u/Galveston57

I recently got into a heated discussion with another parishioner who was arguing (wrongly) that God/Christ would want ‘legal immigration’ based on ‘giving unto Caesar what is Caesar’s’ (total misinterpretation of scripture).
While I knew that ‘welcoming the stranger/foreigner is Biblical, the only scripture I could come up with quickly was Matthew 25:35, ‘I was a stranger and you welcomed me.’ His response was that didn’t apply to immigrants. So I did a deep dive on what scripture actually tells us and thought others might find it useful when discussing this abomination.
“Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ Matthew 25:40
God commands His people to love the foreigner, as they were foreigners themselves. Deuteronomy 10: 18-19
‘The foreigners among you must be treated as your native-born.” Leviticus 19:34
“The Lord watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked” Psalms 146:9
“Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing so some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it” Hebrews 13:2
While there are many scriptures referring to the stranger and hospitality, these seemed to be the most direct.
Anyone supporting mass deportation obviously cannot claim to be following the Word of God and IMO is committing heresy.
You absolutely cannot be Catholic or even Christian while supporting mass deportation, concentration camps and separating families.
You might find these scriptures useful if you find yourself in a similar situation.

Recently James Talarico (D running for senate in Texas said ‘God is nonbinary’.
Of course he was immediately attacked by Republicans stating he was saying God is trans or LGBTQ.
At first I was taken aback by Jame’s statement until I realized he was implying that God encompasses all genders, but is gender less himself.
I immediately went down a rabbit hole trying to figure out if this was actually Biblical. I’d always had an incorrect patriarchal view of God
In the first chapter of Genesis, in the Hebrew, God is referred to in both the masculine and feminine. In Job, there is a verse referring to the ‘womb’ of God. It appears that as patriarchy took hold, God took on a masculine/male persona. Often in the Hebrew, God is not associated with any gender at all.
So here is my question. Could God encompass all genders, while having no gender himself? Does he encompass all genders? Or is God just without gender?
According to scripture we are all created in the image of God, so wouldn’t that include all sexes and variants?
As a Catholic I have to admit I was raised with a very patriarchal view of God, an older white, gray headed cis man on a throne, but I’m pretty sure now this is just patriarchy rearing its evil head in religion.

The DSA Summit in Chicago started today and Main Stream Media (which has basically ignored the DSA for years) are hovering around like vultures over prey.
Everything being reported is either trying to falsely analyze the DSA platform or punching down on DSA endorsed candidates.
In case you were wondering who owns the media, this more than answers that question, the bourgeois, the republicans and the centrist democrats who are currently scared shitless of the rise of the DSA.

City council has agreed to open bidding for 14 flock cameras in Galveston.
Although Flock says it does not share this information outside the local jurisdiction, it requires you share that information.
Flock cameras do much more than record license plates. They record make and model of vehicle, directions of travel, bumper stickers and other information. Information collected has been used to stalk people, collect information about bumper stickers and used by ICE and other government agencies.
Flock is not a local crime tool, it’s a national surveillance system…ie Big Brother. Do we really want that in Galveston? I don’t think so.

City council has agreed to open bidding for 14 flock cameras in Galveston.
Although Flock says it does not share this information outside the local jurisdiction, it requires you share that information.
Flock cameras do much more than record license plates. They record make and model of vehicle, directions of travel, bumper stickers and other information. Information collected has been used to stalk people, collect information about bumper stickers and used by ICE and other government agencies.
Flock is not a local crime tool, it’s a national surveillance system…ie Big Brother. Do we really want that in Galveston? I don’t think so.

Recently I have been reading about Liberation Theology. I know that originally it was condemned by the Church, but Pope Francis seemed to embrace parts of it.
Liberation Theology:

Liberation theology is a Christian movement that interprets the faith through the experiences of the oppressed. Originating in Latin America in the 1960s, it argues that God has a "preferential option for the poor" and that religious devotion must be paired with active efforts to dismantle economic, social, and political inequality.

This seems to embody praxis to me (Christian reflection then action). Are we not taught ‘faith without works is dead’?

I understand that one of the problems was some of the ‘Marxist’ concepts of social economic oppression. But aren’t we called to lift up the poor, oppressed and minorities?

I’ll add I’m a Democratic Socialist, so maybe that clouds my view. I’d like to hear what others think.

An exorcism priest was recently removed by his archbishop for saying ‘UFOs are actually demons trying to enter our plain’.
I really can’t comprehend where this comes from. If demons exist, aren’t they already on this plain? Why would a demon need a spaceship?
Some claim the vision of Ezekiel was a UFO, but I find that hard to believe. No place in scripture are UFOs related to ‘demons’.
I’m really interested in others thoughts. My personal opinion is there is absolutely no truth to this.

First, I recently discovered this community and it has been a blessing.
Lately I have found myself very angry (almost to the point of hate) at certain politicians based on their attacks on the LGBTQ community, their blasphemy and heresy. I’m quite aware I need to love my neighbor and pray for my enemies, which I’ve tried but honestly it’s been insincere.
I’m old, but never in my life have I had to confess ‘I hate someone’. I know I have to do, but I’m afraid of the reaction I will get. All the local parishes are pretty conservative.
Any suggestions or direction would be greatly appreciated. For now I’ll keep praying for them and myself.