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Catholicism under attack
Today CNA news posted that Harrison Butker, age 28 is getting a lot of backlash for his outspoken commencement speech at a Catholic college. He was frank about his Catholic views on gender, abortion, euthanasia, and even President Biden’s anti-Catholic politics. There are some people who would like Butker to be kicked off his team. Then, there was another article about a Maryland law saying that parents have no right to opt out of the LGBT TQ curriculum in the public school nor opt out of any other sex education program! Thirdly in Washington DC. a number of pro-lifers aged, 30 to 76 have been imprisoned for their attempt to rescue women from an abortion clinic. The eldest got three years in jail because she was the organizer of the protest. In the 4th post that I read, our own Pope says that conservative critics have a “suicidal attitude, that they cling to something and do not want to see beyond that.” I guess he's saying that conservatives are narrow minded.
Are you incensed? I am. Catholics who defend their faith are no longer being protected under the law nor protected from verbal abuse. Even the Pope is critical of conservative American Catholics. If the Pope doesn't defend us, is it any wonder that the FBI sees us as a target?
The Bishops need to speak up. Silence is no longer acceptable. They need to find the resources to rescue parents from the diabolical influences rampant in our public schools. Our Catholic schools need to be reopened regardless of the financial burden placed on the diocese. Parents should not be left vulnerable to these attacks on their children's souls. All Catholics need to support funding efforts for diocesan schools in order to protect the faith for the future. No parish can finance a school by itself, but regional schools might be a more feasible option.
From the foundation of our country Catholics have kept a low profile because the Protestant culture of the time thought that the papacy would infiltrate the government and Catholics would be more loyal to Rome than to the United States. That has been proven false. But presently the government is controlling Catholic conscience in our public schools, condemning conservative speech, allowing the FBI to harass American Catholics. And now Americans have been arrested for trying to prevent the murder of the babies.
We need to protest, be active, provide the resources for our Catholic institutions to remain in business, provide a safe moral environment for educating our children and to speak out in defense of the truth. Catholics have been passive for too long.
Recently there was much praise for the movie “Mother Cabrini” and her work to help poor immigrants by establishing schools and hospitals. She did it with no financial resources of her own. With faith in God's Providence, she built 64 Catholic institutions!
Where is our trust in God? If God provides for the birds of the air, will he not also provide for us when we pray in faith and confidence for what is needed? Saint Elizabeth Seton, with no resources but faith in God's Providence helped initiate a Catholic school system in America as did Saint John Newman. Catholic children are the responsibility of all Catholics so that the faith may be passed on to the next generation.
The time for passivity is over. This is a new age in American Catholic history where we must become defenders of the faith actively, vocally regardless of the cost. Jesus told us the day would come when we would be persecuted as he was persecuted. It is an honor and a privilege to share in Jesus’ passion. No, it's not lions in the Coliseum we face but it is our time to take a stand, respectfully of course. It is time for each person to find their Catholic voice and not allow school boards, the press, social media, the PTA, nor the courts to attack our principles or doctrine without hearing a protest.
Let us flood social media with support for those in prison and those who speak the truth in public venues. This is an era of persecution in our time! Let us not go silently into the night. Defend Christ. Defend his Church. Defend the truth.
Nancy Lessard graduated from Boston College with a Masters degree in Special Education. She has taught all grades from grade three through high school and has served as a school principal in Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. Throughout her teaching career she served in various parish ministries. She was invited to teach at Notre Dame College in Manchester NH. While carrying a full course load she supervised student teachers for ten years. When the college closed she took a position teaching sophomore high school religion with a focus on biblical studies. Having always had an interest in writing she has chosen to write for Catholic 365 in order to continue sharing the faith that is the bed rock of her life. Currently she is also engrossed in writing her first book.
Nancy can be contacted at nlessard6@protonmail.com
