Patriotism, Religion and Unity

Patriotism/Religion need Unity

Where do you feel secure, that place of serenity and peace where you can focus on your priorities? For some of us it’s a comfortable spot in a favorite chair or walking the beach. But taking in the daily news about our world does not induce comfort or security. We hear of conflicts in nearly every country, wars and rumors of wars,tensions between racial, ethnic, and political parties. The public too readily accepts the propaganda that bombards them from every side and does not have any idea what fact or fiction is. We cannot even trust that political candidates have verified facts before speaking to the public. Commentators spout falsities as truth and unless individuals consult other sources to verify facts, they blindly accept what they hear as truth.

Politicians do not propose legislation that benefits the working class, the economy, the cost of medication, nor the violence and injustice that is rampant in our culture. They propose legislation that benefits their personal financial interests and the evil agendas of power brokers with no thought of the working class.

The common good is rarely spoken of as a priority. Rather the current focus is on the sexual rights of minorities. The rights of the general public are ignored, twisted and overridden by those financed by dark forces. Even Court justices make decisions that do not support the Constitution but rather powerful political elitists pushing an unamerican agenda. The good of the nation is often neglected in favor of not offending some minority group. All of which foments division. The American eagle holds a claw full of rods symbolizing that we are stronger in unity than as separate groups. We seem to have lost that strength of “e pluribus unum”.

However, it is not just in the secular world that division is rampant, and people are choosing sides. Our own beloved Catholic Church is a mirror of the secular world: gay rights vs Biblical sexual teaching, pro-choice vs pro-life, Latin mass vs Novus Ordo, Bishop vs Bishop, Archbishop vs the Pope, traditional vs liberal, communion in the hand vs in the mouth, standing or kneeling for communion and on it goes. Priests do not preach about sin and the evil social mores, because someone might be offended!  Going to hell seems more offensive.

In both secular and religious realms there needs to be a loud voice for UNITY. Public leaders need to rally supporters around Patriotism and what benefits the majority and no more favoring one group over another. Everyone’s needs matter.

At the Last Supper Jesus prayed that we all may be one. It is a scandal to the world that the Catholic Church is so divided, and its members are confused about moral truths, what is a sin or even about Heaven and Hell. Our leaders do not all preach the one Truth but rather their own versions of the truth. The sheep do not know the voice of truth because their shepherds do not speak as one!

Once upon a time, citizens could trust elected officials to support the Constitution and the Bill of Rights and apply it to every citizen equally. In school these documents were taught and even memorized but today a more communist agenda has infiltrated history classes indoctrinating against civics and loyalty to the Constitution,

Neither does our Church teach with one voice. From one parish or diocese to another there is variety in rituals, requirements to enter the church and reception of communion. Blatantly sinful and scandalous priests are not disciplined while faithful priests, expounding the truth of the Gospel get canceled. Schism is breaking out through the voices of our prelates in many countries. The faithful are tempted to take sides creating scandalous divisions. The sinful behavior of our shepherds gives scandal to the world and easily leads others to follow their sinful example.

The confused and worried faithful need to pray more than ever for faith filled leadership and the conversion of dissident voices. To remain faithful ourselves we need to stick to the Scriptures, the Catechism of the Catholic Church and our Rosary. There it is spelled out clearly how to live our lives as Jesus instructed us. It is possible to be a loyal Catholic and a loyal Patriot. God wants saints to rise up in our days to confound the arrogant and give courage to the faithful.

Jesus warned us about false prophets and teachers whose teaching has its origins in the “father of lies”. Do not be deceived. Pray for wisdom to discern the truth in the secular realm but more importantly in the spiritual realm. Governments and nations will rise and fall but the Church of Christ will stand, though many within may lose their way.