The Valley Catholic October 23, 2018 | Page 17

tvc.dsj.org | October 23, 2018 COMMENTARY 17 Voting For Compassionate Candidates is a Moral Imperative in a Hurting World By Tony Magliano Internationally syndicated social jus- tice and peace columnist [email protected] The United States and the world are in trouble! We need to take it seriously. And we need to elect candidates who will take it seriously. Continuing to largely ignore the numerous grave problems facing humanity and the planet we all live on, is both perilous and immoral. The earth is continuing to dangerously heat up. Tons upon tons of global warming greenhouse gases being irresponsibly poured into the atmosphere – mainly by burning fossil fuels of gas, coal and oil – is causing i n various regions of the world accelerated fl ooding, droughts, heat waves, forest fi res, increased threats of animal and plant extinctions and more intense hurricanes. And according to a report just issued by the United Nations, unless drastic changes are made within the next 12 years a climate catastrophe will unfold (see: https://bit.ly/2E7MhED). It is foolish and im- moral for the U.S. to continue to opt out of the inter- national Paris Climate agreement. We must reverse course. Human life begins at conception. This is a scien- tifi c fact (see: https://bit.ly/2Rw9Ae1). And it is also a scientifi c fact that every abortion kills a human be- ing. Throughout the world approximately 56 million abortions are perform every year. And annually in the U.S. about 900,000 unborn babies die from this heinous legal practice. There are over 700 m illion people on earth who suffer in extreme poverty (see: https://bit.ly/1z8JJNC). Over 800 million fellow human beings suff er debilitating hunger. Approxi- mately 8,000 children under age fi ve die every single day from hunger and hunger related diseases (see: https://bit.ly/2I4c2DT). And in the U.S. about 12 mil- lion children may not know where they will get their next meal (see: https://bit.ly/2kj8PIF). As the U.S. midterm elections quickly approach, it is very important that Catholics vote, and vote for candidates who have a heart! For far too many appear heartless... Find candidates who most closely refl ect God’s platform, and vote for them! In the U.S. there are at least 550,000 homeless people. And the number may be as high as 3.5 million (see: https://bit.ly/17pKIwB). An unprecedented 68.5 million people around the world have been forced from their homes – 24 million are refugees, over half of whom are under 18-years-old. And 85 percent of the world’s displaced people are being hosted in developing countries (see: https://bit.ly/2cmTBiF). This should shame rich na- tions like the U.S. which did not even come close to meeting its historic low of accepting 45,000 refugees for fi scal year 2018. And for many refugees who painstakingly make it to the U.S. to seek asylum from persecution like gang violence, instead of a warm helpful welcome, they are placed in detention in one of the 200 immigration pris- ons. On any given day approximately 30,000 asylum seekers are locked up (see: https://bit.ly/29BYWeL). And then there are the wars. More than 40 armed conflicts throughout the world are caus- ing untold death, injury and destruction (see: https://bit.ly/2QB8sV9); many of which are being fueled with weapons from highly lucrative U.S., Rus- sian, French, German, Chinese, British, and Israeli corporations. And the list of troubles in our suff ering world goes on and on. As the U.S. midterm elections quickly approach, it is very important that Catholics vote, and vote for candidates who have a heart! For far too many appear heartless. Very often voters choose candidates who prom- ise to look out for their interests. But the Gospel of Jesus Christ (see: Matt. 25:31-46) and Catholic social teaching (see: https://bit.ly/1lti9gt) calls us fi rst and foremost to look out for the poor and vulnerable, to be peacemakers and to take care of God’s creation. Find candidates who most closely refl ect God’s platform, and vote for them! Reverse Mortgage Lending Limit is NOW $679,650! Martin de Porres 1579 - 1639 feast - November 3 Goggle, public domain This illegitimate son of a freed Panamanian slave and a Spanish knight became a hero to the people of Lima, Peru, his birthplace, for his compassionate care of the sick and poor. Apprenticed at age 12 to a barber-surgeon, Martin also learned herbal medicine from his mother. After working for several years at a Dominican monastery as a Third Order member, he made his profession as a lay brother in 1603. He founded an orphanage and foundling hospital, ministered to African slaves, practiced great penances and experienced mystical gifts. 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