lauded for his business accomplishments UNTIL he ran for office against the power mad democrats, and then it was non-stop attacks. He is known to be fair and help random under-dogs,and he never publicizes his good deeds. Now, the left cant concoct enough twisted and bogus lawfair accusations against him. As for the womanizing accusation…ugh!! Sorry. Mark me down for don’t believe them. As a woman myself, I know not every woman is Little Bo Peep. Not be a long-shot. There are a lot of women who are willing “volunteers” on the slight chance of becoming the next Mrs. Billionaire. Then they crawl out from under their rocks 20 or 30 years later, and funny how they all have a book to peddle. Nothing short of disgusting.I plan to vote for Trump again (suburban woman with a Masters Degree that I am) and will WRITE in his name if the creep minions of the left get his name pulled off their ballots. I hope other Trump supporters will do the same. To the Biden excusers: If lighting up the Empire state Building in Trans colors on Easter Sunday , and prohibiting any religious symbols on the white house easter eggs for the Egg roll didnt tell you all you need to know about the sickening lack of morality among democrats, you need a therapy session.
Specifics? Well, what about that attempted coup on January 6, 2021? What about the botched handling of the Covid Pandemic, with his advocating quack cures like Ivermectin and Hydroxychloroquine? What about the 20+ women who have credibly accused him of sexual assault?
You say there is nothing wrong he has done? Are you serious? His life is a parade of wrongdoing. Why do you like him so much? Perhaps Stockholm Syndrome?
“…with his advocating quack cures like Ivermectin and Hydroxychloroquine…”
Your fixation on these two drugs is strange. Both have been around for decades, have been approved for multiple uses, and are cheap. Compare that with the mRNA shots, which were rushed into use without proper testing and were said to prevent getting COVID (false), and which earned Big Pharma a lot, lot, lot of money. (And let’s not get started on the matter of ventilators.) There has been a wide range of reactions to the use of Ivermectin and Hydroxychloroquine to help people in early stages of COVID. I know many people who used both and, overall, recovered more quickly than those who did not. Certainly many factors are in play (age, health, etc.). But to call it “quack” is an emotional smear on many good doctors and other health professionals who had success with it but who were, almost to the person, mocked and vilified and even cancelled. Trump made some judgments during the first few months of COVID that I think were ill-advised, but his biggest mistake was trusting Fauci, Collins, and Co., all of whom have demonstrated the sort of lying, back-stabbing, and power-hungry plays that are all too common for those who are corrupt and bought. And, for the record, I never take medical advice from politicians. Nor do I allow any politicians to live in my head.
Insurrection??? DEM psycho-babble, which unfortunately works with their ill-informed voters. Insurrection? An UNARMED insurrection with no visible military support???? Consisting in large part of senior citizens and families? Honey, my cat could run a better insurrection than that!! That was NO insurrection!!
The “botched” covid issue was in fact handled as well as could be expected with an unknown virus. The big problem lay with over-zealous blue state authorities who shut everything down for little reason and then refused to open. Ditto school closures demanded by selfish democrat supporting teachers unions.The damaged economy is still recovering. The children injured by two years of almost no schooling may not.
There are NOT in fact 20 women accusing him of assault and as I have said before, cry me a river.A billionaire doesnt have to force anyone, as I have suggested. PLENTY of volunteers. As a women myself, I have zero respect for women who crawl out from under rocks decades after the fact to make unsupported accusations which cannot be proven, yet can be resolved with large sums of money.
I have had covid twice,( am still not dead!) and have no issues with whatever drugs desperate people would choose to use. But hysteria on all levels from drugs to masking, to forced church closures, came from the left. The blood is on THEIR hands. Not Trump, who did his level best to help us. Are YOU a doctor? Do you understand virology? He had no choice but to trust the professionals. Easy to be critical when its not your responsibility.
Stockholm syndrome?? No, doll. Not in the least. I leave that to folks on the left.
Will, I’m constantly repeating in the comments but this issue keeps coming up over and over again.
I had family living in a country where there was a real insurrection and it involved weapons and the military attempting a coup. Things were blown up.
The poor addled folks in costumes who traipsed through our Capitol in the January 6th riot were unlikely to be able to organize anything that would result in an insurrection and they certainly didn’t have factions of the Army or Navy assisting them in that.
Again, it’s perfectly fine to disagree with a candidate and their views and choose not to vote for them, it’s a free country. But we shouldn’t be enabling what amounts to political folklore.
Amen to that.
and these so called catholics have no problem with biden taking holiest of day and turning it into a day of celebration for transgenders nstead and no religious symbol son eatser eggs,ya god said their would be false churches and now i see it revelations is correct.
Up next, John The Baptist shower curtains, only $29.99, but wait! there’s MORE!!
Perfect!
So Trump now supports Bud Light, Walt Disney World, and the Bible (at least the overpriced copies he is selling). I’ll take that for what it is.
Trump is using the King James Bible because he does not have to pay copyright or royalties for it. It’s a money decision, not a love for any tradition. The $60 price is for a “patriotic” cover and Trump’s association with it — more the latter than the former. After all, its competition includes the “KJV Large Print Compact Military Bible, Red Letter, Presentation Page, Articles, Cross-References, Full-Color Maps, Easy-to-Read Bible Type” for $19 and the “The NKJV, American Patriot’s Bible, Hardcover: The Word of God and the Shaping of America” for #30.50, to say nothing of countless Bibles “specialized” for men, for women, for athletes, for whatever group you like.
If you have $60 and want to spend it on a Bible, I would recommend instead the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible (New Testament), the Didache Bible, or even the Orthodox Study Bible
Haven’t you heard, Outis, Catholics don’t read the Bible.
Catholics WROTE the Bible.
You’re a scripture scholar too! Amazing!
Catholics wrote the Bible?
Not the first half surely.
🙂
Not even close. Where did ANY APOSTLE worship Mary?
“Middle English worshippe, from Old English worðscip, wurðscip (Anglian), weorðscipe (West Saxon) “condition of being worthy, dignity, glory, distinction, honor, renown,” from weorð “worthy” (see worth) + -scipe (see -ship).”
“The sense of “reverence paid to a supernatural or divine being” is attested by mid-13c.” Please note that the Catholic Church was around for about 1250 years by the mid 13th century.
“The original sense is preserved in worshipful “claiming respect; worthy of honor by virtue of character or dignity” (c. 1300), preserved as a respectful epithet of address to magistrates, certain Freemasons, etc.” Presumably no one will accuse the Freemasons of worshiping their leaders in the sense of considering them divine.
In Luke 1:28, St. Gabriel carries God’s message to call her “Full of Grace”, a distinction showed to literally no other person addressed by an angel.
St. Elizabeth tells her “Blessed are you among women, and who am I that the mother of my Lord should come to me.” Which seems to rate her dignity quite high.
Jesus gave her to St. John the Apostle to be his mother. Presumably Jesus did this knowing that Scripture says “Honor your father and your mother.” So presumably the Apostle honored her highly, both as the mother of his God, and as his own. According to Scripture, he’d be a bad son not to – and be guilty of the whole Law, including the part about loving God with all your heart, soul, and strength.
An interesting point, about avoiding copyrights, with the King James Bible.
What, then, about the King James version itself, did it violate earlier copyrights? Oh, wait, before Gutenberg’s recent printing press there were no copyrights, only those ye olde Catholic and by-hand copyists holed up in monasteries…
Without becoming ensnared in copyright issues and today’s politics, or whatever, might some archeologists want to compare Trump to Ramses II (1279-1213 B.C.) who usurped dozens of monuments, not to erase his predecessors but to ramp up his own image? Or, what about Muhammad (A.D. 570-632) who in the Qu’ran cribbed a whole bunch of stuff from the Jewish Pentateuch and even the Christian Gospels?
But, then, what about those others in history who not only usurped but actually have obliterated our inheritance? Like the recent Jihadist destruction of cultural treasures in Iraq, Syria and even Lybia?
And, closer to home, the overwriting of the Magisterium with the “hermeneutics of discontinuity”….This particular shell game continueth…
“What, then, about the King James version itself, did it violate earlier copyrights?”
Well, I gather that it borrowed from the original (Catholic) Douay Rheims translations, which had come out previously.
I am surprised that he did not claim authorship of the Bible. Step right up ladies and gents! For only $60 you can own your very own Trump Bible! Such a deal.
This is a foremost showcase of White Christian Nationalism that sadly has been embraced by some Catholics under the bad influence of Evangelicals. The Bible has the KJV text, the Constitution and Declaration of Independence. The endorser is America’s chief liar, cheat, narcissist, racist, sexist, rapist, and insurrectionist – this last character showing he does not live by the Bible and the Constitution.
If Trump is all of these things (and that’s not a given at all, despite the mindless blathering of many), then it can just as reasonably stated that Joe Biden, a baptized Catholic, is a serial liar, proven plagiarizer, bully, racist, misogynist, creepy perv, corrupt despot, abortion promoter, homosexual pusher, trans-insanity advocate. Etc. And as blustering, narcissistic, and embarrassing as Trump so often is, Biden outpaces him on a regular basis on those departments. And, last time I looked, Biden has been the POTUS for a while. Go figure.
What an example of “whataboutism.” It’s a very childish way of deflecting focus of attention. This article is, and the comments are supposed to be, about Saint Donald’s latest marketing proposition. What I highlighted is the wide disconnect between the endorser’s life and the product. This “patriotic” (meaning, White Christian Nationalist) Bible which includes the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence as added extras (comparable to Catholic Bibles with Vatican II’s Dei Verbum, and the Lists of Popes and of Sunday Mass Readings) glaringly exposes Trump’s duplicity and impropriety to be Bible product endorser in obviously not having read, understood and lived the Bible (his (im)moral charater) and the Constitution (his insurrection!).
No deflection at all. I think Trump is, as he often, being fairly classless and opportunistic. And, yes, he often spouts nonsense, is arrogant, etc. In all of those things, he’s much like 95%+ of politicians. But, again, Biden—so often described as a serious, practical Catholic—is the most pro-abortion, pro-homosexual, pro-trans, anti-life, anti-human POTUS in history. It’s impossible to conclude otherwise.
Meanwhile, your dog whistle use of “Christian Nationalist” is truly childish. Infantile and essentially slanderous. No surprise.
But which is the classic “lesser of two evils?”
Can we seriously accuse either of these men of being Christian? Is there enough evidence?
Carl, your description of the President is totally out of line from a Catholic journalist or anyone else. It is calumny and a grave sin. I doubt if you will publish this but I hope you will take note and act accordingly. May God bless you brother.
I wrote that “Joe Biden, a baptized Catholic, is a serial liar, proven plagiarizer, bully, racist, misogynist, creepy perv, corrupt despot, abortion promoter, homosexual pusher, trans-insanity advocate.”
Back in the 1980s, there was still some semblance of secular journalism, and folks such as Sam Donaldson and Connie Chung concluded (rightly) that Biden was a liar and plagiarizer. His bullying is well-known to folks who follow his long career, but the way he treated Robert Bork suffices as an example. The Hill sums it up by noting: “Supreme Court nomination hearings have gone from serene to savage, thanks largely to Joe Biden.” Biden’s behavior was so bad that even The Washington Post was appalled (imagine that now!), saying: “How can he possibly get a fair hearing from Biden, who has already cast himself as the role of prosecutor instead of a juror in the Judiciary Committee? If there is a strong, serious case to be argued against Judge Bork, why do so many Democrats seem unwilling to make it and afraid to listen to the other side?” Many commentators believe that Biden’s treatment of Bork marked a very bad turn in American politics, in which slander and outright attacks became the norm.
And, yes, Biden is indeed a creepy perv. Unless you think that constantly sniffing the hair and invading the body space of both women AND young girls is normal and fine.
Biden’s corruption is obvious to anyone who has paid attention to the wheelings and dealings of his son Hunter. His promotion of abortion is everywhere, as his support for homosexuality (he has “officiated” at at least one “gay marriage”) and transgenderism.
On and on it goes. But, please, feel free to question me and my integrity at any time. As long as you hold Biden and others to a similar standard.
Carl, please also state publicly the equally immoral and gross behavior (also stated be respected journalists) of former president Trump. This would demonstrate journalistic balance and impartiality. Partial truth is not not truth. Ps. Thanks for not taking down my previous post. That demonstrates characters and I appreciate it. Your brother in Christ, jim
Mr. Connor,
On Easter, accusing Mr. Olson of your personal grave sin of calumny strikes a height of irony, uncharity, and psychologically disordered defense mechanism.
Mr. Olson’s writing sometimes reveals a nuance coupled with boldly perceptive and articulate intelligence. If you would notice, a definitely decisive CONDITION prefaces his statement containing the words you consider offensive. That word is ‘if.’
Meiron, my apologies to any and all whom I may have offended. I did not mean harm to anyone. My only concern is that we all (myself included) be more charitable to all political candidates. The secular media has become very untrustworthy and immoral and I fear that Christian media is going down the same track. During the last election much awful, skewed , partisan muck was thrown by the so called Christian press ; and many clerics were doing the same from the pulpit. This is NOT OK. This is not how we are called to behave as Christians, not the behavior mandated by The Sermon on the Mount.
Of late, secular society has abandoned the principle of the end and means justification (which is so necessary for the survival of democratic government) in order to leverage favorable elections results. Short term gains only produce long term losses. Democracy cannot be preserved through non democratic ways. we have become so polarized that perhaps it’s time to admit that democracy is no longer feasible or desirable for us and we should accept the strongest thug as our leader. How long can we continue to support corrupt politics (both left and right)? Perhaps we as Christians should abandon politics and concentrate on being the salt of the earth, the leaven in the lump, the light in the darkness. Perhaps our time would be better spent evangelizing the lost while we still have the option. Christ had little or nothing to say about our involvement in Government other than an obligation to pay taxes and obey secular laws and recognize secular leaders. He said nothing about revolting against an unjust government or trying to change social institutions. He did say a lot about how we treat others, about humility and repentance. Just a few things for us to consider as we enter the heat of another election. May God have mercy on us all and may we all love each other
Suggest you brush up on the definition of calumny, James, unless of course your goal is to demonstrate how much you actually don’t know.
calumny /kăl′əm-nē/ noun
1. A false statement maliciously made to injure another’s reputation.
2. The utterance of maliciously false statements; slander.
3. False accusation of a crime or offense, maliciously made or reported, to the injury of another; malicious misrepresentation; slander; detraction. (emphasis added)
Oh boy. “White” Christian Nationalists?
I had a great conversation with a gentleman yesterday who absolutely loves Donald Trump. I mean Pres. Trump rocks his world. He’s a gentleman of “colour”, in his 50s and a huge fan of Ronald Reagan too. He’s also deeply patriotic.
I’m sure that there are white supremacists but outside of correctional facilities they’re quite small in number.
The gentleman I met was married to a “White ” lady. They have a daughter. Almost everywhere I go these days I see “mixed race ” couples with children. Segregation and most racist constructs are becoming a generational thing. Young people increasingly just don’t care about that any more.
What is the full name of this unicorn of a man you spoke to Ms. Cracker? I would like to seek this unicorn of a man out and pick his brain to find out why he thinks the way he does. If you are unwilling to provide his name and contact information where I can reach him, then you are quite assuredly lying about this “great conversation” you had with a unicorn of a man of “colour” (sic) – we live in America not Europe, spell words the right way.
Please remember to be honest.
Tyler, as Christians should we not first assume best intentions and honesty?
Quite apart from anything else, publishing someone’s name and contact information online is grossly unethical. For one thing, it gives the opportunity to Truculent Toads and others of like initials to annoy and harass him.
If you think that man is a unicorn, you must be going around blindfolded, because even a cursory search online will show that there are many like him.
Having read her comments for several years, I have developed a great deal of respect for Mrs. Cracker and her opinions; I have never seen her post untruths and she is always calm and mild. You? Not so much.
Bravo for that statement.
I have a nephew who is bi-racial and looks black. Once at a family gathering a white family member asked him if he had ever been subjected to racism in his life? His answer: “never”. The young man in question is a medical professional, married with children, and a homeowner. His color has NOT prevented him from success in life. Word to any young person aspiring to the same: get an education, dont get pregnant at 15, dont use drugs, dont get involved with gangs. In other words, follow the rules and it will all be available to you. I have no doubt that there are racists out there. But they are few and far between, thank God, and do not represent the country as a whole. The idea of it is a charade promoted by the leftist media. This has not prevented some agitators from making a living off of such ideas. As for Trump and his bible, I recall him standing in front of the church near the white house which had been set on fire by rioters during his presidency. Kudos to his bravery. The more bibles we have being read, the better.
My thoughts, too LJ.
There are in fact a few white supremacists left but those are fading & aging out. I actually see more anti-Semitism these days than most other sorts of bigotry, which is pretty strange. It feels sometimes like we’re heading back in a time portal to 1930’s Germany.
I agree with you: the problem with too many Bibles in voters’ hands is exactly what?
Q: What do leprechauns, unicorns, informed progressives, and Christian nationalism have in common?
A: They’re all things that only exist in people’s imaginations.
White Christian Nationalism…seriously? You mean those evil people who actually founded and built this country? You are what is wrong, very wrong, with our country and the poisonous national dialogue and minimization of faith. “Deacon D” I hope you are not in a position to ever delivery a homily. Sure you would blather on about little but the evils of the patriarchy.
In which Diocese are you incardinated, “Deacon”?
I like the King James Bible. (Sorry, I didn’t realize I wasn’t supposed to read it).
I am very uncomfortable with the mixture of the Bible and politics.
It’s OK to read it; just don’t read it from the lecturn! The KJV is not perfect, but it’s no worse than the NAB; only it’s not allowed for liturgical purposes. The NKJV is much better though; it preserves most of the poetic English of the KJV while being a more accurate (and modern) translation.
You and I both. There is, now, a Catholic version of the KJ Bible, they have replaced the books that were removed. I was a Lutheran for 57 years and converted to Catholicism in 2004. I was raised on the KJ bible and have always preferred the language, so much of it is like lovely poetry. If you want to add the missing books to your KJ Bible, an Apocrypha might be the answer.
an Apocrypha might be the answer.(sic)
Deuterocanonical
From what I understand, the notes are a large part of the problem with Protestant Bibles such as the King James, more than the translation itself.
I’ll take a Bible over what Biden is selling.
I think those Catholics who are so put off by Trump’s use of the Bible in his campaign should be far more concerned about two factoids:
1. The MAJORITY of Catholics do NOT believe in the Real Presence.
2. The majority of Catholics (by a small margin) support aborting babies.
Put those two things into the equation as you comment about Trump’s use of the Bible.
That’s just distraction. “Oh, you don’t like gay marriage? You should be worried about the mistreatment of the poor instead!” is another version of the same game you’re playing.
It’s not either/or.
Get real.
He is real–a very real relativist.
Francis, ain’t that the truth.
There are many adjectives that could be applied to this historic election campaign and now – thanks to DJT – we can now add ‘odd’.
Mrs. Cracker – Well said.
Easter blessings to you Terence and Mrs Cracker.
A blessed Easter to you too, Lydia.
🙂
For some time now, each election has been odder than the one before it.
Outis – agreed. Good point.
This is true Outis. The world itself is progressively becoming stranger.
Trump has inadvertently done us a service. He has shown the mendacity and hypocrisy of the religious right.
How so Will?
You know it’s not as telling about the “religious right”, but about those who look down on folks who might appreciate having a King James James Bible with those important documents added as a bonus. The great unwashed who actually still believe in the Word of God and the founding documents of our nation.
So non Trumpers don’t believe in God? So Trumpers are more religious? So Trumpers are more patriotic? This old Marine and former Latin Rite altar boy is amused by the phony piety and patriotism of the MAGA cult.
It’s about disrespect and demeaning working class people of faith. I think that’s what helped undo Hillary Clinton’s campaign.
One can disagree with a candidate, hold opposing views, etc. but we shouldn’t demean folks who want to support Trump by purchasing a KJV Bible even if it’s something that might not appeal to us personally.
Really, on Good Friday shouldn’t we be trying to understand our separated brethren that we just prayed for at church a few hours ago?
Disrespect? I cannot respect Trump. He is a gross, treasonous liar. The working class has been screwed by the billionaires who very cleverly use culture war claptrap to bamboozle the rubes. Yes, Jesus wants tax cuts for the rich. It’s in the Bible, right? And the MAGA cult gulps the Kool Aid.
I consider myself working class and do not disrespect the working class, although the glorification of ignorance by Republicans is a problem. Buying Bibles from Trump is a con and we all know it.
Go read City Journal’s article entitled, “A Crackdown on Religious Organizations
The Biden administration’s new rule targets faith-based groups.”
Sort of shocking that a former Marine is ok with the spineless Biden administration leaving our troops hung out to dry as rockets rained down on them in the middle east.It took a lot of pressure for them to finally respond and blow up—two empty warehouses. Yeah, that will scare the pants off of them. Then of course you have the travesty of 13 US soldiers dead in the hysterical withdrawal from Afghanistan which will take our military generations to overcome.Our men are sitting ducks. Are you ok with that? There is no pretending that this administration is pro-military with the pathetic likes of Milley at the top, who is concerned about “white rage”. Then we have trans folk “soldiers” giving lectures to our military. Have you seen the video? I have. Disgusting. You think this is good for our National Security? Our country? I promise you it is exceedingly dangerous for us, with enemies like china who do NOT worry about such nonsense.
Finally how does that wide open border play for you? Do you see the danger or do you ignore it? Who in your family are you willing to sacrifice to the open border policy, when the next terror attack strikes? Or,when the next random illegal strikes??? Biden attacks republican repeatedly for not passing the most recent immigration bill, which would have guaranteed almost 2 million illegals a YEAR waved into the country. Thank God it didnt pass. Ask WHY the immigration bill passed by the House earlier last year, HR2, has NEVER been brought out for Senate discussion by Chuck Schumer???? Funny how Biden never mentions THAT bill, which WOULD REALLY secure the border. The DEMs will NEVER close the border because its how they plan to stack the vote to achieve a one party rule, just like every other communist country or dictatorship. Like they want to stack the Supreme Court if they can. Like they want to fabricate charges and twist laws to jail Trump.Like they attack voter ID laws, challenge voting district lines, and want “weighted” voting which is anything BUT one man, one vote. I understand politicians being power mad and biased. Whats most upsetting is observing that so many fellow Americans cannot see the forest for the trees, and absorb their propaganda. Sad, very sad. And dangerous.
Mrs. Cracker, I feel the same way about those who sneer at people who buy (or have bought in decades past) inexpensive plastic religious statues, or glow-in-the-dark plaques or light switch frames showing Jesus, or other little religious objects that are maybe not all that beautifully made, are crudely painted, are cheap. I can be a snob about a lot of things, but to me those “tacky” items are a witness to a great love for God and the angels and saints, and I find them beautiful. I find them at estate sales and thrift shops and yard sales and I am very happy to have them, and I pray that I may share in the faith of those who originally bought them.
Thank you so much for your comments, Leslie. I agree.
I remember as a child winning a glow in the dark plastic Cross for memorizing the names of all the books in the Bible. I had it next to my bed and really treasured it. When my dear grandmother passed away we found a glow in the dark Rosary she kept under her pillow.
Good taste doesn’t always translate to good religion and certainly not when it involves sneering at others.
God bless you Leslie.
🙂
Highly recommend do I THE HOLY BIBLE DOUAY-RHEIMS VERSION of the 16th/17th centuries (Baronius Press, 2018 printing) for its solid historical Introductory docs and didactic catechetical footnotes. The Faith is presented even within the sometimes mysterious Old Testament Books. Recall Jesus Christ established the Catholic Church. As originally chosen by the Catholic Clergy in the 4th century, the complete Books are contained- (which, after St Jerome’s meticulous translation et. al., never needed “updating”, nor “revision”- for removal of pivotal doctrine). A true gift to us! Perfect for beginners who have a Scripture notebook at the ready.
Thank you for the laughs, Deacon Peitler!
Yes, thank you Nelodie .I have my mother’s Douay Rheims Bible and I treasure it. It has maps of the Holy Land, Gustave Dore engravings, and wonderful footnotes.
Sorry, * M*elodie. Can’t type properly this morning.
🙂
Sadly, this, still. I get it, you read the MSM, you see who they say Donald Trump is.
Reading the Bible, one thing that can be seen, if you can see, is that Jesus came for every person, different languages, different positions, different levels of enlightenment.
Setting the “Needed and ‘heartfelt’ message” part of the essay on a contrasting par with the “Potentially dangerous misunderstanding” portion of the essay seems to cover an obvious bias against former President Trump.
First of all, why the quotation marks around “heartfelt”? The word “heartfelt” appears in none of the quotes in that portion of the essay. The quotes from scholars in that portion of the essay (particularly Mr. Roberts’ “prodigal son” analogy), however, underscore that those quoted scholars are obviously crediting Mr. Trump with sending a needed and truly heartfelt message to us all. Putting quotation marks around the word “heartfelt” can only be interpreted as an invitation to the reader to believe that Mr. Trump’s message is not heartfelt, but rather something else—something worse.
Secondly, the “Potentially dangerous misunderstanding” portion of the assay rests on a not-fully-explained quote from Professor Gregory about implying that Scripture and something political are on the same level, even subconsciously, causes hardship for the Church. Was Mr. Trump subconsciously implying that Scripture and something political are on the same level? Based on what? Professor Gregory went on to suggest, by implication, that Mr. Trump’s alleged subconscious implication that Scripture and something political are on the same level somehow leads to “invest[ing] political causes with a kind of religious devotion.” All of this supposedly leads the reader to conclude that, by encouraging prayer and bible reading, former President Trump is engaging a “potentially dangerous misunderstanding.” Really?
Is CWR, by publishing this essay, trying to convince its Catholic readership not to support voting for former President Trump? If so, why? Explain clearly and forthrightly on the real issues of the day.
“Is CWR, by publishing this essay, trying to convince its Catholic readership not to support voting for former President Trump?”
No, in publishing a news brief by CNA, which talks to Catholics who reacted in different ways to Trump’s actions, CWR is not telling anyone anything about voting.
Understood. And thank you.
I am by the Grace of God a Catholic Christian in communion with Francis Bishop of Rome.
I am also a MAGA supporter.
I also don’t give a fig about Trump’s Bible one way or another. I need to eat
and take care of my family and I already have several Bibles in mae hoos.
I don’t care and I cannot be made to care about the Trump Bible good or bad.
Ditto! Happy Easter too!
No partisanship here….I loath both candidates equally, and suspect “None Of The Above” would win handily were it added to ballot.
If it did not, it would only reflect the growing ignorance of the populace at large who believe everything they see in/on media to be the truth.
Critical individual thinking skills seem dead as the dodo and we get the government we deserve. Meanwhile, both candidates do and say anything, so long as they think it good for votes…and they get them.
The prize definitely goes to Mrs. Sharon Whitlock for the most cogent comment on this issue!
Trump’s wife is devoted to Blessed Mary. That indirect influence should keep all us Catholics at ease.
Oh dear. So Trump is some how “holy.” No thanks.
I’m a lifelong Catholic. I have many different Bibles and I enjoy reading the varied “translations”. But the “King James Bible”, despite being produced under the auspices of the English Protestant King James, is a work of art, a masterpiece. Trump choosing it for his effort is more than OK with me. Our ostensibly Catholic President Biden is (as best I can tell) a “Show Catholic” only. His ridiculous habit of “blessing himself” (however haphazardly) when telling jokes, and his Mass attendance for the cameras is terribly ironic given his stance on abortion. No – give me Trumo and his Bibles all day long.
Our current president has declared tomorrow, Easter Sunday, as Transgenderism Day of Visibility. Or something like that.
I’ll go with peddling Bibles. And I love the language in the KJV also.
Yes, the contrast could not be more marked. One is peddling transgenderinsm during the most sacred day of Christians. The other is peddling The Bible, the Constitution, The Bill of Rights…And btw, his “peddling” is not for his profit. the income will not go to him but to the creator of the hit song God Bless the Usa, to the makers of the bible, etc. When will be see an article here or other Roman Catholic venues attacking Biden for his blasphemous declaration of Easter as Transgender Visibility Day”?
I will stick with my NAB.
Thank you
The outrage at what DT is promoting contrasts with these Christians SILENCE ABOUT BIDEN DELCARING EASTER DAY AS TRANSGENDER VISIBILITY DAY. WHAT A BLASPHEMY! DT is promoting the Bible, the Constitution, the Bill or Rights…a promotion that these presumed Christians find wrong. THEIR SILENCE AND OUTRAGE SAYS MUCH ABOUT THEM. GOD BLESS DT FOR PROMOTING SUCH GOOD THINGS.
OK, I think there are some things that might clarify matters if you will bear with me for a moment. First of it is a rare Southern politician who does not make a show of his religion during a political campaign. Their political literature shows the family in their Sunday attire and tells us what church they go to and if the candidate is a deacon, Sunday school teacher supports missions, etcetera. The same is often true with black politicians! So what about our New York Yankee money changer Trump? Well, his Southern advisors doubtless counseled him that his established prolife and pro-family reputation would be further enhanced by some biblical connections even if it is at $60 each. Hypocrisy? Not to a people who believe faith in God is the foundation of personal honesty and morality and that people without this are not to be trusted under any circumstances.
I would vote for an intelligent, honest agnostic anyway before Trump.
The bigger problem is his use of the term “Judaeo-Christian.” This obscures the opposition between Judaism and Christianity. One religion denies Christ, the other affirms Him.
Christ is Risen and Christ is King!
If I recall correctly, the “Judaeo-Christian” KJV contains both Old & New Testaments. The latter fulfills the first.
In the contemporary meaning of the word “Judaism”, it signifies a religion opposed to Christianity. If a person is, religiously speaking, a Jew, it means he/she is someone who, even after the passing of the old covenant into the new 2000 years ago, persists in denying that Jesus of Nazareth is Messiah, Savior, and God; and in affirming that the Old Law is still in force.
Judaism, so understood, is a false religion.
“Judaeo-Christian” is a term invented to diminish the honor and uniqueness of Christ and His Church. It leads to confusion about what is to be believed and what is to be done, and to a fruitless alliance with people who do not agree with us.
The comments added to this article reminds me of a joke about St. Peter showing new Protestants around Heaven. They come to one hallway and St. Peter says “We have to be quiet going down this hallway. It is the Catholic section and they think they are the only ones here in Heaven.” Now you can exchange “Catholic” for another faith to prove a point. (And by the way, I am a life-long, practicing Catholic.) I think it should be said that the Lord speaks to us through his written word. And I would trust that message to be right for each recipient no matter what bible version he is reading.
By the way, I am surprised to see how many people here object to the King James version being the one selected by Trump. Trump is not Catholic , folks!! You get that, right?? Why do you then imagine the would select any Catholic version of the bible?? All that makes this bible different is that it includes copies of several American documents of importance, including the Constitution. That’s it. Its not translated by Trump nor has he written any theologian’s commentary.Nor did he write his own bible as the voice of God, although I do not doubt some especially ill-informed folks would believe that accusation. Suppose as an Easter pledge, some of you supposed Catholics promise to stop attacking the man for no reason for every single thing he does?? Especially, stop attacking him for bogus reasons. Maybe what you REALLY don’t like is the FACT that the country, and all it’s people, WERE better off during the years he was President. The truth hurts.
From the New York Post, an article in defense of
Trump selling Bibles
https://nypost.com/2024/04/01/opinion/dont-knock-trumps-bible-marketing-the-king-james-version-is-a-very-american-book/amp/