Actually, it would be a good idea for the citizens of this nation to read it regularly.  I will be direct here and say upfront that I have no problem personally-and keep that point in mind here-if the USA planted its flag all across the Middle East.  However, from a Constitutional standpoint, the US Congress has failed miserably and ten times more than the current President has because not since 1945, has it issued a formal Declaration of War.  The last 50 plus years has seen the Commander-in-Chief with a blank check to wage "police actions," "rescue operations," "national security protections," and God knows what else that Special Forces has done that we know nothing of and all without a single Declaration of War, only Resolutions.  Like I said, personally I would prefer to see Old Glory waving across the Middle East and a Bradley tank letting everybody over there know that they can sit down, shut up, and stop killing but from a Constitutional standpoint, it is the imperative and total right of the United States Congress to cut off all funding for any military action deemed unfit and there is not one thing that would be wrong with that action.  It would be the most Constitutional action ever taken by any of the 112 Congress'.  Thus, I hope that every single registered voter reads that document several times before they cast the vote that decides the future of that document.

Joseph Bailey

I think the "abortion question" is a perfect example of how certain issues have become "Constitutional" when that question is far from settled.  It is sad beyond all measure that the Electorate in America, actually thinks that voting for a particular candidate is all about abortion.  Think about it, were all the sacrifices made for Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness done so that a fetus could be killed?  How many women voters in this next election will vote solely on the basis of whether they want abortion?  Is that not sickening to an extreme that citizens of this country would convince themselves that a Presidential election is all about killing a fetus?  I doubt that a single mouth in favor of abortion or proclamations for a candidate who favors it, have ever read the Constitution or know the first thing of what it means to have that document.  No, all they are concerned about is the fulfillment of their wanton destruction of human life.  Otherwise, they would not make this issue what it is and would address the real reason they want abortion: to erase what they did.

Joseph Bailey

I applaud this discussion and am glad to see it. The Constitution is a powerful document, and it has seemingly been lost for the past two generations, if not more. But I think that it is in the wake of the current administration and congress that we are starting to see what the founding fathers, in fact, were trying to prevent by writing it. We see the gross misuse in our government, in each branch, that results from straying away from wisdom it holds. Is it not in the oath of office that the president says that he will protect and uphold the constitution? 

I do not believe that this is something that we can simply dismiss as wishful thinking or as idealistic. Ideals are what made the Constitution possible in the first place. And trust me, those ideals are being replaced by different ideals, and ones that this country and its people are not privy to.

I do not trust the government. This is not paranoia. This is, in fact, the position that the founding fathers had when they wrote the document. They had lived under the tyranny of the British crown and wanted to create a government that was prevented from doing the same. And so they did. And while their writings were surely ahead of their time then, it seems that they still are. 

But today is a new day. And soon the day will dawn when we have the choice to elect someone who will swear to uphold that mighty document. But alas, I do not feel that each candidate will be up to the challenge. As we've already witnessed, many do not possess the knowledge of the Constitution, nor the will to carry it out.

At the age of 29, I can say that my eyes have been opened. Not only to the truth of the Church, but to the truth of this Nation. And they are not in opposition. I consider many of our founders to have stumbled upon real truth just as the prophets once did. And as I continue to learn more, my desire for the true dignity in man as a child of God to be seen in our own citizens grows ever stronger.

So to those who think that this Nation may be lost, rest assured, there are those of us who will spend the time that we do have left helping it find its way home. With the Gospels in one hand and the Constitution in the other. 

God Bless you all,

NT 

Agreed. It is a sad state of affairs. With you I stand on so many issues. And like you, I see our history not to be a thing of our past, but our hope for the future.

That being said, I do have hope that's not simply a notion of how things used to be. My hope, next to Christ himself, is in a humble 72 year old obstetrician from Houston who is running for the office of President of the United States. He is Dr. Ron Paul.

I know I've left a few posts in this forum so far, espousing my personal beliefs of human liberty and freedom from tyranny, but know that this is not something I normally do. In fact, it's something I've never done. Politics for me have been, in my eyes, a necessary evil. It was a mess that never represented me or my views, and one that did not seem intended on changing that fact. Disgust and apathy were the only things I knew I could look forward to in an election. But all that changed about two months ago.  

A friend of mine, and fellow disgusted Catholic, told me about a man who was running in the Republican Primary who seemed different. His views, he and soon I noticed, were very much like ours. He opposed unjust war, he was pro-life, he believed the church and not the state should be in charge of marriage, he opposed our current foreign policy, and he opposed the stripping of our civil liberties in the Patriot Act. Almost in disbelief I came to see, for the first time in my life, someone who I could actually believe in. A candidate who could actually represent me. And one that I knew I could vote for in good conscience.

I have never felt this way in my life, nor have I ever flocked to a message board to write letters like I've written. But there is something inside me. Something that senses a greater truth than what we've seen before. A truth that is more than the election, or a candidate, or our nation. It is bigger than one man, and for as much as I wish there were others speaking with his tongue, there is only one who does. 

So to those who come to this forum, Catholics with an interest in politics, please spend but a moment with a man the likes of which I have never seen before, and fear may never see again. My only hope is that your eyes will see, maybe in disbelief and shock at first as I did, a man who's principals seem as foreign to politics as troops in Iraq. His name is Ron Paul, and I pray you will come to know him as I do.

God Bless,

NT

wljewell, thanks for the reply. First of all, Ron Paul is no more an insider than most. In fact, he was probably the only one who left politics after being in it for a number of years to go back to his private practice of being a doctor. 

As far as your comment about his initiatives in congress, I would implore you to investigate his record. While he may not have been able to convince a backwards congress to vote for his bills, which are light years ahead of where this congress can even fathom, that does not mean that he did not try. What's more, he never once voted for anything that was not given to us in the Constitution. I dare you to find a candidate with a half as much character.

Your third comment, which basically ammounts to 'guilty by association' is weak at best. By that very arguement we would have to look at the character of all of his supporters and not the few that seem to get the attention of the media. What's more, being fringe means you understand the need for liberty much more than those who are more sheep than people. 

And as far as just war, I'm not sure what your point is, other than we shouldn't always follow it. War eithics are an entire debate in and of themselves, but for the sake of this arguement might I remind us that the war in Iraq, if we can truly call it that, was far outside the lines of a 'Just War' as understood by even a lay theologian, much less the Holy Father himself. Ron Paul is the only candidate, Democrat or Republican, calling for a full pull-out. My conscience can rest with him as our chief.

In any case, I believe that freedom is popular. More popular than any politician kissing babies. More popular than any man can swagger. And more popular than any poll can measure. We are reaching a turning point in this country, and only one man is actually looking ahead.

I believe that man is Ron Paul.

God Bless,

NT 

NT,

Permit to say that the war in Iraq is over and has been for some time now. What is happening now, is the inevitable task and responsibilty that America fulfills to a fault after liberating a people from tyranny, oppression and death-occupation in order to restore freedom.

I understand that there are many who disagree with the actions of our country and would deny any "just"ice in our resolve due to the lack of WMD's. I can't help but feel that the men, women and children that cried out for relief saw the answer to their prayers in the form of the men, women and children of our country providing armed forces, humanitarian relief and prayers.

I would also like to remind you that Pope John Paul II and Benedict XVI never decalred the war as an unjust war. They, thankfully, urged and prayed constantly for a resolution using peaceful means as they understand the only victory in death is to he whom enjoys the mercy of God.

In Christ,

Remember, the Sun is always shining!

Warren,

Allow me to recommend a great book that should add to your collection nicely and for only a few denari...

Papal Encyclicals In Their Historical Context from Peter to John XXIII. If it does not provide some insight into what the Vatican "put out" during key points in history, it will at least give you a source for "important" encyclicals promulgated throughout Church history.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/102-1446744-1716152?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Papal+encyclicals+in+the+historical+context&x=16&y=18

Remember, the Sun is always shining!

Although I would like to have the $50 hardcover, I bought one for 4 denari. It came from a book distributor via a library. Not in pristine condition, but the contents were what I was after. I've just started to dig in. Enjoy!

In Christ,

Remember, the Sun is always shining!