'This thread is wishful thinking and I don't mean that as a criticism, we have all probably felt this way at times, but any plans must firt be grounded in reality.'
To a large degree, it is, if we think we are going to have any real effect on the political realities of the modern world without converting our society to Catholicism.
'The first step towards making a state Catholic must be accomplished by converting the popultaion to Catholicism, this is something within the remit of the Church not Politics. As the Church is a mess and is at this moment in time not fit for task our first step before we can hope to achieve any others must be to restore the Church to her former strength, this must be achieved primarily by the Pope.'
Amen. The thing is, we cannot do this from the bottom up: Authourity doesnt come from 'the will of the people', but from God. Therefore, the Pope -- as God's representative -- needs to fix things.
'Evil flourishes when good men do nothing. And nothing is what you personally are doing when you hand it all to God and leave it at that. Try getting your car fixed that way!'
I'm not suggesting that good men do nothing. I'm suggesting that good men *pray*, marry good women, make more good people, and convert other people so that they become good men, too.
'So I say again you will not achieve anything of any worth in America until the American people convert to the Catholic Faith and the USA is entrusted to the Social Kingship of Jesus Christ. So this must be our Primary Objective.'
Again, I recommend a book called The Sword of Christendom. I think TAN and Angelus sells it.
'America has never yet had the faith...'
No, it never has, except in isolated areas, such as the French and Spanish colonial areas and (briefly) Maryland when it was a proprietary colony.
'Your speak a lot about the individual's duties to the State Gilbert but what about the States duties to God?'
The state has a positive obligation to uphold the rights of the Church. This will not occur until those who control the State become Catholic.
'So we can do nothing, but what we are doing, which has made precious little difference. One of these days, soon, Bush is going to attack Iran and we are very likely going to be in a nuclear war. But we'll be here waiting for those in authority to do something, because what must be done can only be done by those in authority.'
Our duty is not to stop nuclear war. None of us here in this forum have the authority to do that. God does not demand the impossible.
You will not be held accountable, in the end, for what society does or fails to do. You will be held accountable for the state of your soul at death. That is all.
'What, I wonder, will Our Lord say when we tell him what we did to stop this slaughter. We waited, Lord.'
It is not your responsibility to stop the slaughter. It is your responsibility to save your soul and convert others *if that is possible*. If you convert enough people, the slaughter will stop by default. But the conversion must happen first.
'God asks for our efforts, not our victories.'
Exactly. If you die in the state of Grace, you will get to heaven. If you die in a state of mortal sin, you will not. The efforts you put forth towards dying in a state of Grace is all that really matters.
'I think God wants us to go for victory.'
That is your _personal opinion_, and not, in fact, what God demands. You must be able to distinguish between the two, or you will drive yourself mad in frustration.
'This is the direct result of Americans not paying attention to business.'
You are now mixing apples and oranges. The effects of political indifference arent directly related to the conversion of society to the true Faith.
'Unless we can stop him, Bush is going to start this war with Iran, which brings in China, Russia and Syria against us.'
We cannot stop him. You cannot tell the future, so it is pointless to worry about it overmuch.
'Thousands have begun to protest this war. That is not enough; there need to be many more.'
'Protest'? On what grounds? What is the philosophical basis for your 'protest'? Why do there need to be many more?
Perhaps we're looking at this wrongly. Perhaps this war is intended to wake us up to the fact that we have offended God. You see, the United States is too powerful, militarily, to be challenged by any one state. So, perhaps God is going to use a coalition of foreign states to defeat us militarily and cause us to re-evaluate our spiritual basis?
'they executed Terri Schindler IN OUR FACES because they are arrogant and they knew they could---that all we would do is cry for some authority to save her.'
I would be willing to bet that Terri Schindler is most likely going to go to Heaven. As far as those who permitted her to die in the manner in which she did, I'm not sure where they are going, but it probably isnt going to be good.
'Had we walked in and taken her out that obscenity would not have occured. Her blood is also on our cowardly hands.'
So, why didnt you just waltz right in and take her out?
'No, they're not Catholic.'
Then, if they arent Catholic, they will not avail you to your purpose *if your purpose is truly Catholic*. My advice is to ignore them. Oecuмenical programmes *by definition* deny the True Faith.