1. Pope Benedict XVI’s Congratulation to
President Obama
President Obama
In his message, the Holy
Father offered best wishes to the President, and promised continued prayers on
his behalf. The Pope assured the re-elected President that he will ask God to
help him in his high responsibility to the country and the international
community. The Pope also said he will pray that the ideals of freedom and
justice, which guided the founders of the United States of America, might
continue to shine through the nation as it makes its way in history.
Father offered best wishes to the President, and promised continued prayers on
his behalf. The Pope assured the re-elected President that he will ask God to
help him in his high responsibility to the country and the international
community. The Pope also said he will pray that the ideals of freedom and
justice, which guided the founders of the United States of America, might
continue to shine through the nation as it makes its way in history.
2. Our Bishops are United
The Obama administration likely
translated the weakening practices of many Catholics with a weakening Church. Our bishops, proved
otherwise. The United States Conference of Catholic
Bishops (USCCB) is unanimously against the HHS mandate, which tramples
religious liberty. In a news release last summer, the bishops asserted: “To be
Catholic and American should mean not having to choose one over the other…We
have been staunch defenders of religious liberty in the past. We have a solemn
duty to discharge that duty today.”
translated the weakening practices of many Catholics with a weakening Church. Our bishops, proved
otherwise. The United States Conference of Catholic
Bishops (USCCB) is unanimously against the HHS mandate, which tramples
religious liberty. In a news release last summer, the bishops asserted: “To be
Catholic and American should mean not having to choose one over the other…We
have been staunch defenders of religious liberty in the past. We have a solemn
duty to discharge that duty today.”
This is very
unlike what happened during the English Reformation. When King Henry VIII
declared himself head of the Church in England and suceded from the Catholic
Church due to Pope Clement VII’s
refusal to grant him an annulment, all but one bishop followed. St. John Fisher refused publically to condone King Henry’s actions. He and the king’s Lord Chancellor, St. Thomas
Moore, refused to compromise their
conscience and were martyred in 1535 by beheading.
unlike what happened during the English Reformation. When King Henry VIII
declared himself head of the Church in England and suceded from the Catholic
Church due to Pope Clement VII’s
refusal to grant him an annulment, all but one bishop followed. St. John Fisher refused publically to condone King Henry’s actions. He and the king’s Lord Chancellor, St. Thomas
Moore, refused to compromise their
conscience and were martyred in 1535 by beheading.
St. Thomas Moore and St. John Fischer, pray
for our bishops to lead us in strength and holiness!
for our bishops to lead us in strength and holiness!
3. We Still Have Freedom to Worship
The
United States is not ruled by a regime that obstructs our worship or closes
churches. Such examples are many but one recently popularized in the movie, For Greater Glory, was Mexico’s Cristero War (1926–29), a civil war fought over religious freedom.
The Mexican government under the masonic, atheist ruler, Plutarco Elias Calles,
suppressed the faith by enforcing anti-Catholic provisions of the constitution.
Worship was severely restricted, bishops were exiled and many priests murdered.
This sparked a mass popular uprising and
counter-revolution. We cannot take our
religious freedom for granted and must be willing defend it with the same
passion as the Catholic Mexicans did. “¡Viva Cristo Rey!”—Long Live Christ the
King!
The
United States is not ruled by a regime that obstructs our worship or closes
churches. Such examples are many but one recently popularized in the movie, For Greater Glory, was Mexico’s Cristero War (1926–29), a civil war fought over religious freedom.
The Mexican government under the masonic, atheist ruler, Plutarco Elias Calles,
suppressed the faith by enforcing anti-Catholic provisions of the constitution.
Worship was severely restricted, bishops were exiled and many priests murdered.
This sparked a mass popular uprising and
counter-revolution. We cannot take our
religious freedom for granted and must be willing defend it with the same
passion as the Catholic Mexicans did. “¡Viva Cristo Rey!”—Long Live Christ the
King!
4. Free Speech is Still a Right
Those who
attack Catholic values are often aggressive.
It’s up to us to pray and then diplomatically inform them on the
non-negotiable issues: life from conception to natural death, marriage between
one man and one woman, and religious freedom. Although it often feels overwhelming and thankless,
consider that some of the most influential Catholic converts once rejected Catholic
teaching. The seeds of truth were planted through the words of others.
attack Catholic values are often aggressive.
It’s up to us to pray and then diplomatically inform them on the
non-negotiable issues: life from conception to natural death, marriage between
one man and one woman, and religious freedom. Although it often feels overwhelming and thankless,
consider that some of the most influential Catholic converts once rejected Catholic
teaching. The seeds of truth were planted through the words of others.
If we shy
away from doing so, is it out of love of others or love of self–fearing
rejection? “For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this
adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him
when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels” (Mark
8:38).
away from doing so, is it out of love of others or love of self–fearing
rejection? “For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this
adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him
when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels” (Mark
8:38).
5. There is an Arsenal of Catholic Sources
The Catholic
Church is at the forefront of the movement to protect life from conception to
natural death so it’s easy to access information that is scientific, logical
and religious. Fighting the HHS mandate is a Catholic cause with 27 lawsuits by
organizations against the government. The website, Stop HHS
Mandate is a good source for the latest news and information.
Church is at the forefront of the movement to protect life from conception to
natural death so it’s easy to access information that is scientific, logical
and religious. Fighting the HHS mandate is a Catholic cause with 27 lawsuits by
organizations against the government. The website, Stop HHS
Mandate is a good source for the latest news and information.
Same-sex
marriage advocates like to paint Catholic values as hateful and
homophobic. It’s an area many shy away
from discussing since it’s a more complicated argument. The value of marriage
has been minimized in our culture due to no-fault divorce and the acceptance of
sex outside of marriage but like all non-negotiables, the teaching is consistent
and Catholic resources are abundant. One good source for logical and scientific
reasons not to redefine marriage can be found in the article 10
Reasons Homosexual Marriage is Harmful and Should be Opposed .
marriage advocates like to paint Catholic values as hateful and
homophobic. It’s an area many shy away
from discussing since it’s a more complicated argument. The value of marriage
has been minimized in our culture due to no-fault divorce and the acceptance of
sex outside of marriage but like all non-negotiables, the teaching is consistent
and Catholic resources are abundant. One good source for logical and scientific
reasons not to redefine marriage can be found in the article 10
Reasons Homosexual Marriage is Harmful and Should be Opposed .
6. There are No Lions’ Dens
Courage is essential
to be a Christian in this world, but it’s nothing compared to the early
Christians who went to the lions’ den.
And any time we speak out and go against the culture, we do so out of
love of Jesus. “Blessed are you
when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil
against you because of me” (Matt 5:11).
to be a Christian in this world, but it’s nothing compared to the early
Christians who went to the lions’ den.
And any time we speak out and go against the culture, we do so out of
love of Jesus. “Blessed are you
when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil
against you because of me” (Matt 5:11).
One of my
favorite authors, Elizabeth Matthews, in her book Precious
Treasures, related a stressful situation as being in the “monkey cage”. She
recalled her childhood commitment to go to the lions’ den if necessary and
realized that living for Christ is so much easier than being ripped apart by
lions. So, if we are willing to die for our faith, we must be willing to live
for it. Just consider that we are in the
monkey cage, which is far preferable than the lions’ den.
favorite authors, Elizabeth Matthews, in her book Precious
Treasures, related a stressful situation as being in the “monkey cage”. She
recalled her childhood commitment to go to the lions’ den if necessary and
realized that living for Christ is so much easier than being ripped apart by
lions. So, if we are willing to die for our faith, we must be willing to live
for it. Just consider that we are in the
monkey cage, which is far preferable than the lions’ den.
7. We
are Not Alone
are Not Alone
We are the
Church Militant, those still on earth fighting the good fight. We have each
other. Also, the Church Triumphant, our brothers and
sisters in heaven, are interceding for us. Many of them were martyred for their
courageous practice of the faith.
Church Militant, those still on earth fighting the good fight. We have each
other. Also, the Church Triumphant, our brothers and
sisters in heaven, are interceding for us. Many of them were martyred for their
courageous practice of the faith.
St. Michael
continues to fight for God, defending the Church and goes before us in this
spiritual battle. Our Blessed Mother is
the woman who will crush the head of Satan and she is our mother, interceding
for us to her beloved son Jesus Christ. We have nothing to fear when fighting
for righteousness in such company. Instead, let us fear and pray for those who
risk the eternal fires for fighting against the teachings of God.
continues to fight for God, defending the Church and goes before us in this
spiritual battle. Our Blessed Mother is
the woman who will crush the head of Satan and she is our mother, interceding
for us to her beloved son Jesus Christ. We have nothing to fear when fighting
for righteousness in such company. Instead, let us fear and pray for those who
risk the eternal fires for fighting against the teachings of God.
8. Our Weapons are Lethal to the Enemy
The Mass is
a refuge and strength as is Eucharistic adoration, prayer and fasting. St. Padre Pio called the rosary “the weapon”. The power of such weapons dwarfs all else.
a refuge and strength as is Eucharistic adoration, prayer and fasting. St. Padre Pio called the rosary “the weapon”. The power of such weapons dwarfs all else.
9. The New Media
As
Catholics, we have the full truth. Pope
John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI have encouraged us to spread this truth
through all avenues including social media as part of the “New Evangelization”. Yes, we are often speaking to the choir; for
instance, our Facebook friends share our disappointment over the election
results. But we can also engage in conversation with those not in agreement
with our values.
Catholics, we have the full truth. Pope
John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI have encouraged us to spread this truth
through all avenues including social media as part of the “New Evangelization”. Yes, we are often speaking to the choir; for
instance, our Facebook friends share our disappointment over the election
results. But we can also engage in conversation with those not in agreement
with our values.
10. Jesus is Our King No Matter who is
President
President
We can placeourselves under the sovereignty of the King of all nations. An old
devotion that is growing in popularity in this country is to enthrone the
Sacred Heart of Jesus over our family. By physically enthroning Jesus in our
homes, we put Him over us in a concrete as well as physical way. Through this
devotion, we publicly proclaim our allegiance to the Sacred Heart of Jesus,
placing our families, schools, churches, cities, etc., under His divine
protection and guidance.
When we make
a covenant with the Sacred Heart of Jesus to live under His Kingship, we need
not fear for we have the protection of the King of all Nations.
a covenant with the Sacred Heart of Jesus to live under His Kingship, we need
not fear for we have the protection of the King of all Nations.
For an
information package on how to enthrone the Sacred Heart of Jesus go to www.sacredheartapostolate.com.
information package on how to enthrone the Sacred Heart of Jesus go to www.sacredheartapostolate.com.
Prior to the election, I witnessed a Catholic
fervor I have not seen before. I pray that this is just the beginning of the
fervor that will ignite the fire of the Holy Spirit in our hearts for whatever
lies ahead.
fervor I have not seen before. I pray that this is just the beginning of the
fervor that will ignite the fire of the Holy Spirit in our hearts for whatever
lies ahead.
###
Thank you Patti for some positive perspective. We may be headed downward, but there is still much to be grateful for this Thanksgiving.
Thanks so much for this! It helps to remember this in such sad days.
Great article………I have had a very hard week…..alot of emotions like many of us I am sure! Keep up the good work……..I reposted it on my facebook page!
Thanks for the positive feedback. I find comfort in knowing we have support in our Church and that there are many of us who heed all of its teachings. Thanks for also sharing the article.
I am truly amazed that you have included a link to Alan Rekers, who was exposed as a closet gay hypocrite in 2010 when whe was found to be using the services of a male escort:
http://freethinker.co.uk/2010/05/05/veteran-anti-gay-baptist-campaigner-hired-a-rent-boy-%E2%80%93-to-er-carry-his-baggage/
Dear Barry, Rekers is the founder of the Family Research Council, author of many pro-family articles and books and an international speaker on the topic. I was not aware of the rumors surrounding him until you just alerted me to it. However, the link you gave me with the accusation, belongs to an atheist/pro-homosexual site, so I would not consider that an accurate source. I looked further and found this http://www.towleroad.com/2010/05/george-rentboy-rekers-statements-from-family-research-council-narth-and-rekers-himself.html, which gives a more balanced account, pointing out that the rumor came from a source that seeks to destroy his reputation. Still, I am in no position to say whether the rumor is true or not. It would seem the facts and research regarding the importance of traditional families are true and I cannot speak to the validity of the accusations being made against Rekers. However, it is good to know about this so be be on the safe side, I will look for a replacement article.
Thank you for your feedback.
I am pleased that you removed the Rekers link. You, of course, have every right to harbour strong antipathy towards gay people, just as I, as a gay man, an atheist and editor of The Freethinker – which you rightly identify as an "atheist/pro-homosexual site" – have to strongly oppose your views.
Choosing a link to Rekers' article was an understandable error, given that you were (surprisingly)unaware of the scandal that engulfed him. To this day the allegations against him have never been credibly refuted.
You are perhaps also unaware of the fact the Rekers was a menace who later stood accused of almost driving a young man to suicide with his crackpot anti-gay therapies.
Here's a (non-gay, non-atheist) link to a report on a non-atheist site:
http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/2010/05/before_he_hired_an_escort_reke.php#