21 - 30 of 56 Comments

1. JoAnn

   1 year ago

   Rob: Have you ever thought about searching around for a Catholic Church that does teach the truth? What you say is really hard for me to believe because all the parrishes I belonged to were wonderful. And, they were especially forceful at election time. I am so sorry you are having difficulty hearing what you want from the pulpit. When you feel that you are not getting enough catechisis from the pulpit, have you ever confronted your pastor and asked why? We true Catholics have to be activists regarding our Faith. Cino's won't be because they are not living their Faith. We must report our pastors and priests to the diocese when they are teaching heresy or not teaching the truth. If that doesn't do any good, than we must write to the Vatican. We are the only ones that are going to have to fight these "rogues" because it is not always taken care of locally from within. The Vatican knows these things are going on but it is not always possible to locate where the problems are unless the "flock" reports it. God bless.

2. Jean Marie

   1 year ago

   Jesus told us if we live the Beatitudes that we would be insulted and persecuted the same way the Prophets were. Later Jesus told us we would be hauled into court on account of His Name but not to worry. The Holy Spirit would give us what to say. Living the Beatitudes is contradicting the world, and the world hates it.

3. Rob

   1 year ago

   But surely there must be another chapter to this story? The chapter about how our shepards remained silent so long as they watched their sheep stray. I get it. The government is over reaching. But when did it become the job of the government to teach faith and morals? I've almost 40 years old and I've never heard a homily on contraception. I've never heard anything spoken about sex, theology of the body or the whole host of things that could save our flocks from the big, bad government. I know this doesn't apply to you father, but at what point are our bishops going to address the absolutely terrible state of adult faith formation in this country? At what point are they going to man up and start changing things in the parishes?

4. JC

   1 year ago

   Fr Dwight thank you for this tongue in cheek. U forgot the vaccines, big pharma, genetically modified foods, survelliance, press freedom ....
   
   JC

5. D

   1 year ago

   If Catholic politicians won't stand by their Church then it is time for the Bishops to formally declare their excommunication. The Bishops should do so not because the Church is throwing them out, but rather that Catholic politicians left the Church.

6. Deacon Jim Stagg

   1 year ago

   Thank you, Father Longenecker, for the prophesy that seems to be coming true.
   
   I was wow'ed this evening by (again) reading the Scripture passage for Thursday (Lenten) Evening Prayer in the Liturgy of the Hours, a passage for us to meditate on, over and over, for this penitential season. From the 4th Chapter of the Letter of James:
   "Submit to G-d; resist the devil and he will take flight. Draw close to G-d, and He will draw close to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, you backsliders. Be humbled in the sight of the Lord and He will raise you on high."
   
   May G-d have mercy on our souls.

7. Patricia

   1 year ago

   While reading this article, the movie "The Village" starring Jim Caviziel, came to mind. Nice and clean and controlled and lifeless. Thank God for "His" plan, Our Blessed Mother and the Merciful Justice of God. America has a special role to play in the days ahead and that is why Satan is pulling out all of the weapons of hell to try to stop it. We know who wins, so, as one holy priest said, like the old amusement ride called "Laugh in the Dark", let's keep our hope and trust in the Light at the end of the tunned.

8. youngcatholic

   1 year ago

   Instead of a sobering message, Catholics need an activation message. Calling all Catholics to more frequent recourse to the sacraments! For their own sake (grace) and for the strength and courage needed to deal with this hostile regime. How about lay people organizing ways to defeat this administration in November? Urging people (Catholics and non-alike) to boycott the friends and associates of this administration would be a good start. Another good thing would be compiling a list of people among "swing states" who voted for Obama in 08 but will pledge to vote against him this Nov. So it's that simple: do nothing and be persecuted, or get organized, set and execute a plan for defeating this anti-religious freedom regime.

9. Ixthus

   1 year ago

   Some advice from a rock song from the early 1980's by the group Triumph called "Fight The Good Fight"
   
   The days grow shorter and the nights are getting long
   Feels like we're running out of time
   Every day it seems much harder tellin' right from wrong
   You got to read between the lines
   
   Don't get discouraged, don't be afraid, we can
   Make it through another day
   Make it worth the price we pay
   
   The Good Book says it's better to give than to receive
   I do my best to do my part
   Nothin' in my pockets I got nothin' up my sleeve
   I keep my magic in my heart
   
   Keep up your spirit, keep up your faith, baby
   I am counting on you
   You know what you've got to do
   
   CHORUS:
   Fight the good fight every moment
   Every minute every day
   Fight the good fight every moment
   It's your only way
   
   All your life you've been waiting for your chance
   Where you'll fit into the plan
   But you're the master of your own destiny
   So give and take the best that you can
   
   You think that a little more money can buy your soul some rest
   You better think something else instead
   You're so afraid of being honest with yourself
   You'd better take a look inside your head
   
   Nothing is easy, nothing good is free
   But I can tell you where to start
   Take a look inside your heart
   There's an answer in your heart
   
   Fight the good fight every moment
   Every minute every day
   Fight the good fight every moment
   Make it worth the price we pay

10. Adamantius

    1 year ago

    To the naysayers: Of course, none of this may come about, but Father has painted a reasonable picture of what *may* eventually occur based on the current trajectory in our society. Look at how so many in government are trying to erode our freedoms--not all at once, but subtly, bit by bit. Just look at the HHS mandate and how many people are standing behind the president. I've encountered countless people on the Internet who have no sympathy whatsoever for the church in this matter and could care less if Catholic schools and hospitals folded as a result. All it takes is for closed-minded ideologues to gain a majority in the three branches of government and they can impose their agenda with impunity. It seems to be only a matter of time before gay marriage is legitimized across the nation, and when that happens, the textbooks will have to be rewritten to reflect the new social norms. I can hear it now coming from the Department of Education: "For a school to be accredited, its curriculum must reflect sensitivity to contemporary social laws and customs, including the legal right for same sex or transgendered couples to marry and adopt children." And as Father pointed out, the persecution will be bloodless--but it will be just as real. Fail to comply and lose your accreditation or government grant or license to operate a facility. If history teaches us anything, it is that people can rationalize any action they want if it is in their interest.

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