Emperor Henry IV Repenting Before Pope Gregory VII
It happened once – it can happen again.
The recent debates over the Obama Healthcare mandate regarding insurance and policies regarding abortion and contraceptive services are being described by many as an infraction against religious freedom. Is this the best strategy?
It seems that many well-meaning Catholics are rallying to a strategy based on the administration’s “violation of religious freedom.” There have also been recent Facebook initiatives led by Catholics such as Rosaries for Religious Freedom etc.
I asked myself this: Is Religious Freedom a God given right and if so, what are its limits? That is, should I pray my Rosary so that Satanists have the protected human right to practice Satanism? Are we merely asking for a toleration of our beliefs or should we be speaking with the voice of Christ and the holy martyrs against an evil empire. Should we be on offense or defense?
If you read the ancient accounts of the martyrs, these heros of the Faith never appeal to “religious freedom” so as to gain protection from the state. They supernaturally perceived the events as a war between the City of God and the City of Man. It is the battle of enmities between the Woman and the primordial Serpent. A truce was inconceivable.
I fear that we Catholics may be losing a great opportunity. The state is threatening us regarding the most misunderstood elements of Catholic social teaching – marriage and human sexuality. We should not fight for religious liberty so that we will be tolerated among all the other incorrect philosophies and ideologies of our day.
When Christ commissioned the Holy Apostles, did he ask them to seek to be tolerated by the world? Should we grovel before the judges and seek a tolerated place at the table? Has that ever worked in Church history?
No, Christ came proclaiming a kingdom and the prophet Daniel foretold how the Son of Man’s Kingdom would overcome all the kingdoms of this world. We cannot make a pact with President Obama or any national leader. We must storm the gates. We must proclaim the truth regarding marriage, contraception, and abortion. The shield of Faith must be held out in front of us, and we had better grasp the sword of the Spirit. Asking for state tolerance is a white flag of surrender.
I don’t want an America where Catholicism is tolerated. I want an America where natural law and natural rights are observed and the reign of Christ the King is publicly acknowledged.
Even if we were granted “religious freedom” to avoid covering contraceptive and abortive “care,” we will simply lose more ground in the cultural war. The enemies of Christ are coming with everything – the medical industry is almost fully captured, private school and college accreditations are next, abolition of homeschooling will follow, equal opportunity hiring for Catholic businesses will be next…you can see how it will go. We cannot keep seeking tolerance under the umbrella of an evil empire.
Saint Paul speaks us to now:
Therefore, take unto you the armour of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day and to stand in all things perfect. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth and having on the breastplate of justice: And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. In all things taking the shield of faith, wherewith you may be able to extinguish all the fiery darts of the most wicked one. And take unto you the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit (which is the word of God). By all prayer and supplication praying at all times in the spirit: and in the same watching with all instance and supplication for all the saints: And for me, that speech may be given me, that I may open my mouth with confidence, to make known the mystery of the gospel. (Ephesians 6:13–19, D-R)
Viva Cristo Rey!
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