• Home
  • ***About this blog / Contact Me
  • ***Subscribe to this blog ……………………………..
  • ***View from the Top
  • **Responding to His Call to Love
  • *A Child’s Plea for Eternal Life
  • *America the Beautiful
  • *Being Catholic
  • *Catholic Version of ‘IMAGINE’
  • *Path to Sainthood
  • *Prayer
  • *Private Revelation
  • *The Light of Christ our Savior
  • *We Are Catholic
  • *What We Catholics Believe
  • Building a Culture of Life via The Gabriel Project
  • Father Joseph’s Marvelous Reflections
  • Message to the Pro-life Community
  • Roots of the Culture of Death
  • Serious Health Care and End of Life Decisions
  • Serious Thoughts on Sidewalk Counseling
  • Taking Abortion Seriously
  • The Dignity of a Person
  • Victims of the Abortion Industry and You
  • Warriors for the Victory of Life
  • What Abortion Really Is (testimony)
  • YOU CAN BE AN ANGEL
  • [SCROLL DOWN FOR ALL POSTS]

Taking Life, Love and Faith Seriously

"Blog" component of "Thoughts and Faith to Share Anthology"

Feeds:
Posts
Comments
« Abortion – An obstacle to peace
You say you’re pro-life and you’re going to vote for Obama or Clinton? »

Authentic Christian Discipleship

April 1, 2008 by Fredi D'Alessio -Taking Life, Love and Faith Seriously

Deacon Keith Fournier
 
[What follows is a compilation of excerpts selected from various essays written by Deacon Keith Fournier, which I believe present truths that each and every Christian who aspires to be an authentic disciple of Christ Jesus must accept and embrace. Fredi D'Alessio]

Our political involvement as Christian citizens should be to promote the common good.

At the foundation of our national and personal freedom is a concept called the “Common Good.” Perhaps one of the oldest references to the concept is found in the “Epistle of Barnabus,” an early Church document dating back to 130 A.D. Long enshrined in Christian social teaching, the concept of “the Common Good” is also one of the foundation stones of the political philosophy and patrimony of Western civilization.

The Catholic Catechism defines “Common Good” as “the sum total of social conditions which allow people, either as groups or as individuals, to reach their fulfillment more fully and more easily.” In the tradition the concept usually embraces three aspects of “fulfillment” as it relates to the human person and his/her rights to full participation in the social order; a respect for the human person, the social well-being and development of the entire society, and “peace” which is more than the absence of war, it is the stability and security of a just order (see CCC #1905-1912)
 
At an even deeper level the concept requires the embrace of a vital Christian social “hermeneutic,” a lens through which Christians are supposed to view the very meaning of human existence. Christians should, if they understand the classical Christian faith, know that we were made for family, for community, and for social participation.

Contrary to the individualism and atomism of the age, which has even infected much of the post-Reformation Protestant Christian community, the individual is not the measure of all things. Freedom is not found in solitude. Nor is it found in retreating into our little enclaves and fighting to protect “us” against them. This is a recipe for division and despair, even when such an approach is followed by Christians–who of all people should follow in the footsteps of the one who gave Himself up for all!

Christian anthropology (the understanding of the nature of man/woman) introduced the very concept of “person” to civilized discourse. It is classical Christian thought that insists that we cannot be fully human without living together. We are social by nature and design.

Because of this we are also bound to one another by an obligation of solidarity (we simply are our brothers keeper) and we have a duty to participate in the social order and find a way to build a just society with all men and women, even those who are different then us or with whom we do not agree.
  

To not only understand all this but to live it–is to promote the “Common Good.”

Catholic Social teaching addresses fundamental and universal truths such as the dignity of every human person, the sanctity of all human life, the primacy of true marriage and the family founded upon it, the nature of–and obligations attendant to–human freedom, and our obligations to one another in human solidarity, including our responsibility to the poor, in all of their manifestations. These are not simply “religious” truths, in the sense of requiring revelation to prove them. They are revealed by the natural law which is accessible to all men and women and then confirmed by revelation. They are also moral truths, affecting every aspect of our common life. They should be guiding lights for everyone who seeks to enact and implement social, economic and public policy. 

 

 The Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church Sounds the Trumpet.

“And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle?” St. Paul, 1 Corinthians 14:8The “Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church,” released this past March [2005] in the United States, is a bugle blast that should be heard throughout the entire Church, and, through her sons and daughters, throughout the whole world. Far from an indistinct sound, it is one that rings out with crystal clarity. This magnificent volume presents the treasury of the Church’s social teaching in one place. It is waiting to now be implemented and give form to a new Catholic Action. Never before has the distilled wisdom of the Magisterium of the Catholic Church been so beautifully organized, brilliantly articulated or thoroughly researched. The Compendium is tenderly dedicated to “His Holiness John Paul II Master of Social Doctrine and Evangelical Witness to Justice and Peace.” The timing of its release is nothing short of prophetic, coming as it does in the wake of the passing to the Father of John Paul the Great and the elevation of Pope Benedict to the Chair of Peter. The time has come for an informed, educated, genuinely converted and courageously dedicated global movement of the lay faithful, a new Catholic Action, which will take this treasure into the world of the Third Christian Millennium and build a new culture of life, family, authentic freedom and solidarity; a civilization of love. What the Compendium does is to give Catholics, other Christians, other people of faith and all people of good will a complete sourcebook for the Social teaching. In this one volume we find all the references needed to study the Social Teaching and then to go “right to the source” by turning to the back. It provides the instruction that has been so desperately needed to give clear direction to those who are committed to Catholic Action. It will also be welcomed ecumenically by anyone concerned with true social justice.
 

Get this book and change the world.

~ 

Deacon Keith Fournier is a Catholic Deacon of the Diocese of Richmond, Virginia. He holds degrees from Franciscan University of Steubenville (B.A., Theology and Philosophy), the John Paul II Institute of the Lateran University (M.T.S., Theology) the University of Pittsburgh School of Law (J.D.) and is currently a Ph.D. student in Moral Theology at the Catholic University of America. He is the author of hundreds of articles on issues of faith and culture and the spiritual life and eight books.  
About these ads

Like this:

Like Loading...

Posted in *Faith / Church, by All Sources, by Deacon Fournier |

  • Enter your email address to follow this blog to receive notifications of new posts by email. After clicking on "Sign me up", you will receive an email asking you to confirm your subscription. (Check your spam folder if you don't receive a confirmation email.) Add "@wordpress.com" to your safe sender list.

  • Contact Me

    Click Here
  • RSS Making All Things New

    • The Spirit Yearns
  • Special Interest Pages

    See titles listed at the top of this page.
  • Thoughts and Faith to Share Anthology

    Click Here
  • The Manhattan Declaration

    Click Here
  • An open letter to all Catholics, laity and clergy

    Click Here
  • Children Deserve Birth

    Click Here
  • Stop Planned Parenthood

    Click Here
  • Categories

    • *Bishops Correct Politicians
    • *Embryonic Life
    • *Faith / Church
    • *Life Issues
    • *United Nations & Abortion
    • by All Sources
    • by Bishop Vasa
    • by Deacon Fournier
    • by Father Joseph
    • by Fredi D'Alessio
    • by Others
  • Recent Posts by Descending Date

    • *The Holy Spirit and Grace
    • *Kermit Gosnell will never kill another baby,
    • *Commander in Chief on Mother’s Day 2013: Happy Motherhood Prevention
    • *Commander in Chief: “God bless you (Planned Parenthood)”
    • *Happy 86th birthday Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI
    • *The Lethal Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
    • *Pope Francis and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI Embrace
    • *Benedict XVI Put Liturgy Front and Center
    • *His Holiness Benedict XVI, Pope Emeritus
    • *His Eminence, Raymond Cardinal Burke on abortion and the duty of Catholic politicians
  • All Posts by Descending Date

    • *ALL POSTS
  • All Posts in Alphabetical Order

    • *A Call to Alms
    • *A Child’s Plea for Eternal Life
    • *A Constitutional Right to a Birthday?
    • *A human embryo is a human person
    • *A National Examen
    • *A Person From Conception – Pope Benedict XVI on the embryo in the womb
    • *A Place Prepared by God
    • *A Regretted Abortion Inspires Helping Pregnant Mothers
    • *A Reminder for Presidents’ Day
    • *A Shred of Conscience – upholding the ban on partial-birth abortion
    • *A teenage mom: "From that moment on, you are a mother"
    • *A Very Important Documentary for Serious Americans, Parents and Christians
    • *ABOLISH ABORTION NOW! – The second civil war?
    • *Abortion – An obstacle to peace
    • *Abortion and a Failure of Community
    • *Abortion Is The Defining Life Issue
    • *Abortion Supporters Should Not Receive Communion Says Archbishop Robert Carlson
    • *Affirmation of Personal Faith
    • *Affirming a Culture of Life Together
    • *America is Selling Her Soul to the Devil
    • *America’s Greatness
    • *America’s Shame
    • *Americans are confused about life
    • *An Interview with Satan
    • *An open letter to all Catholics, laity and clergy
    • *An Unborn Child’s Plea
    • *Archbishop George Niederauer of San Francisco Commends The Gabriel Project
    • *Archbishop Raymond Burke on admonishing public officials
    • *Are Embryo Banks for Spare Parts Next?
    • *Are John McCain and Mitt Romney pro-life?
    • *Authentic Christian Discipleship
    • *Authentic Motherhood
    • *Bart Stupak’s Health Care Bill Vote – Indefensible!
    • *Being Catholic
    • *Benedict XVI Put Liturgy Front and Center
    • *Bishop Aquila: Catholics are obligated to work tirelessly for life and the protection of the unborn child
    • *Bishop Blair of Toledo corrects politicians on Church teachings on abortion – instructs laity on voting
    • *Bishop Farrell of Dallas and Bishop Vann of Fort Worth instruct the laity on voting
    • *Bishop Finn on Courage
    • *Bishop Finn: Can a Catholic Vote in Support of Abortion?
    • *Bishop Galante: Faithful Citizenship is living in a way worthy of the Gospel
    • *Bishop Hermann: Every bishop should be willing to give up his life, if it meant putting an end to abortion
    • *Bishop Hermann: Judgment Day is on its way
    • *Bishop Hermann: Let us call God’s mercy down upon us as a nation
    • *Bishop Hermann: SAVE OUR CHILDREN!
    • *Bishop Martino: A Pastoral Letter for Respect Life Sunday
    • *Bishop Robert Vasa’s Response to the HHS Mandate
    • *Bishop Serratelli: A Politician’s Promise: No Right to Life! No Freedom!
    • *Bishop Vasa on Courage
    • *Bishop Vasa: As you form conscience, know not all issues are equal
    • *Bishop Wenski: “We Catholics have become too complacent about the legal killing of unborn children in America and elsewhere.”
    • *BISHOPS CORRECT PELOSI AND BIDEN ON CHURCH TEACHINGS ON ABORTION (CONSOLIDATED)
    • *Bishops Instruct Faithful Citizens on Voting
    • *Bishops of Kansas: Moral Principles for Catholic Voters
    • *Building a Culture of Life via The Gabriel Project
    • *Called to be an Angel
    • *Calvary in Pinellas Park
    • *Cardinal Rigali Urges Support for ‘Pregnant Women Support Act’
    • *Catholic Venom
    • *CHILDREN DESERVE BIRTH
    • *China’s Shame – Repulsive crime(s) against humanity
    • *Church and World
    • *Church teaching enjoins all Catholics – even legislator
    • *Come Home to the Catholic Church
    • *Commander in Chief on Mother’s Day 2013: Happy Motherhood Prevention
    • *Commander in Chief: “God bless you (Planned Parenthood)”
    • *Common Sense End of Life Decision Making
    • *Community of Believers
    • *Conception to birth – visualized
    • *Contraception the Love Killer
    • *Core Democratic Moral Values: Abortion and Gay Marriage
    • *Deacon Keith Fournier corrects Jon O’Brien and ‘Catholics for Choice’ on Church teachings on abortion
    • *Deacon Keith Fournier corrects Pelosi on Church teachings on abortion
    • *Deacon Keith Fournier: Senator Biden, Prop 8, Marriage and the New ‘Know Nothings’
    • *Deacon Keith Fournier’s Pastoral Response to Doug Kmiec’s Support of Abortion Hawk Barrak Obama
    • *DEATH WISH!
    • *Death, where is thy victory?
    • *Defend the truth against those who lie about the authentic teachings of the Catholic Church
    • *Defend the unborn and protect pregnant mothers at all times
    • *Differentiating the ‘Church’ from ‘churches’
    • *Dignitas Personae helps Catholics form their consciences
    • *Disqualified from Public Office
    • *Doug Kmiec, read this:
    • *Election 2008 Part I: “We Have No King But Caesar”
    • *Election 2008 Part II: Catholic Culture and the Election of Barack Obama
    • *Election 2008 Part III: Assault on Conscience and Reality
    • *Embryonic vs. Adult Stem Cell Research – Obama Ignores the Facts
    • *END YOUR SLAVISH DEVOTION TO THE DEMOCRAT PARTY
    • *Even in trying times, we can’t cast aside innocent life
    • *Every human being is to be respected and treated as a person from the moment of conception
    • *Excommunication may be the only responsible and charitable thing to do
    • *Faces of the American Holocaust versus Faces of Angels
    • *Faith vs. Works
    • *Father Joseph’s Marvelous Reflections
    • *Filling Their Pews
    • *Fr. Corapi calls for a Rosary Novena between October 27th and Election Day
    • *Fr. Corapi: The Eleventh Hour
    • *Fr. Stefano Gobbi (Rest In Peace) – His Last Annual Letter
    • *Fr. Stefano Gobbi’s Funeral
    • *Fr. Stefano Gobbi’s Spiritual Testament
    • *From 7 Billion People To 500 Million People – The Sick Population Control Agenda Of The Global Elite
    • *From Family Planning to Death Planning
    • *From Selfishness to Sacrifice (Part 1)
    • *From Selfishness to Sacrifice (Part 2)
    • *From the Holy Spirit to the Adversaries of Medjugorje?
    • *Funerals and Purgatory
    • *Gabriel Project parish ‘angels’ watch over troubled moms, families
    • *Gabriel Project: Gabriel’s Angels Show God’s Love to Pregnant Women in Distress
    • *God thunders: “THIS IS A CHILD!”
    • *Happy 86th birthday Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI
    • *Happy Third Birthday Gabriela
    • *He Will Come Again in Glory to Judge…
    • *Heil Barack or Hail Mary
    • *HELP PREVENT ABORTIONS
    • *Heroes Do Die: John McCain (Leave abortion alone)
    • *His Eminence, Raymond Cardinal Burke on abortion and the duty of Catholic politicians
    • *His Holiness Benedict XVI, Pope Emeritus
    • *Hospices – A Trojan horse for euthanasia?
    • *Human Lives, Human Rights
    • *I Support NOW
    • *Ideology As Religion
    • *Imagine Revised as a Reflection on the Faith and Social Doctrine of the Church
    • *Invitation to Christians
    • *Joe Biden and the Obama Administration willing to turn a blind eye to China's Atrocities
    • *Kermit Gosnell will never kill another baby
    • *Leading Catholic exorcist on those indifferent to Medjugorje: “They are fools!”
    • *Let’s Be Sincere
    • *LIFE IS FUN
    • *Lives are saved, but some vaccines aren’t morally neutral
    • *Marches and Walks for Life
    • *Margaret Sanger, Planned Parenthood’s Racist Founder
    • *Martin Luther King’s Niece: Obama Election Heals “White Guilt” at the Cost of Life and Family
    • *Mercy vs. Tolerance
    • *Message to the pro-life community
    • *Miscarriage of justice – call for Kathleen Sebelius’ resignation
    • *Moral teachings of the Church are in accord with human dignity
    • *My response to “McCain Is Pro-death not Pro-Life”
    • *No ‘Abortion Rights’ only Human Right
    • *Notre Dame President Sits on Board of Directors of Pro-Abortion, Pro-Contraception Organization
    • *Obama 2012 Launched: Should Catholics Support Him?
    • *Obama Administration’s definition of “reproductive health” includes abortion
    • *Obama and the Media on Stem Cells – the Untold Truth
    • *Obama v. Life
    • *Obamanation
    • *On Evangelization
    • *On Metanoia and Coming Home
    • *On Seeing and Being Seen
    • *Organ Donation – What you need to know
    • *Our Message to Worried Pregnant Mothers
    • *Our Mission is Culture Conversion not Culture War
    • *Paean to Personhood
    • *Parish ‘angels’ embrace struggling pregnant mom
    • *Path to Sainthood
    • *Perhaps my dream will come true
    • *Piercing the Darkness
    • *Plan B for 17 year old girls: Equipping Children to Kill Children?
    • *Planned Parenthood: False Prophet with Plans for U.S. Health Care
    • *Plea to Filipinos: Defeat the Tyrannous RH Bill
    • *Pope Francis and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI Embrace
    • *Post-Election Reflection # 2 by Abbot Joseph
    • *Post-Election Reflections: The Change We Need the Most
    • *Postfertilization Effect of Hormonal Emergency Contraception
    • *Power Comes Forth
    • *Prepare the Way, Again
    • *Rape, Todd Akin and appeasing abortionists
    • *Re: Let’s All Use Adjective “Preborn” Not “Unborn”
    • *Reaching Out for Life
    • *Reaping the Whirlwind of Abortion
    • *Receive ‘Charity in Truth’ with Charity and Hunger for the Truth
    • *Religion, reason, voting
    • *Remembering Pope John Paul II
    • *Reproductive Health Language is Properly an Obstacle for the Holy See
    • *Respect for Unborn Human Life: The Church’s Constant Teaching
    • *Responding to His Call to Love
    • *Responsible Thanksgiving
    • *Salvation and the Works of Love
    • *Satan, while hidden, remains active in us and in society
    • *Save the Embryonic Humans!
    • *Scripture and Tradition Fit Together by Divine Design
    • *Seeking a health plan that does not expand abortion
    • *Selective Reduction Abortions Increasing: Children Have Become Commodities
    • *Senator Joseph Biden’s sophistry
    • *Serious Health Care and End of Life Decisions
    • *Sing a New Song
    • *Singing During Liturgy
    • *Some forms of so-called ‘contraception’ take a human life
    • *Subsidiarity, solidarity, and the lay mission
    • *Taking Abortion Seriously
    • *The Abyss of Oblivion
    • *The America of Catholic memory is not the America of the present moment or the emerging future.
    • *The Church of Christ
    • *The Church of Christ Jesus
    • *The Dignity of a Person
    • *The Fruits of Sidewalk Counseling
    • *The Fundamental Reproductive Right
    • *THE GABRIEL PROJECT
    • *The Holy Spirit and Grace
    • *The Impact of Headlines
    • *The Inevitable Triumph of the Pro-Life Position
    • *The Legacy of Pope Benedict XVI
    • *The Lethal Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
    • *The Light of Christ our Savior
    • *The Little Sisters of Limousine Liberalism
    • *The Millennium Development Goals and Abortion
    • *The Millennium Development Goals and the Critical Next Step for the Catholic Church
    • *The Millennium Development Goals: In Light of Catholic Social Teaching
    • *The Obama HHS ‘Compromise’ Switches the Tiger for the Lion
    • *The Old Rugged Cross
    • *The Passing of a Real Hero – Robert Schindler
    • *The Philippines Under Fire
    • *The President’s Speech; Why I Wasn’t Impressed
    • *The pro-abortion agenda of the Millennium Development Goals
    • *The Roots of the Culture of Death…
    • *The SBA So-called Pro-Life Presidential Leadership Pledge
    • *The Straight Facts about Tiller and Anti-Abortion Violence
    • *The Visibility of the Fetus
    • *The War in the Womb
    • *Theology of the Body
    • *There are just and unjust choices
    • *This message must be heard by every American
    • *Those who profess to love God, but back abortion, are liars
    • *To be fully pro-life requires a mind like Christ’s
    • *To vote or not to vote
    • *Treasure in Heaven
    • *Tying Abortion to Millennium Development Goal #5
    • *Tying Abortion to Millennium Development Goal #5 UPDATES
    • *U.N. Abortion Will Harm, Not Help, Millennium Goals
    • *ULTIMATELY A LIFE IS A LIFE
    • *UN Petition for the Unborn Child – Your Name is Needed
    • *UN Secretary-General calls for universal access to reproductive health (UN code for abortion)
    • *Understanding The Gabriel Project
    • *UNICEF Exposed (Again)
    • *Until Abortion is Abolished …
    • *USCCB corrects Biden on Church teachings on abortion
    • *Victims of the Abortion Industry and You
    • *View from the Top
    • *Volition
    • *Warriors for the Victory of Life
    • *We Are Catholic
    • *We decided to keep our baby
    • *We Must Speak Up for Human Embryonic Life!
    • *We’re responsible for our failure to protect unborn life
    • *Welcome to California Bishop Robert Vasa; We Need You!
    • *What Abortion Really Is
    • *What Americans are bringing to Africa is “an abomination”: Obamabortion
    • *What does it mean to be a Catholic?
    • *What every priest needs to say to his congregation!
    • *What Happened to Our Pro-life Leaders?
    • *What Happened to Our Pro-life Leaders? – Part II
    • *What Is the Gabriel Project?
    • *What We Really Need is a Moral Bail Out
    • *What you’re not likely to hear about Medjugorje from the usual news souces
    • *When Helpers Turn into Destroyers
    • *Why Obama should not receive awards, honors or platforms from universities with Catholic identities
    • *Will the Church forget?
    • *Words I don’t expect to hear on Judgment Day
    • *YOU CAN BE AN ANGEL
    • *You say you’re pro-life and you’re going to vote for Obama or Clinton?
    • The Sound of the Magnitude of Abortion in America
  • Recommended Links

    • *Anthology of Thoughts and Faith to Share
    • *Being Catholic
    • *Children Deserve Birth
    • *Coming Home – Dr. Gerard M. Nadal
    • *From Our Bishops
    • *Making All Things New
    • *Serious Health Care and End of Life Decisions
    • *Sidewalk Counseling
    • *The Gabriel Project
  • Archives by Month

  • Thank you for visiting

    wordpress com stats
  • Visit Sausalito and California

    dalessio.topcities.com

Blog at WordPress.com.

Theme: MistyLook by WPThemes.


%d bloggers like this: