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  • CF has always been a site that welcomes people from different backgrounds and beliefs to participate in discussion and even debate. That is the nature of its ministry. In view of recent events emotions are running very high. We need to remind people of some basic principles in debating on this site. We need to be civil when we express differences in opinion. No personal attacks. Avoid you, your statements. Don't characterize an entire political party with comparisons to Fascism or Communism or other extreme movements that committed atrocities. CF is not the place for broad brush or blanket statements about groups and political parties. Put the broad brushes and blankets away when you come to CF, better yet, put them in the incinerator. Debate had no place for them. We need to remember that people that commit acts of violence represent themselves or a small extreme faction.

Don Trump Tilts at Windmills: Rescinds All Offshore Wind Energy Areas in the US; current leases up for review

There is no longer a need for federal subsidies for solar and wind programs. They are now the most economic sources of energy.

There is also no need for federal subsidies for oil.
=================
THE ACTUAL NEEDS
1) reduced regulation on mining and the building of power plants.
2) support of increase transmission service
3) support of small nuclear plants
4) and yes, the support for companies to find more sources of natural gas, the production of LNG, and the export of LNG (e.g to India)
5) support of fast-track regulations that allow AI plants to build on-site power plants for their own use.
6) support of research on fusion.
7) support of research on various carbon capture and mitigation efforts (WON'T HAPPEN UNDER TRUMP)
=========
Oil and coal plants will phase out as they are less and less economic.
It seems like conservative governments are trying their level best to prop up less economic sources of energy.
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Don Trump Tilts at Windmills: Rescinds All Offshore Wind Energy Areas in the US; current leases up for review

There is no longer a need for federal subsidies for solar and wind programs. They are now the most economic sources of energy.

There is also no need for federal subsidies for oil.
=================
THE ACTUAL NEEDS
1) reduced regulation on mining and the building of power plants
2) support of increases to transmission service
3) support of small nuclear plants
4) and yes, the support for companies to find more sources of natural gas, the production of LNG, and the export of LNG (e.g to India)
5) support of fast-track regulations that allow AI plants to build on-site power plants for their own use.
6) support of research on fusion
7) support of research on various carbon capture and mitigation efforts (WON'T HAPPEN UNDER TRUMP)
=========
Oil and coal plants will phase out as they are less and less economic.
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Limited vs unlimited atonement?

I am not disagreeing with that.

None of this is showing I had some problem or was upset, so I have no idea why you spoke about that, as if it was an issue in discussion. I do not disagree with God choosing, but I would if you would say we cannot understand any basis God has in that. Your own definition of elect does not match how it used in the Bible still. And while God alone chooses, God is not willing that any perish, right? Or do you disagree with the passage that says that?
Your point was that "Believers are elected to be conformed to the image of Christ. That is the right application for the word." It seems to indicate to me that you do not believe that God chose (elected) people to be saved, but merely to be conformed to the image of Christ. Am I correct in thinking this?
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What's on your mind? Friendship Court edition.

Don't be discouraged. If you do pray to Our Lady with perseverance, then she'll help you.
@Learning always - thanks so much I appreciate that. I feel so hopeless and alone sometimes, so my faith gets tested.
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Mississippi School Homecoming Celebrations Turn Deadly as 8 People are Killed 20 Injured in Separate Shootings

and people who do things like this would not obey those laws anyway. Laws only work for people who care. It is like this people who can be trusted with guns do not need gun laws and people who cannot (usually) do not give a darn.
You're right, many criminals will not obey gun laws, but even if they decide not to obey gun laws, the laws will still reduce the availability of guns to criminals and the number of gun deaths in the country. For example, having universal background checks that include private sales will reduce the number of gun sales and transfers to criminals; safe storage laws can prevent guns from being easily stolen and ending up in the hands of criminals; and a ban on high-capacity magazines and assault-style weapons can limit the number of casualties during a gun crime or mass shooting. Combining stricter gun laws with stronger penalties for violating them and when crimes are committed with guns will save a lot of lives.

One of the biggest problems right now is that gun laws vary so much from one state to another that criminals in states with strong laws can just travel to a state with less restrictive laws to get what they want. If stronger gun laws like those found in California were to be applied at the federal level, gun violence would drop dramatically nationwide.
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Morality without Absolute Morality

I tracked this convo back to where it emerges from a deleted post, and I see no sentence of this sort from either of us.

I'd never heard of "vertical morality" so I did a quick search.
What I am trying to pursue with you in the other thread is rational morality, making no appeal to a higher authority, only to reason.
The post is in the parallel thread that morphed into a morality issue and was a reply addressed to you: "Malevolent vs. benevolent dispositions and conservative political ideology in the Trump era".
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The History of the “Two Laws” Theory in Romans 3:20

Even if you interpret the scriptures as not all being recorded it still does not prove that what you bring to the plate to “simplify” or “clarify” interpretation is true because it is still not inspired. Only the scriptures are absolute truth.
No, you're assuming that all revelation had to be recorded in written form.

Then we're faced with a situation here where the whole church, the early church, believed and practiced in a particular way, and then did so for the centuries following. Then a group comes along, some 1850 years after the fact, and says,, 'We got it right. The church had it wrong all this time, even though the group was nowhere near at the time that it all transpired. The church wears parts of revelation in its life, it's lived experience..
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Does this worry anyone?

Education Department wipes out special ed office in shutdown layoffs, union says

is anyone concerned how this would impact anyone they know with special needs in their family?

If you don't now anyone do you care much about their loss of support?
In the US, healthcare is not a federal responsibility for all. The federal responsibility for the cost and choices regarding safety net programs for the weak and vulnerable have been expanding since !932 (under Democrats and Republicans). Some of our states have much larger economies that many countries. IMO, the swing toward more state responsibility is a good one.

State governments can decide to step into the breach during a shutdown (many have). Also, states can decided what social programs to support.
========
TO BE CLEAR
I strongly favor the federal government shifting monies from rich to poor states so that poor states can better serve their citizens. But the federal cost of administration should be reduced by literally hundreds of thousands of employees. The issue is which departments should be reduced, which should be eliminated and which should be expanded. Then the departments can make the cuts. As with any enterprise, there should be efforts to be more efficient. Of course, Trump has no such interest. He wants to disable the federal government instead of making it work better.

When Clinton/Gore eliminated 360K federal jobs (with Gingritch holding their feet to the fire) there was little uproar and few (if any) legal fights. We need to move again to a revenue sharing approach to social programs (other than Social Security and Medicare). The feds collect the money and send ti to the states and local governments, where decisions can be better made.

AS AN ASIDE
These efforts should also be made within the Homeland Security and Defense. but that won't come until Senators want it to happen.
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Emergency abortion denials by Catholic hospitals put woman in danger, after her water broke at 17 weeks, lawsuit claims

The site has a paywall.

What you may be referring to is a different patient at a different hospital.

"Providence St. Joseph Hospital allegedly gave a hemorrhaging patient buckets and towels and directed her to another hospital 12 miles away."
... maybe you should read all of it.
Maybe you should.
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Missing pages from one's bible

the word pappas in Greek and papa in Latin meant 'father and were used as terms of affection for Bishops and some patriarchs. It's demonstrate in it's use from Dionysius of Alexandra in referring to his mentor Heraclas of Alexandria.

Not quite. The title of Pope belonged first to the Patriarch of Alexandria and continues to be used today.
You seem to have missed the reference above - pappas indeed was used towards Heaclas of Alexandrea (the Patriarch of Alexandria) - but it was a common term of endearment - not the Title of an office and certainly not for the ruler of the church because he was one of a number of patriarchs, not overall head.
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Missing pages from one's bible

nope, not so.
Yup - it is so and just as valid as your response.

See the Roman Catholic Church is the authority over Roman Catholics - no one else.

The Orthodox has pages that you are missing and your opinion is:

I have all the pages I need.

Protestant churches are similar in that we have books not including the Apocryphal - it isn't that we have pages missing - just do not have pages we do not need.

Just as viable a point of view.
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Morality without Absolute Morality

I'm pretty sure the "direction" this part of the conversation was going was "Jesus = Truth" ...
And you are wrong. That's what happens when one doesn't read their own replies.

"What I am trying to pursue with you in the other thread is rational morality, making no appeal to a higher authority, only to reason."
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Another look at the moon landing.

Yes - which he does, the 12 are part of his work.
Don't be silly - you made no mention at all of "the 12" being compared to the disciples until I brought it up.

Though if you are finally admitting that 12 people walked on the moon, that's something.
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The History of the “Two Laws” Theory in Romans 3:20

No issues there. I do cringe though when people use commentators to prove doctrinal issues though.
Why?

What's the difference between reading a commentator and listening to a sermon?

I confess I also cringe when listening to sermons, I am a fan of the three minute homily.

:preach:
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The Nobel Peace Prize went to Venezuela’s Maria Corina Machado - why not Trump? He's solved 8 wars!

What is most remarkable is the level of investment exhibited by President Trump’s supporters—whether in the media, politics, or among ordinary citizens—in advocating for him to receive a Nobel Prize. Realistically, how many of us genuinely pay attention to who wins the Nobel Prize, or even know when nominees are announced? For most people, unless they are watching live coverage, the news passes by with little more than a passing comment such as “Oh, that’s nice,” before moving on.

However, recent discussions surrounding the Nobel Peace Prize have intensified, with considerable debate about its significance and who should be awarded. This heightened interest appears largely driven by President Trump’s pursuit of the honor.

President Trump holds one of the highest positions achievable in the past century—the President of the United States. Is the Nobel Peace Prize really considered more prestigious than being President of the United States? I don’t think so.

So I really do not understand what is this obsession from MAGA that President Trump get noble peace prize?
MAGA is obsessed because Trump is obsessed.

The Nobel prize isn't a popularity contest. I don't think that the popularity of Sadat and Begin was all that important.

All that being said, starting a war with Venezuela may/should hurt Trump's chances for a peace prize. Curiously, many countries would like to see this 2nd Cuba defeated with a change in government. The CURRENT peace prize winner supports fighting for this regime change. One is reminded of Mandela.
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The History of the “Two Laws” Theory in Romans 3:20

Like the ECFs.

They are at least as reliable as your average Sunday sermon, I'd say, and we should pay attention to them to the same degree.
No issues there. I do cringe though when people use commentators to prove doctrinal issues though.
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