I'll never understand this fixation some posters here have with monarchist rule. However if we really have to establish a royal family in America, I suggest the Osbourne's. And face it, they actually have some pretty good qualifications. They're foreign born, rich, out of touch with reality, messed up, yet still remain closer to being a family in the traditional sense than England's current royal family, and to the best of my knowledge do not suffer from hereditary diseases caused by inbreeding.
I not picking on you or anything, but of all the countries that had Catholcism as their state relgion I can only think of three monarchs who were actually good Catholics: St. King Louis IX of France, St. Stephen of Hungary, Bl. Emperor Charles I of Austria.
When I think of Catholic monarchy I think of King Louis XIV and Cardinal Richelieu - I think it is safe to say they were a little lacking in the application of Catholic morality to your subjects department.
I not picking on you or anything, but of all the countries that had Catholcism as their state relgion I can only think of three monarchs who were actually good Catholics: St. King Louis IX of France, St. Stephen of Hungary, Bl. Emperor Charles I of Austria.
When I think of Catholic monarchy I think of King Louis XIV and Cardinal Richelieu - I think it is safe to say they were a little lacking in the application of Catholic morality to your subjects department.
James II was a good Catholic, he just lacked common sense
One of the Spanish Pretenders--Sixto Enrique de Bourb�n-Parma--has my vote. He's an ultra-traditionalist Catholic.
At one time Spain did claim all of the New World west of 49'45'W Longitude. At the very least Florida, the Deep South, and almost everything west of the Mississippi should still be Spanish...
Who is Ron Paul? One of my colleagues was actually thinking it was Ru-Paul.
He's a 'veteran' Congressman from Texas; an OB/GYN by trade. Married for over 50 years. Pro-Life (unlike Ghouliani), Pro-Constitution (un-like most of the candidates), and Anti-War (un-like most of the Republicans and Mrs. Clinton).
Ron Paul on the late Holy Father: "To the secularists, this was John Paul II�s unforgivable sin � he placed service to God above service to the state. Most politicians view the state, not God, as the supreme ruler on earth. They simply cannot abide a theology that does not comport with their vision of unlimited state power. This is precisely why both conservatives and liberals savaged John Paul II when his theological pronouncements did not fit their goals. But perhaps their goals simply were not godly."
In other words, as St. Peter said, "We must obey God rather than men." -Acts 5:29
So we have James II and Queen Isabella plus my three - that makes 5. Out of hundreds of monarchs who have ruled over Catholic states in the history of Europe, we can only think of 5 good ones. Now do you see what I mean?
A similar question can be asked about pious Orthodox monarchs.
In terms of Russia, Nicholas II was pious (although, in the opinion of most scholars, he was politically inept). Some think Tsar Alexis was pious -- although the more we learn about him, the less there are who think this. We might want to add Alexander I -- but then again, he had a mistress. ... If we accept as fact the rumor that he went on to become a monk, then perhaps his piety came later in life and he shouldn't be counted as a pious monarch.
In terms of Constantinople, in some ways Justinian was pious (he kept the fasts, prayed frequently, etc.) but his policies against the Jews and monophysites were often barbaric. The last Constantine is revered ... but is that for his piety while alive or for the way that he died??
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