Tony Campolo, Glenn Beck, and heresy

Over the last couple of days Father Orthoduck and I have been discussing short-term missions, theology, and social justice.  Let me now return to short-term missions with a quote from the article by Tony Campolo that was cited earlier. In this quote, Tony Campolo provides the link between Glenn Beck’s disdain for government and private donations to organizations that serve the poor. And, if... [Read more]

Glenn Beck and social and economic justice

Recently Glenn Beck said on his radio shows that if their priest or pastor or preacher is using the terms economic or social justice that they should leave their local congregation. To make sure that you do not think that Father Orthoduck is misquoting Glenn Beck, please go here to read his defense on his own website. In fact, Father Orthoduck thinks that there is some interesting stuff in his own... [Read more]

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Short-term missions, social support, and Tony Campolo

I am a supporter of short-term missions. However, my blog post of the day before yesterday did not make that clear. I have seen at least two people called to long-term missions because they served on a short-term mission team. My problem is not with short-term missions per se. My problem is with under-trained teams who come over and cause multiple problems to the missionaries in residence and who expect... [Read more]

“In God We Trust” upheld in San Francisco federal court

Fed. appeals court upholds ‘under God’ in pledge By TERENCE CHEA Associated Press Writer SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A federal appeals court upheld the use of the words “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance and “In God We Trust” on U.S. currency, rejecting arguments Thursday that the phrases violate the separation of church and state. The San Francisco-based 9th... [Read more]

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Texas Issues Tim Cole, Who Died in Prison, Its First Posthumous Pardon – AOL News

Texas Issues Tim Cole, Who Died in Prison, Its First Posthumous Pardon – AOL News. Back in October of 2008, I blogged a series on the increasing failures of our national crime and prison policies. At that time I pointed out that states such as California were already spending 10% of their budget for prison costs with it expected to go higher. Since then, you have probably been hearing the news... [Read more]

For members of the Tea Party

By and large Father Orthoduck is not in favor of the Tea Party. Nevertheless, Father Orthoduck posts the cartoon above. Given the extremely low rating that Congress has, regardless of whether one is a Democrat or a Republican, the cartoon above points to a uniting point between Democrats, Republican, Independents, Libertarians, Anarchists, etc. Sadly, that uniting point is an utter revulsion about... [Read more]

The American Revolution and morality, part 03

Now having said what I said on the first two posts in this series, you might assume that I am against any possibility of revolution. But, that would be wrong. My question was whether one could develop any Christian theology of a just revolution. And, I have pointed out that this is a very difficult subject and that there are several conservative theologians who doubt that the American Revolution qualifies... [Read more]

The American Revolution and morality, part 02

Now some of you may be thinking that to question the morality of the American Revolution has to be some type of strike against conservative Christians or some attempt to do away with the idea that the USA is a Christian country. But, it may surprise you to know that the question has been raised by some of the most reliably conservative Christians in the USA, in a book written by a professor from Liberty... [Read more]

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The American Revolution — was it moral?

Father Greg and I have both posted on our respective blogs on the issue of just revolution lately. When is a revolution moral by Christian standards? This is very important because the claim of many of us is that the USA has a basic Christian foundation. I think that it is beyond the shadow of a doubt that the cultural milieu within which the American colonies were founded was mostly one of either... [Read more]

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On Romans 13 and government

Copied below is a comment from the previous post that I have moved up to be a main post because it brings up several good issues.  I have slightly edited it to remove comments that refer to another blogger. The comments are from Fr. Greg, who has his own blog. First, regarding the legitimacy of government in general: That government, in general, is legitimate is well-attested, not only in Romans,... [Read more]

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