Saturday, October 6, 2018

Sen. Flake: “…unless something big happens.”

Something BIG Happening!

By Eric Stradford, U.S. Marine Corps, Retired and Stephanie A. Walker Stradford

AMWS, October 6, 2018, Virtual -- Senator Jeff Flake (R-AZ) announced yesterday that he expected to vote to confirm Kavanaugh, with a caveat, “unless something big happens.”  Sen Lisa Murkowski (R-WA) announced she would vote no.  Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) said he would vote to confirm. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), apparently wrestling to reconcile faith, trust, emotion and intellect, took an hour to explain her Catch-22. But, Flake, in his moment of conscience, may have drawn a few good catholic friends nearer to an all-pervading win-win.

The lower case “c” in the word, “catholic,” admonishes 88 of 100 U.S. Senators to expect “something big” to happen.    A U.S. Senate vote today can confirm an alleged abuser, embolden bullies, leave one “woman with an issue…” bleeding and thousands more “women at a well” unfulfilled.  In deciding who should judge, #WeThePeople need only ponder the question, W.W.J.D.?

“I object to Kavanaugh being on the Supreme Court,” posted one Facebook friend.  “Obviously he was an undisciplined spoiled kid who never learned right from wrong, but please don’t include the entire Catholic Church over Kavanaugh! I am sure most religions have problems but I would Never attach anyone’s evil doers in their religion.” 
 
One friend responds to facts and findings in our October 1, 2018 report, “Here Comes The Judge.” At the same time, our friend inspires the blessed among us to consider, “If one member suffers, all suffer together with it.”

One takeaway from current events surround one American catholic nominated by the President of the United States to serve as a United States Supreme Court Justice.  The United States Senate, comprised of some 88 catholics, including 24 Roman Catholics, must weigh a shared inherited value, “so help me God,” against uncorroborated truths, to advise and consent on the nominee’s appointment.

Neither FBI investigations, nor inquiries by catholic or Roman Catholic Church leaders, offer sufficient evidence that young Brett Kavanaugh, Mark Judge or any other classmate at Georgetown Preparatory School, was or was not abused by clergy.  Likewise, no complete investigation by the FBI, State, local law enforcement or the Holy See publishes facts to support allegations that abused children grew up to become abusers themselves. 

No credible investigation by the U.S. Senate or the FBI supports allegations by Dr. Christine Blassey Ford that she was sexually assaulted by the same catholic boy now being considered for the U.S. Supreme Court.  Not all abused children were abused by Roman Catholic clergy. At the same time, we learn that not all catholics are Roman Catholic.  Twenty-four (24) U.S. Senators 24 identify as Roman Catholic but at least 88 present as catholic (with a lower case “c”). 

Our catholic friends who also identify as Roman Catholic might be encouraged or angered after reading Pope Francis’ take away from child sex abuse allegations.  “If one member suffers, all suffer together with it” (1 Cor 12:26),” he states in his Encyclical Letter on the subject.  And, as a footnote, he writes, “But this kind [of demon] does not come out except by prayer and fasting” (Mt 17:21).  

Our Facebook friend (FBF), Mary Ellen Tauper, offered yet another perspective on Catholic education.  She is a trusted elder, with an opinion that should be heard.  “Being a life-long, practicing Catholic, I cannot fully agree with you equating the Catholic Church with being complicit in the Kavanaugh case,” Mrs Tauper posted.  “I know the church has a major problem with sexual assault and it grieves me more than you will ever know. However, blaming Catholic education for Kavanaugh’s behavior! I attended Catholic Schools for most of my education and my childrens and a grandchild who attended Catholic schools and I had a Nun and a Priest in my family and sexual assault was never performed on any one of us! I object to your comment that Elite Catholic Education should be taken out of the hands of Catholic educators because this privileged rich kid went to a Catholic prep school? Unfortunately drinking is obsessive on all college campuses and prep schools not just Catholic campuses.”

FROM THE PUBLISHER
Dearest Mary Ellen Tauper:                              

I wanted to take the time to reply to your comments.  I pray you will take the time to read our follow-up to your reply.

First, knowing you as I do over the past eight years, I want to thank you for your sincerity.  You should know that I too have family members who belong to the Catholic Church and who attended Catholic schools.  In no way was the article meant to slander any religion, because as you inferred, “we all fall short of the glory of God.”

What you may not know is that both Eric and I have been journalists for more than 30 years.  He received his experience in the U.S. Marine Corps in Public Affairs, as well as the Far East Network.  I started my career at National Broadcasting Company in Washington, D.C.  In 1994, we partnered to establish the American Mentor Wire Service (known as AMWS).  AMWS researches available information via people, the Internet, newspapers, press releases, television and cable, to produce and publish articles, radio blogs, webinars, and videos.

All of the information you read in “Here Comes The Judge” was public information researched from diverse previously reported sources and combined into one article.  Most importantly, we also read the LETTER OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS TO THE PEOPLE OF GOD.  The Pope started his letter with “If one member suffers, all suffer together with it (I Cor 12:26).”  

Our AMWS article was not intended to offend anyone but to encourage “we the people” to take into consideration the many patterns of behavior that may have affected the life of the current candidate for the Supreme Court.

I appreciate your input and encourage others to voice their freedom of speech.  Again, thank you for your perspective.

God bless you!
Stephanie

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