By Nancy Thorner -
As John Adam said: “We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge or gallantry would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution is designed only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate for any other.”
Last week Nancy Thorner was alerted to a very powerful and timely address by a Phyllis Schlafly Eagle friend who lives in Naples, Florida, presented by Rev. Michael Orsi to the Republican Executive Committee of Collier County, Florida, “God and Politics: What does the Bible Say?”. Father Michael Orsicurrently serves as parochial vicar at St. Agnes Parish in Naples, Florida. He is host of “Action for Life TV,” a weekly cable television series devoted to pro-life issues, and his writings appear in numerous publications and online journals.
Asked to promote Father Orsi's remarks through an article, Thorner consented without hesitation. As Father Orsi alluded to in his remarks: America has spent the last 50 years trying it without Him, and hell has filled the void, as we have allowed God and morality to become the enemy of popular culture.
Opening Remarks
In his opening remarks, Father Orsi made this claim that can be said of pastors in general; namely, most pastors stay away from politics. Orsi further stated that any pastor who does so is an illegitimate pastor. What is Orsi's rationale? "Because politics affects our lives, we are called to be moral creatures. God is therefore important in our political life."
Father Orsi then went on to say what has become common knowledge to many: "We all know that God seems to be out of vogue with certain people in the other party." As an example. Orsi spoke about House Judiciary Committee Chair Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY) omitting the phrase “So help me God,” while swearing in witnesses at a hearing on gun violence prevention on Wednesday, March 6th, 2019. Nadler was forced to re-administer the oath after Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) pointed out to Nadler that ‘So help me God.' had been left out.
Father Orsi believes that trying to remove politics from the public square and from political discourse is not only very stupid, but also foolish and un-American. Pointed out by Orsi was how our county was founded on the principle that there is a God, our Creator, who guarantees our unalienable rights. As to the men who composed our Declaration of Independence and Constitution, Orsi referred to them as God-fearing men. Furthermore, because God sets standards for what is right and wrong, God must play an important role in our civil discourse to have a healthy political system Our nation's motto as reflected in the last line of our Pledge of Allegiance – "One nation under God with liberty and justice for all" — designates the importance of God.
In speaking about the rarely mentioned quality of virtue, the application of being good from both the conscious will to do what is right from God's revealed Word and from personal responsibility: "Our Founding Fathers were God-fearing men who were very firm on virtue. As George Washington said: "Virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government.” "Human rights can only be assured among a virtuous people."
As to American exceptionalism: "We are a nation endowed by God and we are called to be a "light on the hill", just as Ronald Regan referred to that light. Politics should guide the morality of a nation, yet morality is seldom mentioned. Could it be that people are afraid to bring up the word, might they be living immoral lives themselves, or maybe they just don't care. Just as the soul of a person depends on morality, so does the soul of a nation.”
How the Bible influences thoughts and politic
Three recent events were noted by Father Orsi about which pastors should have been talking about from the pulpit to explain how the Bible influences thoughts and politics.
- Biblical position on Just War Theory
When Iran shot down an American drone several weeks ago in the Middle East, it was natural for people to ask what was going to be done. In assembling his team of advisors, President Trump asked the same question. All was set for retaliation to teach Iran a lesson, when suddenly Trump pulled back. According to Father Orsi, it was then that Trump said something interesting; he thought of proportionality. The drone was valuable, but when Trump asked and was informed by his National Security team how many lives his retaliatory action was going to cost, Trump decided any action taken would not be worth 150 lives plus the lives of their family members.
Father Orsi believes some Catholic must have been involved in the discussions to have influenced Trump's decision to forgo the strike, which centered around the term proportionality. Both a Catholic and a Christian word, proportionality comes from the Just War Theory started with Saint Agustin. To have a just war there must be three things:
- Legitimate authority to declare the war,
- It must be in response to an attack, but then comes,
- Proportionality as to what the damage would be.
Likewise is the assurance that a war will be won before entering it, with this reference by Father Orsi from the Bible: “If a King is coming to you with10,000 and you only have 5,000, it's better to make peace before the 10,000 troops get there.” There are too many long term wars, such as in Iraq and Afghanistan, which violates the Just War Theory.
- Biblical position on Immigration
Father Orsi called immigration a hot button issue. "There is a terrible situation down on the Southern border and, of course, it's all Trump's fault because people are pouring in."
As to what Christian social teaching teaches about immigration, Father Orsi had this to say: "Make sure when you let people into the country that they are coming in for the right reason, that they can be integrated into the country, and that the infrastructure can handle the people. Countries have a right to regulate their border, to protect their national interests, and to protect their national heritage."
Father Orsi spoke of his own father coming from Italy who never stopped thanking America for giving him everything, even while he lay dying. The flag flew in front of his house every day. He wanted to be an American. He integrated into society, and it was done in a legal way.
As to what should be done about those who are already here who have entered illegally, Father Orsi had this to say: "Government must take some responsibility if it leaves people here for 10 – 20 years or if they have only recently crossed the border illegally. Christianity tells us to treat people with respect and dignity. At least give them things to live a human life that are needed for people to survive with their dignity in tack. Although we should be able to send them back, right now it's not happening as President Trump has been blocked by the Courts."
- Biblical position on gender identity
As Father Orsi noted: "There is a lot of discussion these days about gender identity. This is bogus! The Bible tells us how to treat people who are gender dystopia. Presented by Orsi were the following numbers from John Hopkins University: "Only .3% of people experience gender confusion. By the time this .3% reaches puberty, 90% have themselves straightened out."
What about gender confusion? "Some boy decides that he is a girl and has the right to go into a girl's locker room to shower with the girls. Doesn't that girl have a right to privacy?"
What is the Judea-Christian message? "God made man from his own image. We are called to respect our biological persons and to give people the privacy they need to make sure that no one is to be humiliated or physically harmed or disrespected because this young man has a right to shower with girls. This is stupid. It's a violation of a young girl's dignity — a violation of a person– yet the Courts and society are saying this is acceptable."
As to our educational system: "We have an educational system today that tells people you can decide what you want to be a girl or a boy. Do you know the damage this is causing people emotionally and psychologically? Psychiatric help is needed. PC has taken over in teaching this nonsense in schools."
The premise of the transgender phenomena is that humankind can create his own reality irrespective of the truth. The biological, anatomical, physiological, genetic man is a man. That is irrefutable. Even if the man thinks he is a woman, (which is not to deny feelings) he does not cease to be a man, any more than men who think they are birds, dragons or goats cease to be men. It’s like giving a person who thinks he is superman a cape on the fourth floor and telling him to jump. A person’s feelings or volition (will) do not define reality; reality can only be defined by God.
Father Orsi's message to Republicans
In speaking candidly and without hesitation to the Republican Executive Committee of Collier County, Florida, Father Orsi had this advice to impart: "A lot of people think it's not chick to talk about God. I'll tell you Republicans, if you want to win, I think it's time that you talked openly about God. Because that's where people's hearts are, and they know what is right when they hear the truth."
In response to Democrat presidential candidate mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Indiana when Buttigieg implied that Republicans are God’s Party, Father Orsi called it "a great honor. We should wear this badge very, very proudly. There is no reason to sugar coat language by not mentioning God, for God is our Creator from whom we receive our rights and in whom we are invested in as a nation.
Father Orsi believes that unless Republican acknowledge our blessings from God, we are going to lose the battle and that's what the enemy wants. Those on the other side are not just some human beings who think differently than we do. If viewed that way we are going to lose the battle, and that's what the enemy wants. Father Orsi is convinced from what he has seen that the Devil has his hand in this, for how else to explain what is illogical, immoral, and un-American?
In closing, Father Orsi gave these instructions: "Speak openly about our rights given to us by God, about our obligation to live as God-like people following God's instructions to us in the Bible, and do tell your pastor that you want to hear the truth, for only truth will set you free."
