Pope Leo may have just sparked the first major controversy of his young papacy.
Leo, who was sworn in as pope earlier this year following the death of Pope Francis, was recently asked to weigh in on plans by the Chicago Archdiocese to bestow a lifetime achievement award on Senator Dick Durbin, a member of the church, for his work on immigration policy.
The proposed award has caused a firestorm of controversy amongst some Catholic faithful due to Durbin's pro-choice views. Critics say that the Church should not be celebrating a politician with a long history of supporting abortion rights.
Now Pope Leo has waded into the debate – and his comments are making major waves.
Should Catholics Celebrate a Pro-Choice Voice?
A number of high profile Catholic leaders voiced their opposition to the proposal after it was announced.
Bishop David Ricken of Green Bay, Wisconsin, called the idea of awarding a pro-choice senator a lifetime achievement award “untenable.”
Bishop Thomas Paprocki of Springfield, Illinois had even harsher words. “Honoring a public figure who has actively worked to expand and entrench the right to end innocent human life in the womb undermines the very concept of human dignity and solidarity that the award purports to uphold,” he stated.
As the campaign against the effort mounted, more than 40,000 Catholics signed a petition opposing giving Durbin the award.
Pope Leo Weighs In
"I think it’s important to look at the overall work that a senator has done during, if I’m not mistaken, in 40 years of service in the United States Senate,” Leo said when asked by outlet EWTN News on awarding Senator Durbin. “I understand the difficulty and the tensions. But I think as I myself have spoken in the past, it’s important to look at many issues that are related to the teachings of the Church."
Leo emphasized that the award was strictly tied to Durbin’s contributions to immigration reform, not his other policy positions. At the same time, the pontiff urged Catholics not to view any politician’s legacy solely through the lens of a single issue.
“I understand the difficulty and the tensions,” the pontiff explained. “But I think as I myself have spoken in the past, it’s important to look at many issues that are related to the teachings of the Church.”
Perhaps most pointedly, Pope Leo took aim at what he sees as inconsistencies within the broader “pro-life” movement, holding up a mirror to critics.
“Someone who says I’m against abortion but is in favor of the death penalty is not really pro-life,” he said. “Someone who says I’m against abortion but I’m in agreement with the inhuman treatment of immigrants in the United States, I don’t know if that’s pro-life.”
This line of logic is often used by opponents of the pro-life movement, so many were surprised to see Pope Leo echo it publicly.
Durbin Bows to Pressure
Yet even the pope's words couldn't prevent the controversy from reaching a boiling point.
With pressure mounting, Durbin ultimately withdrew his name from contention for the award. The senator noted that "because the reaction has been so controversial against the Cardinal who proposed it... I see no point in going forward with that.”
The incident illustrates how the Catholic Church continues to face practical questions on the issue of abortion, even as the official position remains unchanged.
What do you think? Was Pope Leo right to call for a broader definition of “pro-life,” or should the Church refuse to honor any politician who supports abortion rights, regardless of their work in other areas?
Is this a step toward a more holistic vision of Catholic social teaching, or a dangerous compromise on core moral principles?
74 comments
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James Hutchings
If you don't approve then ignore it just like you do an orphanage.
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Patricia Sydney Solis
The Church is rather selective and one-sided about pro-life. And extreme one-sidededness is a sign of psychosis, according to Carl Jung. Why aren't they protesting the GOP cut to food stamps or kids? The GOP shut down the government because it refuses to keep insurance subsidies for millions, including children! Without affordable health insurance, many will suffer and die. Why aren't they demanding a tax on the rich to provide health care, feed children and the poor and demand housing for the un-housed instead of building for-profit concentration camps with taxpayer money? Why aren't they demanding an end to the violent and unconstitutional ICE kidnapping and disappearances of people that is causing so much horrible suffering? Why the silence on these obscene horrors any person with any sense of morality would condemn? Why are only the unborn protected? Pro-Life is so much broader: The planet, immigrants, the poor, healing the sick and being with the outcast -- and JUSTICE. THAT is what Jesus lived and taught. THAT is pro-life. Jesus' actions were never about running around screaming about abortion! Christ taught the Parable of the Good Samaritan, Love Thy Enemy (Trump admitted he hates his opponent, said domestic violence is ok to lower the crime rate--- satanic! His son actually said, "What has turning the other cheek got us?) The abortion platform is all political, made up by men envious of women's power to give birth, and men cannot. You can't be pro-life without procreation!
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P. Keith Benefiel
Genesis 2:7
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B. Jan Hofman
Pro-life is about protecting the innocent. The death penalty is about punishing the guilty.
Those who can't distinguish the difference have never had a daughter raped and murdered by an illegal alien.
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Erik Joesph Samys
What does illegal have to do with that? I see more white men being charged with rape and murder then basically getting a hand slap. Spending sometimes 15 years in prison.
I'm of the thought eye for an eye. You take a life you forefit yours. I'm not talking accidental death or self defense. I'm talking about you come to that moment where you have the choice, life or death, and you choose death. But again I'm also of the belief that serial sexual offenders deserve the death penalty. It's been proven that they cannot be rehabilitated, especially those who assault children.
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Danielle Elizabeth Ostach
The fact is that many people are one of the following two camps: 1) Pro abortion and anti-death penalty (usually liberals) 2) Anti-Abortion (so called pro-life) but pro death penalty and anti-immigration/migrants
The fact is that if you are pro life and the sanctity of life then you should be Anti-Abortion, Anti-death penalty and against abuse of others for race, creed, national origin, etc..... This also means no blowing up abortion clinics, no killing people because they did abortions (hate the sin and love the sinner). The problem is that too much violence is done in name of religion and that is a shame since all religions have love at their core for doctrine.
Now personally, I think Abortion should be only to save life of mother (if one of two is going to die and perhaps both, then abortion makes sense so at least 1 is saved) but I only get to speak for myself not anyone else.
I also am pro death penalty since someone that is dead 1) won't be killing anyone else ever again 2) Not constant drain on state for support in jail 3) deterrent against others since they know they kill, they might be killed.
I am also not catholic so I can't speak for the Catholic church and its principles.
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Samantha Walker
This is a Bible based Christian point of view that is centrist and may be unpopular but worth inputting here- It is interesting that this topic is aligned with the other hot-button topic on the surrogate who was fired for being a surrogate. There are times in the Bible that God commanded actions of war, fully knowing that these acts will surely result in death (Exodus 32:27, 1 Samuel 15:3, Deuteronomy 20:16–17, Deuteronomy 13:6–11, Numbers 25:5–9 to name a few). There are Leviticus 24:17-22 where it clearly discusses the value of life. However, extending it to immigrants is interesting as many are being deported not murdered. Unless I am missing something. Surely, while people follow the laws of the Kingdom of Heaven we are also called to follow societies laws and to respect them. Including, coming to the country illegally, which is a crime which carries punishment. I do agree that there should be middle ground for people to state their case whose only crime is how they arrived and no more- but not those who have committed crimes in their homeland, come to the US and continue to commit crimes and expect to remain here illegally. They have called consequence upon themselves by their own actions. The Bible also says that when we see sin we are to call out the sin (as our brother's keeper) or we shall be as guilty in that sin as the sinner themselves. This means permitting natural consequence as well. Consequence takes place to ensure lessons are learned for action. I support rational life. We would not say a death row inmate slated to die should not be killed as retribution for his crime of mass murders or other heinous acts- we accept this as his fate. While I do not support all abortions, I can say that some may be necessary (medically, age of mother, result of abuse, etc). Part of the problem when we take questions of ethics, morals, values, or social issues and politicize them it creates "all or nothing" stances and we cannot see the gray areas which are sometimes needed in certain situations. This is why Proverbs 11:14: "Where there is no counsel, the people fall; but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety" and Proverbs 15:22: "Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established"... meaning we seek outside ourselves and determine the gray areas within the confines of faith and society. Part of walking our faith means we have to do so within the confines of our societies and the things that happen within them. Grace is also a part of being redeemed. We should not forget this. This topic is a tough one because law, compassion, Grace, and doctrine- as well as politics all collide in various ways.
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Pastor George Day
Samantha Walker
Similar to the majority of individuals who are not scholars, you interpret these texts through the lens of contemporary thought.
Those days were inherently marked by human sacrifice—a consequence of the fall—occurring more frequently than we witness today, though it still persists to some extent.
They had no moral standards in regard to bloodshed. The Torah was a new concept for perfect living, which hardy anyone managed to achieve. Only Jesus did.
These commands were intended to reduce bloodshed to some extent. Without directives, the level of human sacrifice would have been significantly greater.
This bloodshedding culture was so deeply ingrained that even children grew up immersed in it.
The same culture resurfaces today through the tragic act of shedding blood within the womb.
I wonder how many individuals, skilled in articulating their arguments, have ever observed the process of performing an abortion. A friend of mine, an atheist, once encountered this as a medical trainee, and he found the experience deeply unsettling.
He now opposes abortion, despite not believing in God.
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Christine Honore Forbes
All I want to say is that God doesn't focus on color, and we shouldn't either, since we are all different shades like flowers and created in God’s own image and likeness. There is only one God who created us all, so why choose hate? No one is truly just white or black.
Try this: hold up a white T-shirt next to your face and have a Black person do the same, then see if others' labels match who you genuinely are.
If we all truly followed God’s path that was set before us, would we be having this conversation? Three things we need to put to work. 1. Heart 2. Soul and the most important….GRACE. Once we put them to work together, there will be a huge change in humankind.
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Joseph Grieco
Frankly, I look with pity on those who tout their anti-abortion credentials as proof of their pro-life stance, while at the same time look for an expansion of the Death Penalty, protest against school lunches, fight against Universal Health Care, want to deny living wages, want to cut WIC and SNAP benefits, close down VA centers, etc.
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Charlotte Ann Henley
It is disturbing to read the comments that judge rather than an extension of ideas and points of view. The Pope is not an idiot... That i not a good statement to make to being a dialogue about things that are complex. But so be it.... May you all be blessed as we strive to engage in ways that help us understand each other.
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Tom Herman
Bishop Thomas Paprocki needs to get his priorities straight before opposing a lifetime achievement award to Senator Durbin. It might also benefit him to go back to an elementary Parochial school class where children are taught that God gave mankind "free will." He talks about "human dignity" while at the same time opposing the human dignity of all women to use their God given right to make their own health choices. Once again a Catholic Church leader demonstrates hypocrisy at its finest. To Pope Leo's credit, he did not highlight Durbin's position on a woman's right to choose but exemplified the Choice issue is not black and white, by pointing out that those who support the death penalty and through inference (my opinion) oppose a woman's right to choose are not (emphasis added) Pro-life. To Senator Durbin's credit, when this issue produced more controversy than it's worth, he withdrew his name from consideration. He is a class act that that Bishop Paprocki should attempt to emulate. The sanctity of "free will" comes from the divine and should never be sacrificed on the alter of public opinion that would force one's own will to be subjugated by another's idea of right or wrong.
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Mike
Not Everything Is Black and White -Should we reward humans who try to act in a way -with kindness- that leaves the world a better place (even if we don't agree on every aspect of their thinking)?
Most things in life are simply not black and white. Some moral choices seem straightforward — don’t kick a kitten, speak kindly, give more than you feel you can. But many others fall into a space that feels complicated, uncertain, and deeply human.
On the subject of abortion - It’s one of those issues that resists a clear-cut answer. I can’t find a specific command in the Bible that addresses it directly, and perhaps that silence itself invites humility. It seems right to be thoughtful, to search for alternatives, and to protect life whenever possible — especially if the pregnancy resulted from love between consenting adults and the fetus is healthy. Yet life is never that tidy. Sometimes, compassion means acknowledging the limits of our understanding and the complexity of another person’s circumstances. Perhaps the most merciful and faithful approach is to trust the woman who is pregnant to make that decision — guided by her conscience, her faith, and her own lived experience.
Then there’s the death penalty. I struggle with this one too. If it’s not truly a deterrent, then what purpose does it serve? It begins to look more like vengeance than justice. While the Old Testament contains passages that permit capital punishment, the broader message of Jesus in the New Testament seems to move us toward mercy — “Let the one who is without sin cast the first stone.” I don’t see absolute clarity here either, but my heart leans toward compassion and the belief that redemption should always be possible.
Immigration feels more straightforward (like don't kick a kitten). The Bible seems to be remarkably clear on this one: treat immigrants with kindness. There’s that passage in Leviticus that says, “When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself.” That verse, and others like it, remind us that we are all wanderers at some point in life — all strangers seeking belonging. Maybe this is why giving this Senator recognition for his work in this area may be appropriate?
In the end, I don’t think faith demands that we have all the answers. Instead, it calls us to wrestle honestly with the questions — to search for what is good, loving, and just in every situation. Life may not be black and white, but perhaps that’s the point. The moral work of living faithfully lies in the gray areas — where compassion, humility, and courage meet.
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Ronaldo
The main reason we even have the whole Pro-Choice vs. Pro-Life debate is because our medical and scientific communities refuse to rise up and make a declaration, based entirely on science, just when life, and more specifically, human life begins in the womb, if it ever does. Another huge problem would arise if they determined that life begins early in pregnancy, and people want to seriously avoid that problem. If the fetus is declared a human life at some point in the first trimester, just as an example, then society would be put into a position where they could declare any potentially harmful actions taken by the mother, such as excess alcohol consumption or drug use, as child endangerment, and would have to take steps to prevent it. Since the fetus is presently no more than a random collection of cells, much like a parasite or cancer, then pregnant women can do whatever they please and not be held responsible for damaged children.
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Martin L Stigleman
I have yet to meet anyone who is "Pro-Life"...They are all just "Pro-Birth", and beyond that they don't care about what happens to the person.
You want to be Pro-Life? Adopt a few orphans and pitch in to help the homeless. Speak up about the harm to immigrants and work to rehabilitate criminals instead of supporting the death penalty. Above all, stop demanding that YOU control the life of someone else.
Oh...I saw the "Prolife means stopping abortions! There are those who want it to extend everywhere! They just don't understand!"
Yes, I DO understand. It's not about life...it's not even about religious principles. It's about being able to dictate how others live.
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Ari Joseph Bertine
He's right. If you're pro-life, you're pro-ALL LIFE. Not just fetuses. I mean seriously, just caring about fetuses and then stopping caring once they're born...that's a special kind of weird. Makes zero sense at all. So yeah, if you don't care about adult lives under certain conditions, then you are definitely not pro-life. You're just pro- whatever you yourself are interested in.
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Roy S. Thorpe
Prolife means stopping abortions! There are those who want it to extend everywhere! They just don't understand!
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Dorothy Hawkins
"Pro-life" means you are FOR life. Does it only extend to the life within a woman's uterus? Or does it also involve being "pro-life" for the life of the child AFTER it comes out of said uterus? If "pro-life" only means NO ABORTION,then claim you are ANTI-abortion, not "pro-life". Words mean something, actually.
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Matthew Mastrogiovanni
If one truly values life, then that value must extend beyond birth. Protecting unborn children is a serious moral concern for you, but according to the bible, so is caring for the poor, the sick, the hungry, and the vulnerable. If we claim to defend life, then our actions must reflect that across every stage of it.
Feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the imprisoned, caring for the orphan and the widow—these are not optional for those who walk in faith. If a child is born into poverty or neglect, and we turn our backs, what message do we send about the value of that life?
Calling for an end to abortion is one part of the conversation. But supporting mothers in crisis, ensuring access to healthcare, fostering children, adopting those without homes, and creating a world where life can thrive—these are responsibilities too.
You may push the term “pro-life” to mean more than it originally did. But perhaps that’s not a misunderstanding—it might be a challenge. A challenge to live fully in accordance with what you claim to believe. Not only to oppose death, but to uphold life with every action. And that demands more than your words or laws—it demands compassion, consistency, and courage.
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Patricia Mitchell
I think he has a point. If you say your pro life, isn't it all life not just that of an unborn child? In regards to immigration, we are all generational children of immigrants. At least I know i am, my ancestors came to the U.S from Ireland in the mid 1800s. The U.S. is built on immigrants. Somewhere we have forgotten this. As for abortion, that decision has never belonged in the hands of men. Politicians nor Religious Leaders. It is a decision between a woman and her God/Creator. This same church who condemns it, also shames and cast out the single mom, labels her a sinner for bringing a child into this world out of wedlock. It's a double edge proverbial sword that is placed upon a what should always be a woman's choice. It is not for us to judge. As I was always told in my years in the catholic faith, I will stand before God at the time of my death for judgement. If that is true, then no politician or man of faith has been the power to judge less he be judged himself.
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Steven Ferrell
When the Pope opens up the Vatican for ILLEGALS to move in and the Vatican foot the costs of them, then he can try to say that, but as long as he is behind a wall and not letting ILLEGALS pour in uncontrolled and not footing the costs for them, he is a hypocrite.
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John Robert Peters
Well...the Vatcan, under Pious 12, did support many illegals, welcoming them and arranging new passports and identities for them. They were all Nazis fleeing at the end of WW2 to avoid persecution for their crimes. Individual priests did suffer fir supporting Jews and other prisoners of the Nazis, but the Vatican had an office to facilitate relocation of Nazi criminals who did not qualify for the Allied Operation Paperclip relocation of criminal Nazi scientists. Great World don't you think?
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Joseph Grieco
What does that have to do with what Pope Leo is doing? Popes are not clones of each other. Look at how fast John-Paul II worked (along with then-Cardinal Ratzinger) to overturn the reforms called out in Vatican II because it did not conform to HIS view of the Church. However, he also led the fight to end Communist rule in Eastern Europe. By the way, the Pius you mentioned also helped hide Jewish Children from the Nazis, and authorized his nuncio, Angelo Roncalli (later John XXIII) to issues Letters of Transit to Jewish families under the Papal Authority to relocate them to Portugal, and from there to other countries where they could be safe.
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Rev Morse
Until the Vatican removes their fences and let's a bunch of homeless migrants in, that are unvetted, he needs to stick to focusing on boys at the church
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Matthew Mastrogiovanni
The bible actually demands this.
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Nicole Corrado
Pope Leo is correct.
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Patricia Ann Gross
"Leo emphasized that the award was strictly tied to Durbin’s contributions to immigration reform, not his other policy positions. At the same time, the pontiff urged Catholics not to view any politician’s legacy solely through the lens of a single issue."
I have a hard time getting my head around the single-issue pro-life stance, anyway, but I have to agree with Leo on this one. If a person has led an exemplary career and is being recognized for one [totally unrelated] aspect of his accomplishments, why would a stance on something that has nothing to do with it matter? It's like the people who go into confirmation hearings on judges and Supreme Court appointees, and their answer to the one question on abortion is going to be their deciding factor on whether or not to vote for the person. Can someone please explain this to me? There is not going to be a single appointee that will check off every box on your form of how they would vote on issues, so why does this have to be the biggest one (or the only one that counts)?
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Elizabeth Jane Erbe Wilcox
The concept that people are “pro-life” is laughable. They are forced-birth.
I am pro-choice because no one should be forced to say “yes” or “no” to abortion.
The contents of someone’s uterus are none of my business nor are they yours.
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Joseph Grieco
Not only are most folks claiming to be "Pro Life" actually "Pro Forced-Birth", they have no problem denying necessary medical care to the mothers, and are more than willing to hold them personally responsible for anything that would result in miscarriage or a medically necessary abortion. And once the child is born, they have no problem denying access to adequate medical care, nutrition or education. They want a permanent underclass of disposable peons. Now let's add to that the law recently signed by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders that removed all limitations of child labor laws that used to protect kids from having to operate machinery, or engage in what are considered hazardous occupations, even for adults.
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Pastor George Day
Elizabeth Jane Erbe Wilcox
That is entirely correct, provided it remains unoccupied!
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Michael Hunt
At which point, it's still her uterus and her decision as to what happens to it. An unborn fetus shouldn't be given rights over the rights of the living, autonomous woman just because it's growing inside of her. By demanding life begin at conception, you relegate those with a uterus from human beings to child incubators.
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Pastor George Day
Michael Hunt,
Please reflect on your words.
Your statement reflects judgment upon itself.
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Lionheart
It’s just another man saying what women should do. I’m sure he thinks he knows best, and amazingly, many women will bow down to whatever he says because they think he speaks for his, and their, male god. It’s crazy I know, but that’s just how gullible some people are. 🤷
🦁❤️
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Elizabeth Allyn Smith
Lionheart, thank you, as always, for your wise words and uplifting attitude. Your comments always ring true in my heart.
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Lionheart
You are very welcome, Lady Elizabeth. I try my best to be as honest with my thoughts as possible. We all have different views here on the Monastery blog, and that’s totally okay. We are a mixed bag of human beings which makes life very entertaining, doesn’t it? 🤭
May the ground you walk up upon always be firm. 🤗
🦁❤️
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Pastor George Day
Lionheart
God is not male and does not possess gender.
Although HaShem is referred to as Father and Yeshua as his Son (our Bridegroom), both the Torah (the pre-incarnate Jesus) and the Holt Spirit (the Ruach HaKodesh) embody Lady Wisdom in Proverbs 8-9, presenting as our mother.
All three are unified as one entity, a single God.
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Lionheart
Thank you for telling me what you like to believe about your god. 🤗
🦁❤️
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Pastor George Day
Lionheart
This is not from me. Just read the Talmud.
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Lionheart
I really don’t need to, but thank you. It’s just words from other very illiterate human beings that didn’t know where the sun went at night. 🤭
🦁❤️
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ServantOfJudgement
It's striking to the mind that unbelievers will condemn to death an innocent unborn baby then profess their disbelief in a God that would condemn a guilty soul.
If you complain of a God that lets evil go unpunished, you could be complaining about yourself.
As far as this pope goes, I knew he was an idiot when he blessed a chunk of Arctic ice, lol. How much jet fuel and coal for that chunk of ice to get to the fool I'll never know.
That's why the elite who care about the Amazon forest are clearing the Amazon forest for a highway to the Climbing Change summit. Because of Climbing Change, lololololol.
Hahahaha, blessed iceberg indeed!
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Joseph Grieco
"Servant" sadly this post was more rambling than many of your other ones.
Is sinking Venezuelan fishing boats without warning because someone "THINKS" they may be carrying drugs an act of evil or an act of justice?
Is denying nutritious meals to children at schools whose families may not be able to afford them evil or just good economics?
Is closing rural healthcare facilities because they do not make enough profit for the corporations that own them evil, or just business as usual?
Is changing the laws resulting in a veteran not being able to receive the mental health care he needs, resulting in him committing suicide evil, or is that considered an acceptable loss?
Please answer these, and not with rhetoric but with actual anwers.
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ServantOfJudgement
Rambling? I commented on the article, primarily abortion secondarily the ice blessing. On point.
Now to your rambling questions:
Sinking a Venezuelan fishing boat you think is carrying chemical or biological agents is evil. Sinking a boat posing as a fishing boat you know is carrying lethal chemical or biological agents is wise and good. I've lost 4 relatives to friendly fisherman boat cargo.
Denying food you own and can spare that would feed needy children is poor form, ultimately it exposes a wicked heart. My wife is a lunch lady cashier at our local school. Free food programs are abused quite a bit by lots of parents who can afford food. Children that actually need it have no obstacles getting it other than their own parents. In those cases my wife pays for their lunch from our household money. Citizens are over taxed for programs that in general are abused.
Hospitals pay Doctors and staff tremendously. Fees for a digital ex-ray are phenomenal. Everything is nothing but a gouge against the average joe who isn't Lebrond James. Yes, healthcare mega corps are unequivocally evil. I hear the Dems are happy to subsidize them, in fact, they're demanding that my tax dollars fuel those evil corporations you mentioned. That evil too.
Not giving veterans medical care they deserve is evil. If we're talking about not covering the changing of one's gender appearance then that's not evil. In that instance, it's wise to let that person tackle that adventure on their own without forcing taxpayers to flip the bill.
Suicide because of finances dwarfs suicide because of gender confusion. It's not even close. Shall we just give everyone on the planet 400 trillion dollars so nobody kills themselves for having money trouble? Maybe 900 trillion dollars?
Give me "this" or I will kill myself does not work with me. Maybe you but not me. You want to pay for trans surgery? Start a clinic and donate all you have to keep it going.
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Rev. BH
The choice is, and always should be the woman's alone.
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Matthew Mastrogiovanni
Exactly.
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Robert S Collins
There will always be those who sit in judgment of another.
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Merle A Clark
Then why did God tell Moses that he knew him while he was still in the womb . Jeremiah 1 : 5 . A woman’s role is to be submissive in the sight of the Lord . The baby is already a person , thus it’s not the woman’s choice . It’s murder
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Rev. BH
Merie, Christian mythology.
And "submissive" to who? God, your husband, teenage boyfriend, your boss, a priest, Jeffrey Epstein? Any man? Who are you submissive to?
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Merle A Clark
To God’s will , read the Bible
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Jane Stevens
A baby is a baby when it leaves the mother's womb and breathes in air, as it then becomes a conscious, living human being. If an embryo is not developed enough to survive outside the mother's womb, it is simply a potential for human life. Pregnancy does not guarantee survival, so we have to live with uncertainty and faith, which is the definition of 'submitting' ourselves to God's will.
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Pastor George Day
Rev. BH
In fact, the Book of Jeremiah is not exclusively a Christian scripture.
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Rev. BH
Pastor George Day, as I said above," The choice is, and always should be the woman's alone." Not yours, not mine. In what way does this comment relate to Hamas?
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Pastor George Day
Rev. BH
Genocide?
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Rev. BH
Do you know the definition of genocide? Let me help you. 'Genocide is the deliberate and systematic destruction of a group of people, in whole or in part, based on their ethnicity, nationality, religion, or race." What woman ever made such a choice?
Please stop the silliness.
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Pastor George Day
Rev. BH
Scientific understanding acknowledges that life begins at conception, marking the creation of a new human being.
The American College of Pediatricians and the majority of biologists concur that, at conception, a unique molecular composition is formed, distinct from both the mother and father.
The fetus is as alive as they grow and develop, fulfilling the criteria of metabolism, growth, and reproduction, with a full human DNA heritage. The placenta, furthermore, serves as a vital function in delivering necessary nutrients and oxygen to the fetus, thereby sustaining their survival development.
Hence, by your own stated definition, combined with the aforementioned points, the termination of unwanted pregnancies constitutes an act of genocide, consisting of any atrocity witnessed in human history, systematic in nature, and ongoing as we speak, on behalf of mother murderers!
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Jane Stevens
There is lots of life on this planet, and reproduction is the point and purpose of all living plants and animals. The creation of every sentient being cannot be defined by one action or one moment in time. It takes more than conception and more than time to create a viable human life on earth. Since genocide is a deliberate attempt to exterminate an entire population, terminating a pregnancy does not constitute genocide. Almost all humans murder indiscriminately (with words as well as deeds). I think it's important to remember that when eating chickens, steaks, bacon & seafood, or accusing others of being murderers.
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Pastor George Day
Rev. BH
What about the vulnerable child who still has no voice?
In my view, you are no different from Hamas.
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Merle A Clark
And you are a Rev BH . Lol. Jeremiah is included in the KJV Jeremiah was a prophet in the Bible and as far women submitting , they are submitting to the will of God . Not of earthly vanity . You should be ashamed but I think you are the one walking on water . Disgraceful
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Rev. BH
Merie A Clark, please tell me God's will that you are submitting to. (I'm sure it doesn't include anger and rudeness towards others.)
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Merle A Clark
Hide behind the cloth , but God knows your heart . Sanctity of life my friend , without it there is no point in Jesus’s sacrifice . There is no point in life if man will destroy God’s creation . And God’s creation is at birth . May you be blessed with whom ever you worship , but as for me I’ll stick with Jesus and he knows that I have the anger that Apostle Paul had before conversion . And he still loves me .
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Rev. BH
Merie, "In Christianity, Jesus died to atone for humanity's sins." Not for the "sanctity of life".
"Jesus knows that I have the anger that Apostle Paul had before conversion." Are you not yet converted then, and freed of your anger? Gain peace, sister.
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Pastor George Day
Rev. BH
Every time I see your comments my brain insists on reading Rev BS instead!!
Apologies in advance if I’ve ever butchered your name—it’s purely accidental, I assure you.
Now, how about we dive into some meaningful chatter, shall we?
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Rev. BH
Please do, Pastor. I may disagree with your and Merie's beliefs, but I do avoid playground name-calling and retaliatory rudeness as valid arguments. I'd appreciate the same. And to all the rape victims you call "genocidal, Hamas, and mother murderers", such rage wins no-one to your cause.
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Dorothy Hawkins
Pope Leo gives people of many faiths a lot to discuss.
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Najah P Tamargo
Najah Tamargo-USA
I think the Pope was on target in this issue.
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Matthew Mastrogiovanni
So Pro-Choice bad. Surrogate motherhood, School shootings, death penalty, blowing up abortion clinics, burning/torturing/hanging witches, abusing/torturing immigrants, enslaving blacks, hanging blacks, forcing a 10 year old to give birth to her child due to family rape ... is Pro-Life and that's good?
Is it opposite day?
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ServantOfJudgement
I think what the pope said is any death is pro choice and the pro life group opposes all death.
He's mightily wrong though and should spend more time reading the book he's the appointed front man for.
His logic is easily defeated.
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Reverend Paula Copp
Perhaps you think you’re better suited to be the Pope, SoJ?
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Patricia Ann Gross
No, all he said was if you oppose abortion but support the death penalty, you aren't really pro-life.
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Bishop William Dusenberry, DD
There would have never, ever, been Christianity— if the Christian God hadn’t arranged for it to have happened to his one and only “known” son, “death penal-tied” (by being tortured to death) so it’s clear that the Christian God supports the death penalty — because he actually used it — when he didn’t have to — and it’s for certain that the Pope (the Christian God’s personal representative on Earth) knows this
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Patricia Ann Gross
This has nothing to do with the Bible, or Christianity either. You can be an athiest and claim to be pro-life. Leo was just pointing out the hypocracy in calling oneself pro-life when they support wars and the death penalty, both of which cause death.
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Warren Calvin Wall
The Bible itself supports the death penalty, by stoning no less. It supports the slaughter of men, women, and children that are not a part of the religion and taking virgin girls as sex slaves. Judeo Christianity is far from pro life.
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Pastor George Day
Warren Calvin Wall
The death penalty was fulfilled in Jesus once and for all. There is no further need for it.
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Reverend Paula Copp
Comment removed by user.
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Joseph Grieco
According to some folks, including some commenters on this list, yeah.
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I'm an old white man. While getting old, I've seen and lived a lot of things. The Democrat party markets themselves as being all fir the underdog. They invent terms like inclusive, marginalized, equity, etc. They talknabout liftng people but that really happens is they use any power they seize to push others downand gain more power for themselves. Having lived in a Communist country for over a decade. I see the pattern and where it leads. Any religious leader who would choose to align themself with that party is either gullible or a judas goat. Maybe many of them actually start with good intentions. But we know where THAT road leads.