Turmoil and Persecution

I have found myself remarkably busy these last few months. Between study, family, and many church activities, I have found that I have little time to write, but I do read an awful lot and I have been utterly disappointed with acceptable prejudice against Christians be so readily propagated and spread.

I recently read the statements for certain governor of New York, Mr. Cuomo, stating that those who defend the definition of traditional marriage are "anti-American". Imagine that, in a country where there is a plurality of ideas and religious freedom has been an acceptable practice if you disagree with liberals or cafeteria Catholics like Mr. Cuomo, you are anti-American. Amazingly, they neglect that the very dialogue which is occurring is extremely American, as last I checked American was a democracy which allows for freedom of speech (perhaps it is freedom for only those opinions which conform to everyone else.). The Archbishop of New York, Timothy Dolan, has done a good job in responding to Mr. Cuomo's remarks and his response can be read here (We are Now Enemies of the State).

Sadly, this is just one example of the many errors and attacks which have been occurring in recent months. Another example which stands out in my mind is the removal of Fr. Rodriguez from his parish in El Paso, Tx. Fr. Rodriguez was well known for having a vibrant and orthodox parish and for speaking the truth on a number of issues, including homosexuality and same-sex marriage. It would seem that his bishop, Bishop Ochoa, used the excuse that Fr. Rodriguez had violated the tax code in speaking to legislators regarding same-sex marriage and by taking a public position, but this is an excuse that anyone with half a brain knows is pure rubbish! This is yet another example of action against faithful Catholics and the caving in of religious leaders to secular pressure. In my opinion, Fr. Rodriguez did as all priests are called to do, speak the truth and the gospel of Christ and bring that message out to the world. In a world that is continually becoming more and more relative and denies absolute truth, priests like Fr. Rodriguez are a necessity. 

I am not trying to be a pessimist or trying to be negative, but something should be utterly apparent to the practicing Catholic; he should be aware that we are once again entering a period where persecution and prejudice against Christians are acceptable and the fact that much of what we believe in one way or another will begin to be criminalized. Evidence of such actions is already visible in Canada, where it is now a crime to speak on the immorality of homosexuality from the pulpit and Catholics are becoming more limited in practicing the moral aspects of their faith. A quick look to Egypt, and it is visible that the international community does not care about the persecution of Coptic Christians or their massacre in the streets.

Essentially, I am pointing to the point that to be a Christian in this age will require great courage and fortitude. There is a chance that we will be ostracized, punished, or treated as second class for our belief. The world will deny what we hold true about life, about marriage, about the innocence of those in womb and about God, but we must stand strong, but even more than that is to trust in our God and pray for all our brethren who suffer and for those who persecute and hate us. We may lose our freedom and even our lives, but it will be a testament to our love and our faithfulness to Jesus. We will be tried by fire and we must be ready to stand the test.

On a closing note, I have inserted one more video, which I think is extremely beneficial and holds a degree of truth to the realities of our current situation in the world and the need to be prayerful and ready. Enjoy.