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Religion &
Fascism:
Examination of Conscience 07/13/2024 |
[FROM THE ARCHIVE: November 29, 2023, originally titled “Religion & Fascism: Examination of Conscience in a Time of Advent”] |
Unfortunately, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference has embarrassed itself again by declaring that their number one priority this upcoming presidential election year will be: Abortion. |
Not the destruction of democracy and rule of law; and not even Climate Change, the subject of a major and much heralded encyclical by Pope Francis and, more recently, an apostolic exhortation. In the latter, titled Laudate Deum, the pope calls out the United States in particular for |
“Catholic bishops debate Biden’s stance on abortion rights.” ABC News |
its
lifestyle that uses seven times the amount of fossil fuel energy per person than persons of the Global South. Did that touch the moral conscience of American Catholic bishops? |
Religion contributed mightily to the selling of fascism in the 1930s via Fr. Coughlin’s antisemitic radio program, which reached 30 million listeners in a population of about 150 million. Mussolini, Franco and Hitler used the church in their reigns of terror,
just as many white evangelicals back today’s version. |
“Vatican documents show secret back channel between Pope Pius XII and Adolf Hitler.” PBS
NewsHour | The recent papacies of JP II and Benedict XVI made it their priority to destroy liberation
theology in Latin America, in cahoots with the then Opus-Dei driven CIA. And to appoint young hierarchy in their own image, many of whom are still operating today. |
The outsized role that Opus Dei and its philosophy carries with the current Supreme Court is clear. Leo Leonardo is their poster boy. Opus Dei is the brain child of the most corrupt, misogynist and fastest-declared “saint” in history, Jose Escriva, a fascist Spanish priest whose followers were on the cabinet of Spanish fascist dictator Franco for years. |
Fascism with its extreme homophobia and misogynist anti-abortion politics seem to hold a special appeal to some Roman Catholic hierarchy in America today. Consider Archbishop Strickland, Cardinal Burke, his buddy Steve Bannon and the Opus Dei archbishop of Los Angeles, for |
“‘Straight up fascism’: Joy Reid on potential fallout from SCOTUS Trump immunity decision.”
MSNBC |
starters, the latter having led the National Conference of Bishops for several years, including canonizing Junipero Serra. |
Let
the season of Advent be a fitting time for collective examination of conscience regarding religion’s role in the history of American fascism. |
Adapted from Matthew Fox, The Pope’s War: Why Ratzinger’s Secret Crusade Has Imperiled the Church and How It Can be Saved, pp. 106-144
And Fox, Sins of the Spirit, Blessings of the Flesh: Transforming Evil in Soul and Society.
Banner image: “The Sacrifice: The Rise of Fascism.”
Image by Daniel Arrhakis on Flickr. |
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Responses are welcomed. To add your comment, or read other comments and enter into dialog, please click HERE to go to our website and scroll down to the Comments field. |
Queries for Contemplation |
Do you think abortion should be religion’s number one priority in the upcoming presidential year? If not, what would be your number one priority? |
The Pope’s War: Why Ratzinger’s Secret Crusade Has Imperiled the Church and How It Can Be Saved
The Pope’s War offers a provocative look at three decades of corruption in the
Catholic Church, focusing on Josef Ratzinger, Pope Benedict XVI. The final section in the book focuses on birthing a truly catholic Christianity.
“This book should be read by everybody, not only for its ferocious courage, but also for its vision for what needs to be saved from the destructive forces that threaten authentic Christianity.” ~ Andrew Harvey, author of The Hope.
“In the gripping The Pope’s War, Matthew Fox takes an unwavering look at the layers of corruption in the Catholic Church, holding moral truth against power.” — Jason Berry, author of Vows of Silence: The Abuse of Power in the Papacy of John Paul II |
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Sins of the Spirit, Blessings of the Flesh: Transforming Evil in Soul and Society
Visionary theologian and best-selling author Matthew Fox offers a new theology of evil
that fundamentally changes the traditional perception of good and evil and points the way to a more enlightened treatment of ourselves, one another, and all of nature. In comparing the Eastern tradition of the 7 chakras to the Western tradition of the 7 capital sins, Fox allows us to think creatively about our capacity for personal and institutional evil and what we can do about them.
“A scholarly
masterpiece embodying a better vision and depth of perception far beyond the grasp of any one single science. A breath-taking analysis.” — Diarmuid O’Murchu, author of Quantum Theology: Spiritual Implications of the New Physics |
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In the Beginning There Was Joy: A Cosmic Celebration for Kids of All Ages
The first book in the Father Fox’s Fantastical Fables series tells the story of the big bang and how humans fit into the awesome, fantastical,
cosmic picture! With artwork curated from illustrators around the world, this book expresses the joy and wonder of all peoples and cultures, planting seeds of respect, cooperation and hope to work together for the healing of our planet. "Matthew Fox does it again, here for our young ones, who so need a positive, cosmic
vision to thrive, or even survive, in a sad time." - Father Richard Rohr, Author of The Universal Christ "Matthew Fox offers a resounding affirmation of what our souls have always suspected: we are made for joy." - Mirabai Starr, Author of God of Love and Wild Mercy |
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Creation Spirituality Conversations |
Matthew Fox speaks on "Preserving Things in the Good" at the Unity of Walnut Creek Earth Day worship service held on April 21, 2024. |
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