1 00:00:24,190 --> 00:00:26,480 Welcome to the Bishop Strickland hour. 2 00:00:26,500 --> 00:00:30,520 My name's Terry Barber with Virgin most powerful radio Bishop Strickland. 3 00:00:30,520 --> 00:00:33,120 Thanks again for sharing the gospel with our listeners. 4 00:00:34,050 --> 00:00:34,883 Thank you, Terry. 5 00:00:34,970 --> 00:00:36,640 Thank you. And today we have, I think, 6 00:00:36,680 --> 00:00:41,440 a special program and why I say it's special is because we're gonna 7 00:00:41,540 --> 00:00:44,920 be talking about the unborn as we always do, 8 00:00:45,340 --> 00:00:49,320 but we're also gonna talk about some of the tweets and then we're gonna talk 9 00:00:49,330 --> 00:00:51,800 about how we as Catholics, you know, 10 00:00:51,800 --> 00:00:56,760 Christians have a responsibility to stand up to a culture that acts like 11 00:00:56,860 --> 00:01:00,240 God doesn't exist. And we're gonna talk about that a little later, 12 00:01:00,820 --> 00:01:03,800 but before we do that, Bishop Strickland, you've been tweeting. 13 00:01:03,800 --> 00:01:06,160 And I want everybody to know you can, uh, you know, 14 00:01:06,180 --> 00:01:09,040 get Bishop Strickland's tweets by just going into Twitter. 15 00:01:09,980 --> 00:01:14,840 And this one you have from PA St. Padre P uh, 16 00:01:14,840 --> 00:01:18,640 an important message from St. Padre P you said, uh, it said this, 17 00:01:18,940 --> 00:01:22,720 any mental picture of your life. And this is a letter he wrote to a lady, 18 00:01:23,420 --> 00:01:28,280 any mental picture of your life that focuses on past sins is a 19 00:01:28,300 --> 00:01:30,560 lie. And thus comes from the devil. 20 00:01:31,530 --> 00:01:35,240 Jesus loves you and as forgiven your sins. 21 00:01:35,740 --> 00:01:39,800 So there is no room for having a down cast, spirit, 22 00:01:41,040 --> 00:01:45,480 whatever persuades you otherwise is truly a waste of time. 23 00:01:45,620 --> 00:01:46,453 That's direct. 24 00:01:46,940 --> 00:01:51,400 It is also something that offends the heart of our very tender 25 00:01:51,610 --> 00:01:54,080 lover. On the other hand, 26 00:01:54,580 --> 00:01:59,160 if the mental picture of your life consists in what you can be or could be, 27 00:01:59,750 --> 00:02:01,480 then it comes from God. 28 00:02:02,660 --> 00:02:07,600 And that was back in 1916 in August. So a lot of years ago, this was said, 29 00:02:07,950 --> 00:02:12,200 what made you take that letter and publish it on Twitter and Bishop Strickland? 30 00:02:13,670 --> 00:02:14,760 Well, I think, um, 31 00:02:15,300 --> 00:02:20,120 St Padre PO Saint PO petrol chin makes a very important 32 00:02:20,130 --> 00:02:24,800 point that really hopefully encourages people 33 00:02:25,620 --> 00:02:29,320 not to despair in their sinfulness. Really, 34 00:02:29,500 --> 00:02:30,960 my theory is Terry, 35 00:02:31,110 --> 00:02:35,600 that many people want to ignore sin because deep down 36 00:02:36,590 --> 00:02:40,600 they know they've sinned, but they don't believe they can be forgiven. 37 00:02:40,790 --> 00:02:45,520 They really don't believe in the profound divine mercy. Yeah. 38 00:02:45,590 --> 00:02:48,840 That God has revealed to us through his son, Jesus Christ. 39 00:02:49,150 --> 00:02:49,983 Amen. 40 00:02:50,260 --> 00:02:54,120 Or on the other end of the spectrum, people embrace the mercy, 41 00:02:55,220 --> 00:02:58,680 but make no attempt to change, 42 00:02:59,340 --> 00:03:02,840 to turn from sin. It's got to be both. And, 43 00:03:03,060 --> 00:03:05,000 but I think what, uh, 44 00:03:05,540 --> 00:03:10,520 St PO really reminds us of is so important because 45 00:03:11,580 --> 00:03:16,480 if we really believe we can be forgiven and that it's just a matter of 46 00:03:17,380 --> 00:03:22,160 owning up to our sins and humbly going to confession and asking God's 47 00:03:22,160 --> 00:03:25,360 forgiveness, that, that forgiveness is always offered to us. 48 00:03:26,020 --> 00:03:30,960 If only we're willing to ask and to examine our conscience 49 00:03:31,060 --> 00:03:33,120 and to open our hearts to that mercy, 50 00:03:33,900 --> 00:03:38,480 the Lord died so that we could be washed in his 51 00:03:38,760 --> 00:03:43,200 precious blood, be washed in mercy, but we've got to make that choice. 52 00:03:43,980 --> 00:03:48,880 And I think it's just so important what St PO reminds 53 00:03:48,880 --> 00:03:51,800 us of is not to. And frankly, 54 00:03:52,720 --> 00:03:56,040 I confess that too often, I think of, you know, 55 00:03:56,310 --> 00:03:59,920 past sins and mistakes and regrets. 56 00:04:00,980 --> 00:04:05,560 And I think what he's saying is very important for all of us to, yes, 57 00:04:05,560 --> 00:04:08,360 acknowledge the sin, confess the sin, 58 00:04:08,900 --> 00:04:12,440 be forgiven sacramentally in the sacrament of confession, 59 00:04:13,140 --> 00:04:17,360 and then to move forward into rejoice in that forgiveness, 60 00:04:17,870 --> 00:04:22,400 certainly continuing to seek reparation and atonement for our 61 00:04:22,680 --> 00:04:24,640 personal sins and for the sins of the world. 62 00:04:25,120 --> 00:04:27,000 I think that's very important as well, 63 00:04:27,620 --> 00:04:31,680 but not wallowing in the sin and almost in a sense, 64 00:04:31,700 --> 00:04:32,880 in an ironic way, 65 00:04:33,340 --> 00:04:37,960 giving ourselves an excuse for not continuing to seek virtue 66 00:04:38,110 --> 00:04:41,440 more deeply is well I've sin in the past. And, 67 00:04:41,860 --> 00:04:46,320 and to just really not accept that forgiveness and mercy that Christ 68 00:04:46,320 --> 00:04:48,720 suffered and died to share with us. 69 00:04:48,980 --> 00:04:53,840 So I just think it's very important. And as I keep saying, 70 00:04:54,380 --> 00:04:58,800 as we continue to talk about this Eucharistic revival, yes, 71 00:04:58,860 --> 00:05:02,760 we need a penit potential revival as well. Amen. 72 00:05:02,950 --> 00:05:04,120 Both going together, 73 00:05:04,700 --> 00:05:09,560 we need to repent of our sins and then turn to the Lord in 74 00:05:09,580 --> 00:05:13,960 his Eucharistic majesty body and blood soul and divinity, 75 00:05:14,380 --> 00:05:18,640 and be as worthy as we can be of receiving him. 76 00:05:19,180 --> 00:05:24,090 And there are too many that are ignoring the, 77 00:05:24,190 --> 00:05:28,730 the significant steps that are there, not repenting of sin and saying, oh, 78 00:05:28,770 --> 00:05:31,730 I have a right to receive communion. 79 00:05:32,720 --> 00:05:35,050 None of us have a right to receive communion. 80 00:05:35,080 --> 00:05:37,130 It's freely given out of God's love, 81 00:05:37,630 --> 00:05:42,490 but he calls us to have a change of heart, to take a new path, 82 00:05:42,960 --> 00:05:46,290 turning away from sin and living the virtues of the gospel. 83 00:05:47,190 --> 00:05:48,970 So that I think is, 84 00:05:49,150 --> 00:05:54,090 is so woven together as something that we've just got to continue to 85 00:05:54,090 --> 00:05:58,760 preach clearly and lovingly, but we've got to tell people, 86 00:05:59,780 --> 00:06:01,480 sin destroys us, 87 00:06:02,110 --> 00:06:05,160 look at all the sins that are going on in the world today, 88 00:06:05,580 --> 00:06:10,560 either just on the local scene, individual people, couples, 89 00:06:10,580 --> 00:06:14,320 and families, families, one to another, and then in the, 90 00:06:14,660 --> 00:06:17,480 the family of God's people out in the community, 91 00:06:18,100 --> 00:06:21,960 the sin and evil is just devastating. 92 00:06:22,540 --> 00:06:25,520 And the more we ignore it, the more devastating it is. 93 00:06:26,390 --> 00:06:29,880 Well said, Bishop Strickland, I love quoting the saints. 94 00:06:29,880 --> 00:06:32,360 And you seem to do that every week, which is a good idea. 95 00:06:32,440 --> 00:06:35,600 I think you have a quote from Saint rose of Lima, 96 00:06:36,140 --> 00:06:38,280 and this is tied into salvation. I mean, 97 00:06:38,280 --> 00:06:40,440 that Christ is the only way to get to heaven. 98 00:06:40,900 --> 00:06:44,600 She said it back what hundreds of years ago? And she was only 30. She, 99 00:06:44,640 --> 00:06:47,560 I guess she only lived 31 years from what she said. She said, 100 00:06:47,770 --> 00:06:48,800 apart from the cross, 101 00:06:49,810 --> 00:06:54,800 there is no other ladder by which we may get 102 00:06:54,860 --> 00:06:57,960 to heaven. In other words, TISM, you know, 103 00:06:57,960 --> 00:07:02,040 that there's no secretism gets you to heaven. It's Catholic faith, it's Christ. 104 00:07:02,540 --> 00:07:04,880 And so what made you, uh, 105 00:07:04,930 --> 00:07:08,920 quote that Saint in the kind of atmosphere that we're in today, 106 00:07:08,930 --> 00:07:12,680 where that could be, uh, kind of misread as saying, well, 107 00:07:12,860 --> 00:07:14,880 are you guys special or something . 108 00:07:16,390 --> 00:07:21,160 Well, um, St. Rosa, Lima, like, like you said, 109 00:07:21,160 --> 00:07:25,520 didn't live very long. Mm-hmm she lived a very penitential life. 110 00:07:26,180 --> 00:07:29,480 Um, from what I read, even as a child, 111 00:07:29,740 --> 00:07:33,560 she was already embracing penance. Wow. And, 112 00:07:33,740 --> 00:07:35,720 and recognizing the need for that, 113 00:07:36,350 --> 00:07:41,280 that is a spiritual maturity that only comes by the grace of 114 00:07:41,380 --> 00:07:45,920 God, by supernatural grace and St. Rose of Lima, 115 00:07:45,920 --> 00:07:49,720 like all the saints by, by definition, a canonized Saint, 116 00:07:49,820 --> 00:07:54,680 as someone who really embrace that life of grace and models for 117 00:07:54,680 --> 00:07:57,360 us, what we can do as well. Yeah. 118 00:07:57,510 --> 00:08:01,760 Rose of Lima was just a young girl in Lima, Peru, 119 00:08:02,500 --> 00:08:06,240 and didn't have any wealth. Her family thought she was strange, 120 00:08:06,860 --> 00:08:10,480 but she was very strong in that sense of 121 00:08:11,310 --> 00:08:12,240 resisting the, 122 00:08:12,260 --> 00:08:16,720 the things the family wanted her to do just more or less to be a normal kid. 123 00:08:16,910 --> 00:08:20,200 Yeah. Instead to embrace the, 124 00:08:20,300 --> 00:08:24,960 the clear call that she found from Christ and she lived an 125 00:08:24,960 --> 00:08:25,960 extraordinary life. 126 00:08:26,020 --> 00:08:30,040 And now is a Saint that we remember long after she died. 127 00:08:30,100 --> 00:08:33,200 Who else in Lima? Peru the, 128 00:08:33,540 --> 00:08:37,480 the late 17th century I think is when she lived. Yeah. Um, 129 00:08:37,740 --> 00:08:39,440 who else do we remember? Yeah. 130 00:08:39,580 --> 00:08:44,480 We remember Rose A. Young woman who only lived for 31 131 00:08:44,480 --> 00:08:49,160 years, but made an impact because she embraced life in Christ. 132 00:08:49,740 --> 00:08:51,280 That's what we're all called to do. 133 00:08:51,550 --> 00:08:54,480 Amen. I wanna see if we got enough. Yeah, we do have enough time. 134 00:08:54,520 --> 00:08:59,280 I wanna play a clip from president Ronald Reagan back 135 00:08:59,340 --> 00:09:04,200 on October 7th, 1984 regarding the issue of abortion. 136 00:09:04,220 --> 00:09:09,200 And then I wanna talk about, well, our president now, president Biden, 137 00:09:09,580 --> 00:09:13,560 and what he's doing to do the opposite and ask the question. 138 00:09:14,060 --> 00:09:17,480 What's the difference? Uh, you know, from 1984, uh, 139 00:09:17,500 --> 00:09:19,720 as a non-Catholic president to a Catholic president, 140 00:09:19,720 --> 00:09:23,080 it seems to me we've got some issues to cover there. So Mr. 141 00:09:23,360 --> 00:09:24,240 Engineer play that clip. 142 00:09:24,740 --> 00:09:29,040 In California sometime ago, a man beat a woman. 143 00:09:29,180 --> 00:09:33,840 So savagely that her unborn child was born dead with a 144 00:09:33,840 --> 00:09:34,673 fractured skull. 145 00:09:35,180 --> 00:09:39,920 And the California state legislature unanimously passed a law that was signed by 146 00:09:39,920 --> 00:09:44,840 the then democratic governor signed a law that said 147 00:09:44,840 --> 00:09:48,040 that any man who so abuses a pregnant woman, 148 00:09:49,190 --> 00:09:54,080 that he causes the death of her unborn child shall 149 00:09:54,080 --> 00:09:56,880 be charged with murder. Now, 150 00:09:56,880 --> 00:10:01,000 isn't it strange that that same woman could have taken the life of a unborn 151 00:10:01,010 --> 00:10:03,720 child and it was abortion and not murder, 152 00:10:04,340 --> 00:10:08,640 but if somebody else does it that's murder and it recognizes, 153 00:10:08,640 --> 00:10:11,160 it used the term death of the unborn child. 154 00:10:12,060 --> 00:10:14,440 Bishop Strickland. This was a debate that he gave. 155 00:10:14,640 --> 00:10:19,280 I remember as a young man watching that debate in Louisville and, uh, 156 00:10:19,480 --> 00:10:23,440 I thought to myself, wow, uh, he's putting his cards on the line. 157 00:10:24,000 --> 00:10:26,960 I hope I hope and pray that he can get reelected again, 158 00:10:26,960 --> 00:10:30,960 because we need someone like that. And what I'm gonna ask you, 159 00:10:30,980 --> 00:10:34,800 Bishop Strickland is the, uh, other side of the coin. 160 00:10:34,820 --> 00:10:36,480 And then we're gonna take a quick break. 161 00:10:37,060 --> 00:10:41,480 Is that president Biden now has put an executive order 162 00:10:42,180 --> 00:10:46,080 to protect and, and to access to reproductive healthcare, 163 00:10:46,080 --> 00:10:51,040 which is meaning abortion. The HHS announces guidelines to clarify that. 164 00:10:51,340 --> 00:10:56,000 And here's the kicker emergency medical care includes abortion services. 165 00:10:56,120 --> 00:11:00,320 And I wanna explain in just layman terms, meaning before, 166 00:11:00,390 --> 00:11:01,960 when we were younger, both of us, 167 00:11:02,300 --> 00:11:05,880 if someone came to the hospital and they didn't have good insurance and they 168 00:11:05,880 --> 00:11:07,840 needed medical attention, they'd say, oh, 169 00:11:07,840 --> 00:11:11,560 go to the general hospital and wait in line. Many people died. It was sad. 170 00:11:12,020 --> 00:11:14,640 So I was happy to see that the government said, wait a minute, 171 00:11:14,980 --> 00:11:17,560 we gotta take care of these people. At least give them first aid, 172 00:11:18,400 --> 00:11:21,720 stabilize them no matter if they can pay us or not. I thought that was a great, 173 00:11:22,060 --> 00:11:25,720 you know, move on our part. But now what, uh, he, 174 00:11:25,720 --> 00:11:30,280 what the president is doing is this. And I'm gonna tell you, 175 00:11:30,280 --> 00:11:33,600 after the break that under the law, he says, no matter where you live, 176 00:11:34,310 --> 00:11:37,400 he's gonna talk about women have a right to this emergency care, 177 00:11:37,780 --> 00:11:42,360 not medical care, but to kill their unborn baby. No, I don't think so. 178 00:11:42,470 --> 00:11:46,880 When we come back, I wanna ask the good Bishop, his thoughts on this issue. 179 00:11:46,940 --> 00:11:51,160 Now that's really coming to the forefront here in America. 180 00:11:51,630 --> 00:11:55,600 Stay with us family. You're listening to the Bishop Strickland hour on Virgin, 181 00:11:55,750 --> 00:11:56,600 most powerful radio. 182 00:12:11,030 --> 00:12:13,400 Welcome back to the Bishop Strickland hour. 183 00:12:13,440 --> 00:12:17,800 I was just kind of talking about president Biden's executive order 184 00:12:18,300 --> 00:12:19,760 to basically, uh, 185 00:12:19,760 --> 00:12:24,200 kill as many babies as possible by telling all hospitals that if a woman comes 186 00:12:24,260 --> 00:12:28,080 in, uh, she's gonna be able to get an abortion. I use the word. 187 00:12:28,460 --> 00:12:33,280 It seems like our president who's baptized Catholic is hell bent on making, 188 00:12:33,660 --> 00:12:38,040 uh, making it so that as many babies can be aborted as possible. 189 00:12:38,620 --> 00:12:43,440 And his secretary of the HHS said this today in no 190 00:12:43,590 --> 00:12:48,280 uncertain terms, we are reinforcing that. We expect providers, 191 00:12:48,280 --> 00:12:53,160 whether they're Catholic or not to continue offering these services that the 192 00:12:53,160 --> 00:12:58,080 federal law preempt state abortion bans when needed for emergency care, 193 00:12:58,290 --> 00:12:59,800 protecting, are you ready for this? 194 00:13:00,030 --> 00:13:02,840 Both patient and provider aren't they forgetting someone, 195 00:13:02,860 --> 00:13:06,880 Bishop Strickland is their top priority. I'm sorry. I keep reading this. 196 00:13:06,880 --> 00:13:07,280 It just, 197 00:13:07,280 --> 00:13:12,120 it angers me that my tax dollars are going to kill 198 00:13:12,300 --> 00:13:13,960 unborn babies. I'll just be honest. 199 00:13:14,500 --> 00:13:19,200 And it makes me wanna stand up and shout and say not on my watch. 200 00:13:19,660 --> 00:13:23,360 So Bishop Strickland, what are your thoughts about this new, uh, 201 00:13:23,470 --> 00:13:25,880 executive order that president Biden put out. 202 00:13:27,630 --> 00:13:28,920 Well, Terry, um, 203 00:13:29,220 --> 00:13:34,080 it is a sad situation and I like your 204 00:13:34,110 --> 00:13:35,120 word hell bent. 205 00:13:35,120 --> 00:13:39,840 Mm-hmm because it reminds us there is a hell. And, 206 00:13:40,820 --> 00:13:43,680 um, to just ignore flagrantly, 207 00:13:43,700 --> 00:13:48,240 ignore the value of life is hellacious. Yeah. And, 208 00:13:48,500 --> 00:13:49,230 uh, 209 00:13:49,230 --> 00:13:54,080 puts anyone in jeopardy who ignores the value of 210 00:13:54,080 --> 00:13:55,320 life. Um, 211 00:13:56,060 --> 00:14:00,240 really what occurs to me is that at several moments 212 00:14:01,270 --> 00:14:05,680 through the past several years, we've, you know, 213 00:14:05,740 --> 00:14:10,040 as a Catholic church and as I'm one Catholic Bishop, 214 00:14:10,100 --> 00:14:12,960 but as the bishops of the United States, 215 00:14:13,700 --> 00:14:15,360 we have dropped the ball. 216 00:14:15,930 --> 00:14:19,680 We've missed opportunities to be very clearly 217 00:14:20,670 --> 00:14:23,760 proclaiming the truth of the sanctity of life. 218 00:14:24,940 --> 00:14:29,720 The first opportunity we had was when president Biden became a candidate. 219 00:14:30,100 --> 00:14:33,880 Yes, we should have said very clearly, Mr. Biden, 220 00:14:34,900 --> 00:14:37,000 you are a baptized Catholic. 221 00:14:37,100 --> 00:14:39,920 If you want to be a faithful Catholic, 222 00:14:40,420 --> 00:14:45,400 you've got to change your stance on the murder 223 00:14:45,620 --> 00:14:47,920 of unborn children called abortion. 224 00:14:48,550 --> 00:14:53,240 Just basically exactly what president Ronald Reagan 225 00:14:53,510 --> 00:14:58,480 said. He wasn't Catholic. Yeah. But he got the message. We, 226 00:14:58,580 --> 00:15:02,040 we lost that opportunity. Um, you know, 227 00:15:02,040 --> 00:15:05,320 the bishops failed to speak up and say, 228 00:15:06,160 --> 00:15:10,360 Catholics who are voting. You need to pay attention to this man. 229 00:15:10,860 --> 00:15:14,600 Be running for president who he's, 230 00:15:14,750 --> 00:15:17,640 he's been in that sense. He's been true to his word. 231 00:15:18,380 --> 00:15:22,400 He basically said he was vehemently supportive of 232 00:15:23,360 --> 00:15:28,240 abortion. And he's, he's lived up to that. Um, 233 00:15:28,380 --> 00:15:33,280 he has been faithful to that commitment. He has made sure that at every turn, 234 00:15:33,900 --> 00:15:35,920 he, when he first came into office, 235 00:15:36,380 --> 00:15:40,880 he took some steps to broaden the availability of abortion. 236 00:15:41,300 --> 00:15:43,400 And now that the Supreme court has spoken, 237 00:15:43,990 --> 00:15:48,920 he's trying to use his executive privilege to once again, 238 00:15:49,660 --> 00:15:52,360 uh, broaden the availability of abortion. 239 00:15:53,140 --> 00:15:58,000 So we keep dropping the ball. We keep missing these opportunities. 240 00:15:58,480 --> 00:16:00,880 I mean, just with the communion controversy, 241 00:16:01,350 --> 00:16:05,160 instead of saying this is incompatible. I mean, 242 00:16:05,270 --> 00:16:09,840 just going back to the words of president Ronald Reagan, not even Catholic. 243 00:16:09,910 --> 00:16:14,000 Yeah. But he expressed better than many Catholics. 244 00:16:14,000 --> 00:16:15,400 He expressed what we believe. 245 00:16:15,830 --> 00:16:20,760 This is a life in its murder to take that life in abortion. 246 00:16:21,180 --> 00:16:22,600 And so to support murder, 247 00:16:23,060 --> 00:16:27,040 and to come and receive the body and blood of Christ in communion, 248 00:16:27,350 --> 00:16:31,800 it's incompatible. Um, we didn't take a clear stand then. 249 00:16:32,220 --> 00:16:36,240 And what do we get left with here? The Supreme court has 250 00:16:38,030 --> 00:16:42,840 corrected reversed the, the road decision correctly. 251 00:16:43,660 --> 00:16:48,640 And the president is just trying to 252 00:16:48,710 --> 00:16:53,360 ways that to looking for ways to maneuver the law around 253 00:16:53,910 --> 00:16:58,720 this truth, that is finally proclaimed by the Supreme court. As I said, 254 00:16:58,950 --> 00:17:00,760 when we were talking earlier, Terry, 255 00:17:01,740 --> 00:17:06,600 it comes down to what it underscores for me is we have to 256 00:17:06,600 --> 00:17:11,400 work for a change of heart. Amen. The laws should reflect the truth, 257 00:17:12,500 --> 00:17:14,680 but in this nation, 258 00:17:15,350 --> 00:17:20,120 even if we were able to get all 50 states to outlaw abortion, 259 00:17:20,770 --> 00:17:25,520 those whose hearts are hardened to the truth of the sanct of 260 00:17:25,760 --> 00:17:28,880 sanctity of life from conception to natural death, 261 00:17:29,230 --> 00:17:34,120 they're still gonna find ways to manipulate and maneuver 262 00:17:34,340 --> 00:17:35,440 around those laws. 263 00:17:36,180 --> 00:17:40,960 So we've got to continue to work for a change of heart for the, 264 00:17:41,060 --> 00:17:45,480 the general populace and for our politicians. And sadly, 265 00:17:45,860 --> 00:17:47,240 for some of our Catholics, 266 00:17:47,610 --> 00:17:52,480 we've got to change hearts to believe what we teach in the 267 00:17:52,720 --> 00:17:56,880 Catholic truth, uh, Catholic church. It's not just Catholic truth, 268 00:17:57,350 --> 00:17:58,560 it's truth for humanity. 269 00:17:59,420 --> 00:18:04,320 And we are in a serious situation 270 00:18:04,330 --> 00:18:07,120 where we're failing to live that truth. 271 00:18:07,740 --> 00:18:10,880 And it puts us in dire. Uh, 272 00:18:10,910 --> 00:18:15,080 it's a dire emergency for humanity, not just in this country, 273 00:18:15,260 --> 00:18:17,920 but really around the world. Uh, 274 00:18:17,920 --> 00:18:20,640 but the United States is supposed to be that nation. 275 00:18:20,950 --> 00:18:22,480 That is a beacon of freedom. 276 00:18:23,260 --> 00:18:26,240 And we are failing in many ways. 277 00:18:26,420 --> 00:18:28,440 And certainly in the sanctity of life. 278 00:18:29,390 --> 00:18:30,760 Well said, Bishop Strickland. 279 00:18:30,820 --> 00:18:35,280 I'd like to go right into the catechism of the Catholic church regarding 280 00:18:35,900 --> 00:18:39,640 the duties of citizens. And this is really important. 281 00:18:39,780 --> 00:18:42,640 Our church is very clear with its teaching, 282 00:18:42,640 --> 00:18:47,560 that we have to stand up for immoral things that are going on in the church and 283 00:18:47,560 --> 00:18:51,040 say, no, we're not gonna participate in that. And I'm, 284 00:18:51,040 --> 00:18:53,440 I'm hope we get to paragraph 2242, 285 00:18:53,460 --> 00:18:57,160 cuz that's where it really gives us good direction. 286 00:18:57,160 --> 00:19:02,080 But I wanna start if I can with paragraph 2238 and read 287 00:19:02,080 --> 00:19:04,520 that paragraph and have you comment on that, 288 00:19:05,130 --> 00:19:09,040 those subject to authority should regard those in authority, 289 00:19:09,620 --> 00:19:14,400 as representatives of God who has made them stewards of his gifts, 290 00:19:15,540 --> 00:19:19,520 be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution 291 00:19:20,310 --> 00:19:21,880 live as free men. 292 00:19:22,380 --> 00:19:27,080 It without using your freedom as a pretext for evil, not what a great statement, 293 00:19:27,540 --> 00:19:29,480 but live as servants of God, 294 00:19:30,250 --> 00:19:33,080 their loyal collaboration includes the right. 295 00:19:33,620 --> 00:19:38,520 And at times the duty to voice their just criticisms 296 00:19:39,020 --> 00:19:39,440 of that, 297 00:19:39,440 --> 00:19:44,360 which seems harmful to the dignity of persons and to the good 298 00:19:44,580 --> 00:19:48,840 of the community. I think you just did that. Bishop Strickland . 299 00:19:50,390 --> 00:19:54,880 Yeah. That paragraph really says some very important things yep. 300 00:19:55,190 --> 00:19:56,480 That we all, um, 301 00:19:56,700 --> 00:20:01,520 all of us need to take to heart and to really listen 302 00:20:01,660 --> 00:20:06,160 to, and it, and I think that that first sentence, it really is beautiful. 303 00:20:06,180 --> 00:20:10,760 Mm-hmm those subject to authority should regard those in authority 304 00:20:11,340 --> 00:20:16,280 as representatives of God. Yeah. Who has made them stewards of his gifts. 305 00:20:16,910 --> 00:20:21,390 What that reminds us of quoting Romans that's chapter 306 00:20:21,830 --> 00:20:25,750 13. Yep. Is that it all comes from God. Amen. 307 00:20:26,380 --> 00:20:30,830 Real authority always traces back to God and 308 00:20:31,580 --> 00:20:35,800 inauthentic authority is against God. 309 00:20:36,660 --> 00:20:41,480 God is the only real authority fathers and mothers have authority 310 00:20:41,550 --> 00:20:45,640 over their children that is given by God, rightfully chosen. 311 00:20:46,070 --> 00:20:46,900 Leaders of, 312 00:20:46,900 --> 00:20:51,760 of nations have authority that comes from God and they had 313 00:20:51,760 --> 00:20:56,680 better live up to that authority given by God the same thing in 314 00:20:56,680 --> 00:20:57,513 the church, 315 00:20:57,800 --> 00:21:02,800 a Bishop has a lot of authority and it's tandem out on me and 316 00:21:02,810 --> 00:21:07,200 every Bishop to exercise that authority, remembering this sentence, 317 00:21:07,830 --> 00:21:12,440 that this, we are stewards of his gifts. Amen. Ultimately, 318 00:21:13,180 --> 00:21:14,440 it doesn't come from me. 319 00:21:14,460 --> 00:21:17,320 It doesn't come from you and your wife as mother and father. 320 00:21:17,740 --> 00:21:22,400 It comes from God and we need to with humility, recognize that. 321 00:21:22,900 --> 00:21:27,800 And that's a huge part of what is broken in the world that ever 322 00:21:27,810 --> 00:21:29,920 since we were young children, 323 00:21:30,710 --> 00:21:35,480 authorities been undermined over and over again. That was a big part of the, 324 00:21:35,820 --> 00:21:40,000 the sixties that we grew up in. Yep. The questioning of authority yep. 325 00:21:40,020 --> 00:21:44,480 In the church and government in, in parents, in families. 326 00:21:45,100 --> 00:21:46,880 And where does it take us? 327 00:21:46,880 --> 00:21:51,200 When we forget the real significance of authority, 328 00:21:51,740 --> 00:21:53,000 it takes us into chaos. 329 00:21:53,380 --> 00:21:56,760 It takes us into evil is that says further down, 330 00:21:57,300 --> 00:22:01,880 it becomes a pretext for evil. Yep. Exactly what this catechism says. 331 00:22:02,340 --> 00:22:04,360 It becomes a pretext for evil. 332 00:22:04,780 --> 00:22:08,880 And that's what we see unfolding and our world today in the church. 333 00:22:09,380 --> 00:22:14,080 And otherwise ignoring authority becomes a pretext for evil. 334 00:22:14,460 --> 00:22:15,760 And it's devastating. 335 00:22:16,250 --> 00:22:20,920 Satan likes nothing better than for us to ignore the 336 00:22:20,920 --> 00:22:25,520 rightful authorities because he doesn't have any, exactly's no authority. 337 00:22:25,540 --> 00:22:29,960 That's true. All we have to do is say no, Satan. Yes, Jesus. 338 00:22:30,350 --> 00:22:33,640 Amen. And he's done. But if we give him authority, 339 00:22:34,140 --> 00:22:38,880 he can cause us to fall into evil. 340 00:22:40,140 --> 00:22:43,640 Wow. I'm gonna big I'm I'm not a Baptist, but I'm gonna say amen brother. 341 00:22:44,760 --> 00:22:46,960 I love it. Bishop Strickland. 342 00:22:46,960 --> 00:22:50,160 This is so important for us Catholics to read our catechism. 343 00:22:50,510 --> 00:22:54,640 This is stuff that I don't think everybody really realizes what our church says 344 00:22:54,640 --> 00:22:58,200 about the duty of citizens. And we're gonna take a quick break in a minute, 345 00:22:58,200 --> 00:23:01,280 but let me just read the paragraph. 2239. 346 00:23:02,100 --> 00:23:06,840 It is the duty of citizens to contribute along with the civil 347 00:23:06,870 --> 00:23:09,640 authorities to the good of society. 348 00:23:10,220 --> 00:23:14,880 And this is what I really like this word truth in the spirit of truth, 349 00:23:15,150 --> 00:23:17,360 justice, solidarity, and freedom, 350 00:23:18,220 --> 00:23:22,320 the love and service of one's country. Follow from the dignity. 351 00:23:22,540 --> 00:23:26,560 The duty of gratitude belongs to the order of charity 352 00:23:27,530 --> 00:23:28,720 submission to, 353 00:23:28,820 --> 00:23:33,520 and this is qualifying it legitimate authorities and service 354 00:23:33,620 --> 00:23:38,200 of the common good requires citizens to fulfill their roles 355 00:23:38,860 --> 00:23:43,560 in the life of the political community. Wowie, Wowie, 356 00:23:43,560 --> 00:23:44,160 Bishop stricken. 357 00:23:44,160 --> 00:23:47,200 We're gonna take a quick break and I'm gonna have you comment on that. 358 00:23:47,520 --> 00:23:49,960 I just wanted to mention folks this week, 359 00:23:49,960 --> 00:23:52,160 we're doing matching funds once a year. 360 00:23:52,620 --> 00:23:56,520 And one of our good friends just donated a thousand dollars. I see on my phone. 361 00:23:56,740 --> 00:24:01,360 So that's $2,000. Thank you, Dr. French, who I had on the other day, 362 00:24:01,390 --> 00:24:05,800 talking about C and uh, if you'd like to join us in this, 363 00:24:06,340 --> 00:24:10,920 uh, matching funds program, go to V mpr.org. Uh, 364 00:24:10,980 --> 00:24:15,280 you can click there and it'll be a safe way to donate money to our ministry. 365 00:24:15,620 --> 00:24:19,560 Or if you don't wanna use a computer, just tells your, have you call your phone, 366 00:24:19,750 --> 00:24:23,880 have your phone call (877) 526-2151. 367 00:24:24,020 --> 00:24:28,040 And I might even add if you wanna talk to me after the show and make a donation 368 00:24:28,040 --> 00:24:32,600 so I can personally thank you. Yes. I give my cell phone number out on the radio 369 00:24:33,060 --> 00:24:37,320 6 6 1 9 7 2 7 8 7 2. Love to chat with you, 370 00:24:37,320 --> 00:24:40,040 text me a question or comment. I'm happy to do that. 371 00:24:40,660 --> 00:24:42,240 And we come back from the break. 372 00:24:42,770 --> 00:24:46,280 We're gonna continue to talk about the duties of citizens. 373 00:24:46,620 --> 00:24:49,240 And this is right from the catechism of the Catholic church, 374 00:24:49,550 --> 00:24:53,440 showing how Catholics can be the best citizens of a country, 375 00:24:54,140 --> 00:24:57,360 how by living their faith, faith, hope, and charity, 376 00:24:57,820 --> 00:25:00,960 and putting it into practice. And that's what the catechism says. 377 00:25:01,260 --> 00:25:02,120 And when we come back, 378 00:25:02,550 --> 00:25:06,520 I'll have Bishop Strickland comment on paragraph 2239. 379 00:25:06,700 --> 00:25:11,480 So when we take this quick break, open your catechism to 2239, 380 00:25:11,950 --> 00:25:13,160 it's the duty of the citizen. 381 00:25:13,900 --> 00:25:18,880 And I wanna ask father Bishop Strickland to give his thoughts about the 382 00:25:18,880 --> 00:25:23,680 duty of citizenship contributing to civil code here. We'll be back with more, 383 00:25:23,750 --> 00:25:26,480 stay with us family on the Bishop stricken hour. 384 00:25:46,100 --> 00:25:49,680 Excuse me, welcome back to the Bishop Strickland hour. 385 00:25:50,780 --> 00:25:55,040 Bishop, could you give your commentary on paragraph 2239? 386 00:25:57,350 --> 00:25:58,280 Sure. Um, 387 00:25:59,300 --> 00:26:03,640 it just reminds us of something that's basic for all humanity. 388 00:26:03,870 --> 00:26:06,440 It's not one nation or one group of people, 389 00:26:07,220 --> 00:26:11,680 but it is the duty of citizens to contribute along with the civil authorities, 390 00:26:12,340 --> 00:26:16,040 to the good of society and the spirit of truth, justice, solidarity, 391 00:26:16,140 --> 00:26:18,560 and freedom. And the important, um, 392 00:26:19,010 --> 00:26:23,240 point is talking about legitimate authority. It, 393 00:26:23,540 --> 00:26:27,840 it reminds us that authority can be 394 00:26:27,840 --> 00:26:31,640 illegitimate. Amen. It can be, um, dictatorships. 395 00:26:32,020 --> 00:26:36,320 And what we see going on in Nicaragua right now is tragic. 396 00:26:36,740 --> 00:26:40,120 And the church is being persecuted. Once again, 397 00:26:40,300 --> 00:26:42,880 as the church has been persecuted so many, 398 00:26:42,920 --> 00:26:47,160 many times in history and it's because of bad authority. 399 00:26:47,820 --> 00:26:48,500 Um, 400 00:26:48,500 --> 00:26:53,280 so what this talks about the duty of citizens to contribute 401 00:26:53,370 --> 00:26:58,240 along with the civil authorities is really very important because I think 402 00:26:58,240 --> 00:27:02,200 there can always be an attitude. Well, you know, I'm not in charge, 403 00:27:02,420 --> 00:27:04,760 so it's up to them and, you know, 404 00:27:04,760 --> 00:27:08,720 we can kind of point to others and what this reminds us of. 405 00:27:09,150 --> 00:27:13,440 It's the duty of all of us. We're all citizens of this human family. 406 00:27:13,850 --> 00:27:18,080 We're all citizens of a specific country and part of the world. 407 00:27:18,780 --> 00:27:20,360 Um, we, you know, 408 00:27:20,360 --> 00:27:24,960 there's a lot of brokenness that comes back to this basic truth 409 00:27:25,470 --> 00:27:27,200 that the catechism deals with. 410 00:27:28,030 --> 00:27:28,830 Well said, 411 00:27:28,830 --> 00:27:33,640 paragraph 2240 says submission to authority and co 412 00:27:33,740 --> 00:27:36,120 responsibility for the common good, 413 00:27:36,530 --> 00:27:40,680 makes it morally morally obligatory to pay taxes, 414 00:27:41,100 --> 00:27:45,800 to exercise the right, to vote and to defend one's country. 415 00:27:47,260 --> 00:27:48,320 Uh, your thoughts on that? 416 00:27:50,190 --> 00:27:52,280 Well, it just continues, um, 417 00:27:52,590 --> 00:27:57,520 beautifully as the catechism does to get more specific about what 418 00:27:57,520 --> 00:27:59,760 it means. What is the duty of citizens? 419 00:28:00,500 --> 00:28:03,520 Paying taxes is part of the duty. 420 00:28:04,180 --> 00:28:08,240 And the flip side of that is the leadership. Um, 421 00:28:09,490 --> 00:28:14,200 legitimate authority has the grave responsibility of using those 422 00:28:14,410 --> 00:28:19,400 taxes for the common good and not for the agendas that 423 00:28:19,400 --> 00:28:21,960 we see so much of now. I mean, it's, 424 00:28:22,310 --> 00:28:27,200 it's tragic that our tax dollars go to support so many things 425 00:28:27,200 --> 00:28:31,640 that we know are evil and that we would never directly support, 426 00:28:31,780 --> 00:28:36,080 but because of the corruption and the, the lack of faith and the, 427 00:28:36,620 --> 00:28:39,320 you know, the evil that is in our nation, 428 00:28:40,060 --> 00:28:43,520 too many of our tax dollars are used to, uh, 429 00:28:43,520 --> 00:28:45,280 support things like abortion, 430 00:28:45,460 --> 00:28:50,360 to support all kinds of things that are detrimental to the 431 00:28:50,360 --> 00:28:55,320 human family that are ignoring God that are ignoring the basic values of 432 00:28:55,320 --> 00:28:56,720 the gospel. Um, 433 00:28:57,260 --> 00:29:00,720 to opt out of paying our taxes is tempting, 434 00:29:01,100 --> 00:29:05,000 but it's probably not the, the right approach, but we do. 435 00:29:05,500 --> 00:29:06,400 On the other side, 436 00:29:06,540 --> 00:29:11,520 we have the absolute it's our obligation as well to do everything we can 437 00:29:12,100 --> 00:29:15,760 to see that elected officials are those who are chosen, 438 00:29:16,460 --> 00:29:19,160 who are going to properly use those taxes, 439 00:29:19,410 --> 00:29:23,640 those hard earned dollars that come from all of us, I pay taxes, 440 00:29:23,700 --> 00:29:28,440 you pay taxes. Um, and we need to, uh, 441 00:29:29,100 --> 00:29:34,080 really call our elected authorities to 442 00:29:34,700 --> 00:29:36,840 really live up to this along with us. 443 00:29:37,260 --> 00:29:42,080 And that's a lot of what's broken in our nation and in our world, um, 444 00:29:42,860 --> 00:29:45,720 the, the proper use of authority, 445 00:29:46,300 --> 00:29:50,840 the proper use of the resources that are, are taken in taxes. 446 00:29:50,900 --> 00:29:52,720 It all, it all works together. 447 00:29:53,100 --> 00:29:57,360 And it comes back to what that first sentence says, 448 00:29:58,480 --> 00:30:00,360 stewards of the gifts of God. 449 00:30:01,020 --> 00:30:05,320 That's what we need to remember that we are stewards of his gifts, 450 00:30:05,830 --> 00:30:09,720 that everything we have originates out of, God's love. 451 00:30:10,290 --> 00:30:15,160 We've forgotten that that is so distant from the minds of too 452 00:30:15,190 --> 00:30:17,840 many people in our nation. Uh, 453 00:30:17,840 --> 00:30:20,720 we've got a lot of work to do to change hearts, 454 00:30:21,300 --> 00:30:25,160 but that's still what we have to do. That is what we need to do. 455 00:30:25,910 --> 00:30:28,720 Well said. I think I missed the last part of that paragraph. 456 00:30:28,720 --> 00:30:31,400 2240 about praying for our leaders. 457 00:30:31,540 --> 00:30:36,160 It says the apostles exort us to offer prayers and Thanksgiving for our 458 00:30:36,330 --> 00:30:41,120 Kings and all who exercise authority that we may lead 459 00:30:41,360 --> 00:30:42,960 a quiet and peaceful life, 460 00:30:43,770 --> 00:30:48,720 godly and respectful in every way. Uh, again, 461 00:30:48,720 --> 00:30:52,360 that's right from the Bible. And so I just wanna remind everybody, 462 00:30:52,360 --> 00:30:56,160 we should be praying for president Biden. Presly the governor, 463 00:30:56,180 --> 00:30:59,960 the governor of your state, all your mayors, all your public officials, 464 00:31:00,270 --> 00:31:04,160 because we, they need our prayers. And I, I see this all the time. 465 00:31:04,160 --> 00:31:06,160 Bishop Strickland, that our lady of Fatma, 466 00:31:06,160 --> 00:31:08,800 you did a conference over the weekend, out there in Texas. 467 00:31:09,460 --> 00:31:13,600 Our lady said that souls are going to hell because no one is there to pray and 468 00:31:13,600 --> 00:31:18,080 make sacrifices for them. I'm still convinced that Joe Biden, 469 00:31:18,680 --> 00:31:22,600 I mean, president Biden with all due respect, I pray for his conversion. 470 00:31:23,000 --> 00:31:26,280 I mean it, because I wanna see that guy get to heaven. 471 00:31:26,720 --> 00:31:31,680 I wanna see him have a met Noya a conversion to the Lord where he says 472 00:31:32,160 --> 00:31:36,560 I was wrong about killing unborn babies with legislation. I am now gonna say, 473 00:31:36,860 --> 00:31:41,120 I'm gonna do everything I can to save as many babies as possible 474 00:31:41,660 --> 00:31:46,600 by stopping any abortion in this country. Now that sounds like 180 degree turn, 475 00:31:46,900 --> 00:31:50,440 but you know what? Bishop Strickland, I firmly believe that can happen. 476 00:31:50,550 --> 00:31:53,880 It's possible. Am I, am I exaggerating here? . 477 00:31:54,500 --> 00:31:59,280 No. As Jesus says, all things are possible with God. Amen. 478 00:31:59,300 --> 00:32:01,720 And I think we always have to have that attitude. 479 00:32:04,460 --> 00:32:07,400 We have to work for the changes that are necessary, 480 00:32:08,500 --> 00:32:13,280 but also to pray, um, miracles happen all the time. 481 00:32:13,300 --> 00:32:17,040 Mm-hmm and we have to believe that that miracle could happen. 482 00:32:17,140 --> 00:32:21,760 And wouldn't that be a wonderful miracle. It would be earth shattering. Yes. To, 483 00:32:22,220 --> 00:32:26,960 to have president Biden suddenly reverse mm-hmm 484 00:32:27,030 --> 00:32:31,120 this diabolical effort to make abortion 485 00:32:31,670 --> 00:32:33,720 available wherever possible. 486 00:32:34,260 --> 00:32:38,840 And instead to finally accept the sanctity of life from 487 00:32:39,040 --> 00:32:42,880 conception to natural death, that conversion of heart would, 488 00:32:43,570 --> 00:32:48,520 would be, you know, seismic in its, in its, uh, 489 00:32:49,500 --> 00:32:54,320 change. Um, and we have to believe it can happen. Yep. 490 00:32:54,790 --> 00:32:55,623 It's possible. 491 00:32:56,060 --> 00:33:00,480 It has happened in individual lives that were just as set 492 00:33:00,630 --> 00:33:05,320 against the sanctity of life as president Biden is. Um, 493 00:33:06,060 --> 00:33:10,160 do we just count on that and say, oh, he is gonna change his mind. No, 494 00:33:10,540 --> 00:33:15,400 we continue to work in everything we can to be those responsible 495 00:33:15,560 --> 00:33:17,600 citizens. And if the, 496 00:33:17,980 --> 00:33:21,880 the leaders are not acting responsibly, 497 00:33:22,310 --> 00:33:27,240 that just puts more of the burden on our shoulders and we have to do 498 00:33:27,260 --> 00:33:30,680 our best into again. I, 499 00:33:30,840 --> 00:33:33,920 I come back to the conversion of hearts. 500 00:33:34,300 --> 00:33:39,160 That's the main thing that I need to be about as a Bishop and as a 501 00:33:39,320 --> 00:33:40,153 shepherd in the church. 502 00:33:40,620 --> 00:33:44,560 And I think that's the main thing that the church needs to be about to teach the 503 00:33:44,560 --> 00:33:48,320 truth. Yeah. The trust in the power of the truth. Amen. 504 00:33:48,460 --> 00:33:50,720 If people and not always, I mean, 505 00:33:50,720 --> 00:33:55,680 Jesus didn't force anyone to embrace the truth that he ultimately 506 00:33:55,910 --> 00:33:59,240 died to share with us, but he made it available. 507 00:33:59,860 --> 00:34:01,600 And many hearts were changed. 508 00:34:02,300 --> 00:34:06,720 We have to believe in the power of truth to change hearts 509 00:34:07,140 --> 00:34:11,640 and to continue to proclaim that truth, lovingly compassionately, 510 00:34:12,300 --> 00:34:15,440 uh, but, but vigorously sharing the truth. 511 00:34:16,070 --> 00:34:20,960 That is what will change hearts. Maybe if it's in God's plan, 512 00:34:21,770 --> 00:34:24,800 maybe president Biden's heart will change. Yeah. 513 00:34:24,850 --> 00:34:29,360 Maybe it will be to in the very last moments of his life. 514 00:34:29,580 --> 00:34:34,360 And it won't make a difference for us in how the nation is being 515 00:34:34,360 --> 00:34:38,280 governed, but that's the difference he needs. Yeah. 516 00:34:38,380 --> 00:34:41,680 And as we pray for president Joe Biden, 517 00:34:42,340 --> 00:34:46,200 we need to pray for his conversion that allows him to avoid 518 00:34:47,010 --> 00:34:48,920 final condemnation. Yes. 519 00:34:49,220 --> 00:34:53,800 And to instead be eternally with God, that's, 520 00:34:54,100 --> 00:34:57,520 that's the only choice there is ultimately. And we, 521 00:34:58,060 --> 00:35:02,960 as we pray for his conversion, as we pray for him and for every politician, 522 00:35:02,980 --> 00:35:05,480 for every person out there, I mean, 523 00:35:05,950 --> 00:35:09,560 both of us here as we all do constantly. Yeah. 524 00:35:09,860 --> 00:35:14,440 Tragic situations where movie stars or politicians or 525 00:35:14,670 --> 00:35:18,520 different high profile individuals die in tragic 526 00:35:18,870 --> 00:35:21,800 circumstances. We have to pray for them. 527 00:35:22,260 --> 00:35:27,200 We don't know where their heart was at the last moment of their life. 528 00:35:27,820 --> 00:35:32,720 And that's what counts for their eternal judgment in, 529 00:35:32,780 --> 00:35:34,920 and we pray their eternal salvation. 530 00:35:35,540 --> 00:35:40,440 So we've got to continue to pray for ourselves and to take it. 531 00:35:40,840 --> 00:35:43,480 I mean, as this talks about the duty of citizens, 532 00:35:44,220 --> 00:35:49,200 we have to take responsibility for ourselves because our very own lives 533 00:35:50,140 --> 00:35:53,240 are gifts from God that we need to be the stewards of. 534 00:35:53,740 --> 00:35:58,520 And then our responsibility as we have responsibility, it, 535 00:35:58,940 --> 00:36:03,880 it radiates out from our, our own responsibility for our own lives. 536 00:36:04,380 --> 00:36:08,480 And then for you as a husband and father and grandfather to your family, 537 00:36:08,700 --> 00:36:13,040 to the community that you can influence to the people that you touch 538 00:36:13,390 --> 00:36:17,440 through your work in radio. Yeah. The same thing for me as a Bishop, 539 00:36:18,100 --> 00:36:21,600 my responsibility is to be the steward of my own life. 540 00:36:22,060 --> 00:36:26,680 And then to help the people in the diocese and all the families and individuals 541 00:36:27,180 --> 00:36:29,440 and beyond to the abil, 542 00:36:29,540 --> 00:36:34,160 to the degree that I'm able to change hearts and to believe in the truth. 543 00:36:34,780 --> 00:36:38,400 That's where we have to remain joyful and strong, 544 00:36:39,020 --> 00:36:41,880 no matter the darkness and the darkness is very real. 545 00:36:43,030 --> 00:36:47,640 Well said. I wanna also, uh, get to, if I can, between before the break, 546 00:36:48,190 --> 00:36:51,600 this is a, a great teaching on immigration. 547 00:36:51,600 --> 00:36:55,680 The Catholic church has have a position that you might surprise people, 548 00:36:56,380 --> 00:37:01,320 but I love the way paragraph 2241 states it. And you know what? 549 00:37:01,360 --> 00:37:03,480 I think I'm gonna state it right after the break. 550 00:37:04,020 --> 00:37:08,240 And then have Bishop Strickland, give us some talks, a commentary on this. 551 00:37:08,240 --> 00:37:12,920 And then my favorite paragraph on the responsibility of citizens 552 00:37:13,180 --> 00:37:18,000 is 2242. So stay with us. I need you to get your own catechism. 553 00:37:18,000 --> 00:37:18,800 If you don't have it, 554 00:37:18,800 --> 00:37:23,120 call me and I'll try and get you a catechism because I believe that 555 00:37:24,060 --> 00:37:28,200 one of the reasons we have a crisis in the Catholic church is cuz people don't 556 00:37:28,200 --> 00:37:29,080 know their faith. Well, 557 00:37:29,350 --> 00:37:32,800 it's one of the reasons I asked the good Bishop to teach directly from the 558 00:37:32,830 --> 00:37:35,840 catechism of fundamentals of the Catholic faith. 559 00:37:35,840 --> 00:37:38,400 And I think that's gonna help holy mother church, 560 00:37:38,740 --> 00:37:40,640 not only have a Eucharistic revival, 561 00:37:40,980 --> 00:37:45,560 but a conversion revival through penance and through the gospel, 562 00:37:46,050 --> 00:37:50,480 we'll come right back and we'll read paragraph 2241, stay with us family. 563 00:37:50,690 --> 00:37:52,240 We'll be back in a quick minute. 564 00:38:09,190 --> 00:38:11,560 Welcome back to the Bishop Strickland hour. 565 00:38:11,690 --> 00:38:14,240 We're just going through the catechism of the Catholic church. 566 00:38:14,240 --> 00:38:19,160 If you just joined us paragraph, uh, 2241 states, 567 00:38:19,390 --> 00:38:19,750 this, 568 00:38:19,750 --> 00:38:24,480 that more prosperous nations are obliged to the extent that 569 00:38:24,480 --> 00:38:29,480 they're able to welcome foreigners in such of a sec, uh, 570 00:38:29,500 --> 00:38:33,200 in, in search of security and the means of livelihood, 571 00:38:33,970 --> 00:38:37,120 which he cannot find in his country of origin, 572 00:38:37,900 --> 00:38:40,720 public authorities should see to it. 573 00:38:41,150 --> 00:38:44,600 That natural right is respected. That places, 574 00:38:45,240 --> 00:38:50,040 a guest under the protection of those who receive him. 575 00:38:50,500 --> 00:38:54,320 And then I'll read this last section and then Bob Bishop Strickland comment, 576 00:38:55,270 --> 00:39:00,200 political authorities for the sake of the common good for which they 577 00:39:00,200 --> 00:39:04,680 are responsible may make the exercise of right to 578 00:39:04,680 --> 00:39:08,520 immigrate subject to various judicial conditions, 579 00:39:08,570 --> 00:39:13,040 especially with regard to immigrants' duties towards the country 580 00:39:13,580 --> 00:39:18,320 of adoption. Immigrants are obliged to respect with gratitude, 581 00:39:18,860 --> 00:39:23,640 the material and spiritual heritage of a country that receives 582 00:39:23,640 --> 00:39:27,920 them to obey its laws and to assist in carrying civil 583 00:39:28,430 --> 00:39:31,680 burdens. Wow. Your thoughts, Bishop Strickland. 584 00:39:33,900 --> 00:39:35,040 Really, uh, 585 00:39:35,110 --> 00:39:39,840 amazing how well the catechism mm-hmm addresses this 586 00:39:40,200 --> 00:39:41,480 critical issue of our time. 587 00:39:41,480 --> 00:39:46,440 Mm-hmm if we could just as a nation embrace those 588 00:39:46,460 --> 00:39:48,920 two paragraphs. Yep. 2241. Yep. 589 00:39:49,710 --> 00:39:53,640 That would solve so much of what is 590 00:39:54,560 --> 00:39:55,600 devastating our nation, 591 00:39:56,150 --> 00:40:00,680 because really sadly the opposite is happening. Yeah. 592 00:40:00,900 --> 00:40:05,680 People are invading, um, being encouraged to invade that's right. 593 00:40:05,960 --> 00:40:08,760 Ignoring, as it says, to obey its laws. Yep. 594 00:40:09,100 --> 00:40:12,960 The first law to obey is how do we get in? Yeah. 595 00:40:13,100 --> 00:40:17,240 To get in illegally is not following Nope. 596 00:40:17,350 --> 00:40:21,080 What the catechism says with great wisdom and with great, 597 00:40:22,300 --> 00:40:26,480 um, love of all humanity. Yep. 598 00:40:26,830 --> 00:40:30,600 There's it, it acknowledges that sometimes the, 599 00:40:30,700 --> 00:40:34,560 the idea of migrating from one nation to another, 600 00:40:35,110 --> 00:40:38,480 sometimes that is something that's necessary. 601 00:40:38,550 --> 00:40:43,200 Sometimes that is something that is a great opportunity. Um, 602 00:40:43,740 --> 00:40:48,640 and every nation should have that opportunity available. 603 00:40:49,460 --> 00:40:51,760 But with the proper regulation, mm-hmm, 604 00:40:51,800 --> 00:40:55,720 like this paragraph talks about it. Really. It, 605 00:40:56,300 --> 00:40:58,720 it really is kind of mind boggling. 606 00:40:58,720 --> 00:41:03,680 Mm-hmm that we have so many Catholics in 607 00:41:04,380 --> 00:41:07,360 our legislature, national and state. Yeah. 608 00:41:08,070 --> 00:41:10,720 That if they just read this yeah. 609 00:41:10,980 --> 00:41:15,880 In a NAC laws that are according to this basic human wisdom. 610 00:41:16,860 --> 00:41:21,440 Yes we are. Those who believe that God has revealed truth to us. 611 00:41:21,510 --> 00:41:25,600 It's a revealed truth. Yep. But what these paragraphs are talking about is, 612 00:41:25,940 --> 00:41:30,600 is basic human wisdom that has been learned through the centuries 613 00:41:31,210 --> 00:41:34,160 where, when this, this isn't done, 614 00:41:34,390 --> 00:41:39,280 when this basic format isn't followed regarding 615 00:41:39,950 --> 00:41:40,783 immigration, 616 00:41:41,510 --> 00:41:46,120 then things get horribly messed up. Yeah. 617 00:41:46,260 --> 00:41:48,000 That's where we are. We see. 618 00:41:48,020 --> 00:41:52,840 So I would hope that everyone can read these paragraphs 619 00:41:53,260 --> 00:41:58,080 and remember to call our public authorities back to this 620 00:41:58,130 --> 00:42:01,040 basic truth before it's too late. 621 00:42:01,470 --> 00:42:02,303 Well said, 622 00:42:02,390 --> 00:42:07,280 paragraph 2242 says the citizen is obliged in 623 00:42:07,280 --> 00:42:08,113 conscience. 624 00:42:08,300 --> 00:42:12,760 Are you ready not to follow the directives of civil authorities 625 00:42:13,230 --> 00:42:16,360 when they are contrary to the demands of the moral order, 626 00:42:17,220 --> 00:42:21,840 to the fundamental rights of persons or teachings of the gospel 627 00:42:23,440 --> 00:42:28,200 refusing obedience to civil authorities when their demands are contrary 628 00:42:28,500 --> 00:42:32,640 to those of an upright conscience finds its 629 00:42:32,750 --> 00:42:36,640 justification and the distinction between serving God 630 00:42:37,660 --> 00:42:39,720 and serving the political community, 631 00:42:40,660 --> 00:42:45,160 render therefore to Caesar the things that are 632 00:42:45,270 --> 00:42:48,400 Caesars and to God, the things that are God's, 633 00:42:49,660 --> 00:42:53,640 we must obey God rather than man. 634 00:42:54,820 --> 00:42:59,720 Wow. Wow. If that's not timely for us right now, Bishop Strickland, I mean, 635 00:43:00,540 --> 00:43:03,240 is this microphone on? I mean, wow. And then the, 636 00:43:03,240 --> 00:43:06,680 the last thing they said when citizens are under the oppression of public 637 00:43:06,680 --> 00:43:10,800 authority, which oversteps it's competence like we are right now, 638 00:43:11,270 --> 00:43:12,103 they should, 639 00:43:12,150 --> 00:43:16,920 they should still not refuse to give in or do what is objectively demanded to 640 00:43:16,920 --> 00:43:18,360 them by the common good, 641 00:43:18,780 --> 00:43:23,400 but it is legitimate for them to defend their own rights and those of their 642 00:43:23,460 --> 00:43:28,280 fellow citizens against the abuse of this authority within the 643 00:43:28,280 --> 00:43:32,320 limits of natural law. And I might add the law, the gospel, 644 00:43:33,100 --> 00:43:36,000 oh man, we could spend an hour on this one. Your thoughts Bishop. 645 00:43:37,190 --> 00:43:38,440 Well, as you said, Terry, 646 00:43:38,460 --> 00:43:42,840 it really addresses a lot of what we're challenged with right now, 647 00:43:43,610 --> 00:43:47,400 especially since this pandemic, um, the, 648 00:43:47,860 --> 00:43:50,400 the abuse of the authority of, of civil, 649 00:43:50,640 --> 00:43:55,640 a authorities of their authority and the usurping authority where 650 00:43:55,640 --> 00:43:58,920 it's really not even given. Um, it's just, 651 00:43:59,550 --> 00:44:04,520 it's really the pandemic. Um, and it's really not just this nation, 652 00:44:04,580 --> 00:44:05,600 but around the world, 653 00:44:05,900 --> 00:44:10,560 it too many places authorities have lost their minds. Yeah. 654 00:44:10,620 --> 00:44:15,200 And lost any vision of the common good. It's like, 655 00:44:15,200 --> 00:44:17,680 they're, they're on an authority trip. 656 00:44:18,190 --> 00:44:22,920 They just have this power and they're willing to wield it in 657 00:44:22,920 --> 00:44:27,200 ways that used to be called totalitarian. Yeah. 658 00:44:27,300 --> 00:44:32,080 And are still that reality, but they're not calling it that because, oh, 659 00:44:32,080 --> 00:44:36,080 well that would be, you know, that would be politically incorrect to, 660 00:44:36,460 --> 00:44:39,640 to speak of the authorities in that way. But they're, 661 00:44:40,230 --> 00:44:44,960 they're just missing these basic points of truth 662 00:44:45,550 --> 00:44:46,383 that are, 663 00:44:46,560 --> 00:44:51,520 I think what we are seeing Terry is just how critical it is. Yeah. 664 00:44:51,670 --> 00:44:55,120 That we don't forget this. Yeah. The more we forget it, 665 00:44:55,620 --> 00:44:59,920 the more danger to the safety and security of every person, 666 00:45:00,490 --> 00:45:04,640 every family and household of every state and every nation, 667 00:45:05,210 --> 00:45:09,560 we've got to wake up to the threats that are very real 668 00:45:10,600 --> 00:45:14,680 embedded and very basic truth that God has revealed to us. 669 00:45:15,020 --> 00:45:19,800 And that we've understood simply seeking to live the truth that God 670 00:45:19,820 --> 00:45:20,800 has revealed to us. 671 00:45:21,270 --> 00:45:22,600 Well said, Bishop stricken that, 672 00:45:22,600 --> 00:45:26,800 what jumped out on me on that paragraph was the end of the paragraph. 673 00:45:26,830 --> 00:45:31,480 When it says we must obey God, rather than man, 674 00:45:32,660 --> 00:45:37,520 to me that says it all. I mean, we, we have to choose size. 675 00:45:37,680 --> 00:45:41,960 I mean, I say this a, a world biblical view says we're gonna have a, 676 00:45:42,160 --> 00:45:47,080 a godly worldview of our life or a earthly 677 00:45:47,080 --> 00:45:51,720 view, a manly view of, of the, the, uh, re secular view. 678 00:45:52,140 --> 00:45:55,480 And it's really that simple. I see, who are we going to obey? 679 00:45:55,480 --> 00:45:56,440 And the other question, 680 00:45:56,440 --> 00:46:00,960 Bishop Strickland is who's influencing who right now is the church 681 00:46:01,400 --> 00:46:02,800 influencing the world. 682 00:46:03,420 --> 00:46:07,920 Or my thought is the world is influencing us. That's my, I, 683 00:46:07,920 --> 00:46:08,753 am I onto something? 684 00:46:09,460 --> 00:46:14,280 Oh yeah. I, I think sadly you're onto the, the, 685 00:46:14,540 --> 00:46:19,280 the heart of what is broken and what is really so destructive 686 00:46:19,500 --> 00:46:24,480 in our world today. And I love it. We must obey God rather than men. 687 00:46:24,590 --> 00:46:26,000 Yeah. Where does that come from? 688 00:46:26,780 --> 00:46:29,880 It comes from acts of the apostles five. 689 00:46:30,070 --> 00:46:34,800 When the apostles are being threatened, you better quit using the name of Jesus. 690 00:46:35,140 --> 00:46:37,920 Yep. And that's the response of the apostles. 691 00:46:38,300 --> 00:46:43,120 We must obey God rather than men. What happened to the apostles? 692 00:46:43,370 --> 00:46:47,760 Ultimately they died, but they stood for what was true. 693 00:46:48,260 --> 00:46:51,600 And now they are saints in heaven. 694 00:46:52,340 --> 00:46:56,920 And they lived up to the law that God had laid down the 695 00:46:57,240 --> 00:46:57,930 ultimate authority, 696 00:46:57,930 --> 00:47:02,920 going all the way back to where we started with this discussion about where 697 00:47:02,920 --> 00:47:05,800 does authority come from? It comes from God. 698 00:47:06,300 --> 00:47:10,560 And that's a great way to measure the authorities in our world today. 699 00:47:11,100 --> 00:47:15,840 If they espousing something that is not of God, 700 00:47:16,630 --> 00:47:20,950 they're, they're illegitimate by that very fact, 701 00:47:21,340 --> 00:47:25,590 they're delegitimizing their own authority as they deny 702 00:47:26,250 --> 00:47:30,320 the common good. And the basic truth that God has revealed to us, 703 00:47:30,620 --> 00:47:35,480 people need to open their eyes to what is happening and not just 704 00:47:35,630 --> 00:47:40,440 blindly follow any authority that is not following 705 00:47:40,930 --> 00:47:43,600 God's authority because he's the origin of it all. 706 00:47:44,590 --> 00:47:46,490 Wow. You know, Bishop Strickland, 707 00:47:46,490 --> 00:47:50,610 thank you for being so clear about that because there's no ambiguity in what you 708 00:47:50,610 --> 00:47:53,290 just said. I know exactly what you said. 709 00:47:53,310 --> 00:47:58,050 And I think we all need to implement that world biblical view that our church is 710 00:47:58,050 --> 00:48:01,370 giving us with the catechism of the Catholic church, uh, 711 00:48:01,370 --> 00:48:04,010 Bishop Strickland could, uh, could you give us a, your, 712 00:48:04,320 --> 00:48:08,650 your blessing and uh, oh, before I get your blessing, I think I have a minute. 713 00:48:09,170 --> 00:48:13,970 I wanna talk for a minute about your Institute there at 714 00:48:14,030 --> 00:48:15,650 the diocese of Tyler, please. 715 00:48:17,420 --> 00:48:20,530 Thank you. The St. Phillip Institute, um, St. 716 00:48:20,530 --> 00:48:23,730 Phillip Institute of catechesis and evangelization. 717 00:48:24,310 --> 00:48:29,010 We have some great young people and really a lot of collaborators working 718 00:48:29,550 --> 00:48:33,090 to share this truth, to share the message of the catechism mm-hmm . 719 00:48:33,150 --> 00:48:35,810 We have a, a great priest that has, 720 00:48:35,990 --> 00:48:40,770 has joined us and is teaching philosophy at our Catholic high school. Wow. 721 00:48:40,950 --> 00:48:43,050 And someone was just telling me today, 722 00:48:43,050 --> 00:48:47,890 just getting into the basics of philosophy and underpinnings 723 00:48:47,890 --> 00:48:48,810 of philosophy, 724 00:48:49,160 --> 00:48:54,010 talking about how we perceive things and in the natural 725 00:48:54,180 --> 00:48:56,010 state, in the supernatural state, 726 00:48:56,640 --> 00:48:59,730 that is what the St Philip Institute is trying to do. 727 00:49:00,110 --> 00:49:04,930 We need those basic teachings that give us a foundation to build on 728 00:49:05,350 --> 00:49:09,090 for young people that are as gifted from God as ever. 729 00:49:09,590 --> 00:49:11,850 But if they're not properly educated, 730 00:49:12,280 --> 00:49:15,810 that gift is squandered in our broken society. 731 00:49:16,240 --> 00:49:21,130 Well say good, good philosophy breeds, good theology. That's how I was taught. 732 00:49:21,230 --> 00:49:24,850 So, uh, that's so important that you're doing that great work at the St. 733 00:49:24,850 --> 00:49:28,450 Philip Institute. How about a blessing now, Bishop Strickland, please. 734 00:49:30,720 --> 00:49:31,850 Well, almighty God, 735 00:49:31,870 --> 00:49:36,650 we ask your blessing for Terry and all of those who work with him for all 736 00:49:36,710 --> 00:49:41,370 in his diocese and the diocese of Tyler and for all people of faith, 737 00:49:41,480 --> 00:49:44,010 good citizens striving to live your truth, 738 00:49:44,400 --> 00:49:46,650 that we may be guided by your holy spirit, 739 00:49:47,000 --> 00:49:51,530 with the intercession of all the saints and especially the queen of saints, 740 00:49:51,530 --> 00:49:52,890 the immaculate Virgin, Mary. 741 00:49:53,310 --> 00:49:57,850 And we ask this blessing and the name of the father and of the son and of the 742 00:49:57,850 --> 00:49:59,170 holy spirit. Amen. 743 00:49:59,700 --> 00:50:02,690 Thank you very much, Bishop Strickland. I want to thank all our listeners. 744 00:50:03,410 --> 00:50:07,610 I wanted miss mention to you that there's shows of Bishop Strickland are on our 745 00:50:07,610 --> 00:50:11,090 website V npr.org, pass podcasts, 746 00:50:11,090 --> 00:50:14,610 and other shows that I find would be helpful for you. 747 00:50:15,270 --> 00:50:18,610 And I wanna just thank those who have been supporting us here at Virgin, 748 00:50:19,040 --> 00:50:22,450 most powerful radio over the years. Cause we couldn't do it without you. 749 00:50:22,710 --> 00:50:24,890 As a matter of fact, if you're gonna listen to the Bishop, 750 00:50:25,110 --> 00:50:27,680 to the Terry and Jesse show tomorrow, you know, know what I'm gonna do. 751 00:50:28,100 --> 00:50:30,880 I'm gonna play a clip from today's show. You know why folks, 752 00:50:31,420 --> 00:50:35,800 cuz I believe this is important material from the catechism of the Catholic 753 00:50:35,800 --> 00:50:39,440 church that we need to share with all of our listeners. Well, 754 00:50:39,440 --> 00:50:41,880 I thank you for allowing us to have the technology, 755 00:50:42,340 --> 00:50:44,400 to do this with your financial support, 756 00:50:44,780 --> 00:50:49,120 go to V npr.org and do some matching funds we have for all week 757 00:50:49,760 --> 00:50:54,720 V npr.org or call us at (877) 526-2151. 758 00:50:54,890 --> 00:50:58,840 Thank God richly bless you and your family. We'll see you again please. God, 759 00:50:59,190 --> 00:51:04,000 next week, same time, same station. God love you and your family.