Why Being Catholic, Necessary Doesn't Mean You Have To Donate To Them

BY RUTH C. SCHATTEN

My husband and I have been married for 36 years; we have 6 children and 7.5 grandchildren. After moving from New Hampshire we realized that we had lost our Citizenship papers, and the kids’ Birth Certificates, Social Security Cards, and any document, such as our marriage licenses and well, basically, we lost any documents that we owned. We did not worry for the kids were born here in the USA. So they were covered, plus the school records had a copy of the documents that were needed for them to transfer here.

One of our children had a baby in New Hampshire, we ordered the baby’s Social Security Cards and his Birth Certificate, BUT! His mother’s papers were lost and she was born in California. Birth Certificates from California take 6 months to get to you. She needed a job to be able to maintain the baby. She was old enough to get a Driver’s License. She needed her Birth Certificate, she needed her Social Security Card, and she needed a Florida ID Card to be able to work.

We decided to go to the States’ Driver’s License Bureau for a week and spoke to everyone we could. After a week, one of the officers felt sorry for her and gave her the Driver’s License. She told us that if we used her name, she would loose her job.

Years later, our finances went out the window and we decided to ask the State for my husband’s Citizenship Certificate (it’s a very long story about his Citizenship situation). According to the website, Homeland Security (www. Dhs.gov/ index.shtm) they would help you get your papers if you send them a notarized paper stating that you don’t have the money to pay their fees. And send them a copy of any paper such as the food stamps qualification notice. By the time that we decided to move on this…for we thought that living in a society that helped each other, the decision to apply for the Citizenship papers was going to be easy and in good order…we were in bad straights.

A tree had fallen on the roof of the mobile home where we lived. We had a big porch so we placed tents there so that we could have a sort of roof over our head. Besides, the county does not allow anyone to live in tents that can be seen from the street, and our neighbors would call code, animal control, and any thing that they could because we were not “Americans”. So, for one year, we tried anything and everything that we could to earn money for the family, we could not afford electricity and the trailer was bad enough that it would be a fire hazard to turn the electricity on. So, my son and my husband decided to go and walk 2 miles to a big intersection and panhandle, beg for money with a sign. Most people were wonderful but others would call them winos and would not help. We did find good neighbors and good friends out of the deal, but we did not want to have to beg, we wanted to go out there and make a decent living!

We started by getting our computers out, and sending letters out to our Governor, our US Representatives, and our Senators. The governor ignored us completely, the representative, ignored us also. Rep. Grayson’s people called us but they ultimately turned their backs on us. (The one and only time that I have voted Republican, was against Grayson). If he could not help a DEMOCRATIC family in need, what good was he? He did Vote for him, though. We were about to give up, when Senator Bill Nelson’s people called us and through them, my husband was able to get his Citizenship and consequently his Social Security benefits.

In between this time, the family needed to eat, and needed to get gasoline for the generator and little things like health care. Neither one of us had a family that could help us. My father is 97 years old and he needs the help himself.

We decided to go out there and ask for help to different agencies that help people in need. I figured that they would be there to help us so that I could get my Citizenship papers and could go out there and work.

I went to a place called Brother’s Keeper. Part of a Catholic Church, in Downtown Ocala. A Mr. Stephens asked me to come into his office.  He wanted me to explain why, being a Catholic, I was not going to church, so stupid me told him what we were going through. If we did not have money for food, how could we get enough money to go to church? He asked about my grandson, who was living with us. Intrusive questions! And proceeded to give me a lecture on why people like us needed to go out and FIND help instead of sitting in his office and asking for things to be given to them for free. Furthermore, he was going to call Children and Family, so that they could go and take my grandson away from lazy good for nothings like us.

The Children and Family people were in my land at 8 AM the next day to take our grandson away from us. Why am I telling you all this?

Well, what goes around comes around and people. Today I found a brown paper bag from Brother’s Keeper in my newspaper asking people to give them things for FREE! They want your donations so that they can help people like me, for the holidays.

According to their rules, they don’t help anyone that is younger then 62 with food. That they make you feel like the shit, they think you are? Of course they do!! The Parish is made up of the Catholic Elite of the County…and it’s not my fault, that where I live, is part of that Parish. The other Parishes won’t help you…unless you are a member of that Parish.

You know what I say to all this? I am the 99% and I don’t give donations to a church that caters to the 1%! Won’t you join me in this?

Send an email to this church and let them know why the 99% does not give them donations! If they want donations, they better go out there and help the unemployed, the senior citizens, and the families that need the help!

Email: oeu@ocalafl.org

In God, Who Do We Trust?

By RF Schatten

Not too long ago, I was going into a supermarket...when suddenly, walking through the parking lot, I noticed a bumper sticker that read: “He Belongs To Us...Keep God In America”

I'm looking at this, and I couldn't stop thinking, how we have gotten, as a Nation, to this point in American History? Who are we, to claim “God” for ourselves?...as he were a product, a commodity.

It has become a sorry state, in which we invoke the name of God, for any reason whatsoever, and specially by Politicos who try to use it, for their greedy self-gains...it's just wrong and shameful, period!

Never in my life, have I seen the use of “God” so much as part of our Political Discourse. Politicians throw the word “God” for anything, specially the Fear of God to grab the minds of the citizenry. The most blasphemous thing a man can do.

There is so much hypocrisy today...the 2012 GOP list of candidates comes to mind. Here we have, at least 3 candidates, who preach GOD, as if he were a Political Talking Point....and the hypocrisy used by them, and all the Tea Party and GOP, these days. All 3 candidates, are running because they all say: “God told me to run”. Somewhere along the line, if God really told them to run...at least 2 them are either lying or really do not understand God. The almighty, can only anoint one person!!

Lets take these 3 Godly people, one at a time. First and foremost, you have one guy, who even sings in his Church's Choir, but has a little problem with his Libido...as much as he denies it, too many people are coming out, accusing him of sexual misconduct...one has even come out in public, on TV, and given her name...it turns out, that this joker...is just a Dirty Old Man. The second Gunslinger, is so religious and fair minded, that his hunting lodge is called “Niggerhead Ranch”...very Christian of him, isn't it? And this is a man, who had a Religious Rally with 30,000 people, and led them in Prayer; “Lord, you are the source of every good thing,” he bowed his head, closed his eyes and leaned into a microphone at Reliant Stadium. “You are our only hope, and we stand before you today in awe of your power and in gratitude for your blessings, and humility for our sins. Father, our heart breaks for America”, like I said, he's a very religious guy!! The third candidate, is known by Politico.com as the “Welfare Queen” ...this “Lady”, attacks the welfare system, and attacks Federal Subsidies on Farming, attacks Medicaid, while all along, accepting over $251,973.00 in Farm Subsidies for her Farm between 1995 and 2006 , accepted Welfare Checks for her Foster Children Program...that's $70,000.00 a year (according to the State Welfare Dept. for the Town of Stillwater...her residence) for each Child, that's 70K per pop for 20something kids. Accepted $137,000 in Medicaid reimbursements for her husband Marcus' Gay Therapy Clinic. Accepted a $417,000 federally subsidized loan from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to help purchase a luxury house, a 5,200-square-foot home on a golf course. This while she was trying to dismantle the two big Mortgage Giants. A truly, very Godly human being.

Then, after all these super human bundles of Christian Kindness, we come to everyone else...unbelievable what you might here these days from these kind, righteous, and very religious Christians.

It's just unbelievable to hear what comes out from today's Christian Conservative Movement... “Let them Die!!, Let them Die!!” was the shouts from the audience at a GOP Debate, when a question was put to the candidates, asking what should a person without Healthcare Insurance do, if he is very sick, and in danger of dying. In another debate, Rick Perry was adulating himself, for his tremendous record of Texas Executions...the crowd had a huge roar of approval...they really must enjoy seeing people die?? At yet, in another debate, a question from a Gay serviceman, who is actively serving in a combat zone, brought a huge round of Boos from the audience...all because he was Gay! Never mind, that he was in a war, defending the freedom...of exactly those, who were booing him. This is all totally despicable, and so Un-Christian, so Un-Godly!

Today, we're seeing people talk about God, being everything! Any fault about the Economy, about Jobs, about Society and its Social Classes, about the environment...is the fault of either Obama, or the Democrats, or the Poor, or the sick, or the homeless...because it was God's way of punishing everyone because these people exist...or because God is punishing us because Obama got elected. The earthquakes, twisters, hurricanes? It's God's way of punishing us for electing Obama. Personally, this is totally sick!!...from the minds of very sick and despicable people.

It's amazing, how so many people who call themselves Christians, can support these Charlatans, who profess to do what they do, because “God told me to”. These are the worst of the worst...using Christianity to drive their megalomaniacal ambitions, while using fanatical ignorance, to reach its followers, and divide this Nation.

The Eight Beatitudes of Jesus Christ are:

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

"Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted."

"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."

"Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied."

"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy."

"Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God."

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God."

"Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven."

“The Corporal Works of Mercy”...are:

1. Feed The Hungry
2. Give Drink To The Thirsty
3. Clothes The Naked
4. Shelter The Homeless
5. Comfort The Imprisoned
6. Visit The Sick
7. Bury The Dead

I don't need to give you all the references, but for the record, this is from:

the Gospel of St. Matthew 5:3-10

Above, is totally contrary to the teachings of Jesus Christ, as taught by the Tea Party Nation and the Conservative American Christian Evangelicals...and their belief in the elimination of the Welfare System for the poor, eliminating Healthcare for those in financial despair, the dismantling of Social Security for the Elderly, along with Medicare. Why would they act so Non Christ-Like, with their actions and thoughts?...why would they want to push these ideals on me, and at least 200,000,000 million other Americans? Preaching Hatred, Bigotry, and Racism...while Praising the Lord.

We are in the mist of Social Class Warfare in America...and GOD...has been, and will be, in the center of all Political Talking Points. The Right, wants make God, part of the American Right Wing Establishment...they want God, all for themselves. They are perpetrating all this evil, with the use of Fox News...and all of News Corporation, as their very own Propaganda Machine...to convince the Nation, as well as the World, that whatever they do is right, because “God” is on their side.

My question is; “Who do we trust”? Jesus, according to the Bible, and the Gospel of St. Matthew? Or Jesus, according to the Gospel of Perry, Bachmann, Cain, and all the rest of the Tea Party, GOP, Pat Robertson, and Jimmy Swaggart?

By RF Schatten

Not too long ago, I was going into a supermarket...when suddenly, walking through the parking lot, I noticed a bumper sticker that read: “He Belongs To Us...Keep God In America”

I'm looking at this, and I couldn't stop thinking, how we have gotten, as a Nation, to this point in American History? Who are we, to claim “God” for ourselves?...as he were a product, a commodity.

It has become a sorry state, in which we invoke the name of God, for any reason whatsoever, and specially by Politicos who try to use it, for their greedy self-gains...it's just wrong and shameful, period!

Never in my life, have I seen the use of “God” so much as part of our Political Discourse. Politicians throw the word “God” for anything, specially the Fear of God to grab the minds of the citizenry. The most blasphemous thing a man can do.

There is so much hypocrisy today...the 2012 GOP list of candidates comes to mind. Here we have, at least 3 candidates, who preach GOD, as if he were a Political Talking Point....and the hypocrisy used by them, and all the Tea Party and GOP, these days. All 3 candidates, are running because they all say: “God told me to run”. Somewhere along the line, if God really told them to run...at least 2 them are either lying or really do not understand God. The almighty, can only anoint one person!!

Lets take these 3 Godly people, one at a time. First and foremost, you have one guy, who even sings in his Church's Choir, but has a little problem with his Libido...as much as he denies it, too many people are coming out, accusing him of sexual misconduct...one has even come out in public, on TV, and given her name...it turns out, that this joker...is just a Dirty Old Man. The second Gunslinger, is so religious and fair minded, that his hunting lodge is called “Niggerhead Ranch”...very Christian of him, isn't it? And this is a man, who had a Religious Rally with 30,000 people, and led them in Prayer; “Lord, you are the source of every good thing,” he bowed his head, closed his eyes and leaned into a microphone at Reliant Stadium. “You are our only hope, and we stand before you today in awe of your power and in gratitude for your blessings, and humility for our sins. Father, our heart breaks for America”, like I said, he's a very religious guy!! The third candidate, is known by Politico.com as the “Welfare Queen” ...this “Lady”, attacks the welfare system, and attacks Federal Subsidies on Farming, attacks Medicaid, while all along, accepting over $251,973.00 in Farm Subsidies for her Farm between 1995 and 2006 , accepted Welfare Checks for her Foster Children Program...that's $70,000.00 a year (according to the State Welfare Dept. for the Town of Stillwater...her residence) for each Child, that's 70K per pop for 20something kids. Accepted $137,000 in Medicaid reimbursements for her husband Marcus' Gay Therapy Clinic. Accepted a $417,000 federally subsidized loan from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to help purchase a luxury house, a 5,200-square-foot home on a golf course. This while she was trying to dismantle the two big Mortgage Giants. A truly, very Godly human being.

Then, after all these super human bundles of Christian Kindness, we come to everyone else...unbelievable what you might here these days from these kind, righteous, and very religious Christians.

It's just unbelievable to hear what comes out from today's Christian Conservative Movement... “Let them Die!!, Let them Die!!” was the shouts from the audience at a GOP Debate, when a question was put to the candidates, asking what should a person without Healthcare Insurance do, if he is very sick, and in danger of dying. In another debate, Rick Perry was adulating himself, for his tremendous record of Texas Executions...the crowd had a huge roar of approval...they really must enjoy seeing people die?? At yet, in another debate, a question from a Gay serviceman, who is actively serving in a combat zone, brought a huge round of Boos from the audience...all because he was Gay! Never mind, that he was in a war, defending the freedom...of exactly those, who were booing him. This is all totally despicable, and so Un-Christian, so Un-Godly!

Today, we're seeing people talk about God, being everything! Any fault about the Economy, about Jobs, about Society and its Social Classes, about the environment...is the fault of either Obama, or the Democrats, or the Poor, or the sick, or the homeless...because it was God's way of punishing everyone because these people exist...or because God is punishing us because Obama got elected. The earthquakes, twisters, hurricanes? It's God's way of punishing us for electing Obama. Personally, this is totally sick!!...from the minds of very sick and despicable people.

It's amazing, how so many people who call themselves Christians, can support these Charlatans, who profess to do what they do, because “God told me to”. These are the worst of the worst...using Christianity to drive their megalomaniacal ambitions, while using fanatical ignorance, to reach its followers, and divide this Nation.

The Eight Beatitudes of Jesus Christ are:

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

"Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted."

"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."

"Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied."

"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy."

"Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God."

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God."

"Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven."

“The Corporal Works of Mercy”...are:

1. Feed The Hungry
2. Give Drink To The Thirsty
3. Clothes The Naked
4. Shelter The Homeless
5. Comfort The Imprisoned
6. Visit The Sick
7. Bury The Dead

I don't need to give you all the references, but for the record, this is from:

the Gospel of St. Matthew 5:3-10

Above, is totally contrary to the teachings of Jesus Christ, as taught by the Tea Party Nation and the Conservative American Christian Evangelicals...and their belief in the elimination of the Welfare System for the poor, eliminating Healthcare for those in financial despair, the dismantling of Social Security for the Elderly, along with Medicare. Why would they act so Non Christ-Like, with their actions and thoughts?...why would they want to push these ideals on me, and at least 200,000,000 million other Americans? Preaching Hatred, Bigotry, and Racism...while Praising the Lord.

We are in the mist of Social Class Warfare in America...and GOD...has been, and will be, in the center of all Political Talking Points. The Right, wants make God, part of the American Right Wing Establishment...they want God, all for themselves. They are perpetrating all this evil, with the use of Fox News...and all of News Corporation, as their very own Propaganda Machine...to convince the Nation, as well as the World, that whatever they do is right, because “God” is on their side.

My question is; “Who do we trust”? Jesus, according to the Bible, and the Gospel of St. Matthew? Or Jesus, according to the Gospel of Perry, Bachmann, Cain, and all the rest of the Tea Party, GOP, Pat Robertson, and Jimmy Swaggart?