8. The Good, the Bad, & the Essential
Episode Description
In this episode Peter discusses the most pressing issues leading into 2021. From new abortion bills within the US and abroad, the need for Church leadership and families to openly talk about politics, President Trump’s timely words on St. Thomas Becket, the right to question election integrity, to what it means to be "essential", and so much more.
As the new year begins it is time for Catholics to speak up about important issues. We must recognize that we cannot continue to elect pro-abortion officials if we wish to foster a nation that respects the rights of every individual. Additionally, we do have a president who, despite his flaws, has consistently stood up for the right to life and religious liberty for all Americans. It is important to note that questioning election results is NOT anti-american but an exercise of our democratic rights. And finally, all of us need to be reminded that, no matter our occupation, our lives are essential. Each and every human person is essential in the eyes of God.
Video Version
Audio Version
Resources
Life News.com - Massechusetts Legislature Passes Bill Legalizing Killing Babies in Abortions Up to Birth
BBC News - Argentina Abortion: Senate Approves Legalization in Historic Decision
White House.gov - President Trump on Martyrdom of St. Thomas Becket
National Catholic Register - Nigerian Bishop Kidnapped, Catholics Pray for His Safety
Quote:
“Thomas Becket’s death serves as a powerful and timeless reminder to every American that our freedom from religious persecution is not a mere luxury or accident of history, but rather an essential element of our liberty. It is our priceless treasure and inheritance. And it was bought with the blood of martyrs.
As Americans, we were first united by our belief that “rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God” and that defending liberty is more important than life itself. If we are to continue to be the land of the free, no government official, no governor, no bureaucrat, no judge, and no legislator must be allowed to decree what is orthodox in matters of religion or to require religious believers to violate their consciences. No right is more fundamental to a peaceful, prosperous, and virtuous society than the right to follow one’s religious convictions.
A society without religion cannot prosper. A nation without faith cannot endure — because justice, goodness, and peace cannot prevail without the grace of God. “
President Donald J. Trump
”It didn’t strike me just how cruel the term was in March, back when we began referring to doctors and nurses and first responders as “essential workers.” Because really, who could argue with that characterization? What else can you call a worker who risks their lives to keep us safe? But then, as the lockdowns wore on, the list of essential workers began to grow. Plumbers turned out to be essential, and for good reason. So too, did grocery store clerks. And gas station attendants. And Amazon delivery drivers. And construction workers. And farmers. And electricians. And, believe it or not, actors. And broadcasters. And podcasters. And people who host TV shows.
I kid you not. Here in California, I'm on the same list of essential workers as cops and doctors and firemen. Thus, I've worked constantly since March, and kept my people employed. In fact, just last week, I was allowed to fly to LA to film a commercial. To get there, I boarded a sold-out flight, where I sat cheek to jowl with two perfect strangers, one of whom struggled to control a nasty cough behind her cloth mask.
How is any of this sensible? How is is remotely fair? Why is filming a commercial “essential,” but running a restaurant not? Why are crowded planes safe, but crowded churches not? And how can anyone expect a rational citizen to obey elected officials who refuse to follow their own rules?
I have no answers to these questions, but, he continues later on, “I think most people hang on right till they come to believe that they have become "non-essential."
That’s how I think George Bailey felt, standing there on that bridge. He was a man with nothing to offer. A man who believed he was worth more dead than alive. A man who would have surely killed himself, but for an angel named Clarence who dropped into the rushing river and gave George Bailey something to do. Something essential.
The holidays are a rough time of year for a lot of people. In particular, this holiday. In particular, this year. To those millions of Americans who have lost your livelihoods, now teetering on the edge your own metaphorical bridge, wondering if perhaps you’re worth more dead than alive, I say this:
You still matter. You are still essential to someone, even if only to yourself. Why? Because you are still a part of a great tapestry - a single tile in a mighty mosaic that connects us all. And, because you are still loved. Which is a long way of saying, don’t jump.”
Mike Rowe
