Red Foxes in the Vineyard

Catch us the foxes, the little foxes that damage the vineyards; for our vineyards are in bloom. (The Song of Songs—Solomon—2:15).

 
The most threatening predators and destructors in the Holy Catholic Church over the past sixty years have been the “red foxes in the vineyard,” the sturdiest among their breed, who have slyly infiltrated parishes, archdioceses, and even Rome despite some excellent priests, Bishops and Popes.  While the Evil One has craftily deflected homiletic attention to the proverbial wolves of Wall Street, these cunning reynard and vixen have been scurrilously pawing at the roots and branches of the True Vine, Our Lord Jesus Christ, apart from Whom we can do nothing to cultivate the fruit of the Kingdom. (John 15:5).

 
These are the heretics, the worst type of betrayer for having had the blessing and grace of the Sacraments, sound immutable catechesis, a prayer treasury, and myriad wise counselors.  Jesus Christ minced no words about this, especially during his visible presence in the world.   

 
When the Pharisees forewarned Jesus that Herod who beheaded John the Baptist,  sought to kill him, Jesus Christ replied, “Go and tell that fox, behold,  I cast out demons and perform healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day I accomplish my purpose.”  (Luke 13:31-32).  According to renowned theologian Cornelius A Lapide, Jesus feared neither Herod, nor the Pharisees, nor the rulers, but that he would continue to preach despite them all.  Lapide further commented:  “The fox is a fraudulent animal, in its den for the sake of ambushes, foul smelling, never traveling in straight paths.  Such are heretics, whose type is Herod, who seek to kill Christ in His believers.” 

 
Millions of souls have been cut off from the flow of Truth and Love while Church and laity leaders raise the rod and repeatedly beat propagandized foes as sniffed out by the crafty red foxes.  Millions of Catholics have been conditioned to pet the silky fur of the foxes while loathing the stereotypical wolves.  Villainized, repeatedly pulverized, these wolves represent those contemporized enemies of the Church.  Who does not despise greed, racism, and war:  The wealthy CEOs, the privileged European descendants, the combative generals, and law enforcers cast into the worst light?

 
Courageous prelates and laity who communicate sound warnings are ignored or silenced, some censored or threatened with sanctions. Slandered and libeled as rigid traditionalists, if persistent in their concerns, they find themselves expelled if not excommunicated.  Oddly, these devout and well educated clergy and laity are unjustly accused of “growing sour grapes.”

 
Still, faithful Catholics, regardless of station in life, have an urgent duty to expose the red foxes, particularly the alpha red foxes that disguise their stench under the odor of incense and prance like docile companions around their final prey, but leading them in circles.  Today’s red foes, unlike the time of the vicious Herod,  trot out “patient tolerance,” while sublimely distorting both Truth and authentic love.  Deadly sin mushrooms as redeeming grace spills into empty holes in the ground. Cleverly they still stealthily gnaw in the Vineyard, while stunningly those nearby seem not to witness, let along cogently grasp how many of the Baptized have already lethally lost the flow of grace vitally needed for spiritual life in the Holy Trinity.

 
One such alpha red fox who nudged this article, Father James Martin,  leads a major pack and strikes at top tier Catholics and Christians.  Most recently, Martin smooched and detracted a modernist comedian and political commentator Stephen Colbert from noticing that he is no longer grafted to the Vine.  By publicly praising Colbert as “one of today’s best Catholic evangelists,”  Martin denies Colbert genuine self examination of conscience, repentance, and reconciliation.  While leaving the judgment of Colbert’s soul to God, we are derelict and even spiteful if we fail to fraternally correct Colbert by his own words and behaviors, such as displaying a picture of a priest distributing condoms instead of the Eucharist or heralding a bald British bisexual black actress for playing Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar. (The Catholic League, May 22, 2026).

 
That is only one example, but others around the world ravage the harvest while caretakers "whistle past the field."

It may well be the pew Catholics who mend the Vineyard by carefully scrutinizing and calling out Catholic leaders, whether clergy or laity, that often camouflage rather than provide soul saving salve for the rotted disobedient and disorderly.  How many baptized Catholic politicians who promote abortion, “no fault” divorce, and extremely disturbing sexual practices and identities,  obstinately refuse to admit mortal sins but further scandalize and condemn themselves by reception of Communion at Sunday Mass? These are our brothers and sister being neglected!

 
Let us also ceaselessly entreat Rome:  When will you cede that peace is impossible without conversion of hearts and souls.  When will you courageously and consistently proclaim there is only one true God, one Savior, Jesus Christ,  and the Gospel cannot be diluted or softened.  Oust the red foxes!   Our much sicker brothers and sisters are falling by lack of spiritual oxygen and life giving Blood of the Lamb, risking complete withering and eternal fire.

 
Return to the Sacred Mass; Eucharistic Adoration; a fully Sacramental life including Confession (which must precede reconciliation), total reverence for the reception of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Body and Soul; the entirety of Scripture as inspired by the Holy Spirit and interpreted by Church Fathers, Doctors, Saints, and other Holy Ones; the renewal of instruction in the Magisterium; daily prayer including the Holy Rosary and the Divine Mercy Chaplet; and maintain maintain a perimeter of Angels and holy ones to protect the Vineyard.  Teach Catholics how to detect the foxes and the importance of ridding them from proximity to their homes:  Establish sound teaching in all dioceses and Catholic educational institutions.  Tend to the vulnerable, those who were ill advised or poorly cultivated, those un catechized or falsely taught.  

 
The Vineyard has been severely damaged, but with a spirit of repentance and resolve, it can again bear much fruit.  But we can no longer think the red foes in our midst can be tamed or controlled.  They must either be expelled or transformed, by confession, repentance and grace into lions for the Church.