ZEBULON, NC (Catholic Online) - There's a little garden beside my front walkway dedicated to St. Joseph.   Matthew's memorial rose bush blooms within it as well as the Hostas and Day Lilies that were transplanted from other places on our property.  In the beginning, our statue of the foster father of Jesus stood prominently among a balance of lively greenery and rich, brown dirt.  Not the typical red clay of North Carolina, but soil that offered the promise of nutrients and growth.   Probably a month or more ago, clover sprang up in random patches around the resident plant life.  

There's a little garden beside my front walkway dedicated to St. Joseph.   Matthew's rose bush blooms within it as well as the Hostas and Day Lilies that were transplanted from other places on our property.  In the beginning, our statue of the foster father of Jesus stood prominently among a balance of lively greenery and rich, brown dirt.  Not the typical red clay of North Carolina, but soil that offered the promise of nutrients and growth.  

Probably a month or more ago, clover sprang up in random patches around the resident plant life.  

I considered briefly that the clover, a weed, was intruding in this garden, but then it reminded me of shamrock with its heart-shaped leaves and emerald green color, so I let it remain.   The clover, itself, is really quite small and unobtrusive, so why not allow it to blend in with the pattern, was my reasoning.  Life got busier throughout the weeks, postponing my good intentions to accomplish some yard work and so the invasion of weeds persisted.  That is how it works.  

Today there is scarcely a square foot of brown soil to be seen as weeds of all varieties have laid their roots and spread their leaves across my humble, welcoming garden.   The balance and the beauty seem lost to the eye now and, of course, it only stands to get worse. 

In Saturday's box on the calendar, I've scribbled a reminder to myself that weeding must be done; however, a real plan of action is necessary if it is my serious intention to regain control of this modest patch of earth.   I could rise early and set to the task of pulling up weeds one by one.   Surely, by the time the day's heat becomes unbearable, I will be able to wipe my brow and step back to admire the return of balance.  

Perhaps, pride might be entertained a bit too considering the sacrifice of time  that will be required to prune around the shrine.  

The pride, though, would be short-lived because everyone knows the cleverness of weeds which are sure to re-stake their claim in due time.   Perhaps, an ample dousing of poison is in line, but then there is a risk to all that lies in close proximity.   Truly, those roots, hidden beneath the surface, must be unveiled in their entirety.   The right plan includes uprooting, tilling, sifting, laying down a protective barrier and then recovering.   I know what it's going to take, but I have to decide whether or not the desired result is worth the cost of the required sacrifice.

The dilemma in my welcome path garden offers a simple picture of a critical problem facing us in this state, this nation, this world today.  The culture of death has come into nearly full bloom.   Its broad leaves of abortion, euthanasia, divorce, cohabitation, addiction, pornography, promiscuity, prostitution and infidelity have taken over our civilization like kudzu.   Here in the United States, possibly the last bastion of hope for Christians, we are under attack from our own government which seeks to sow more laws that would eradicate what's left of our religious liberties.  

Ah yes, the problem is as evident and well-defined as the creeping crab grass.  

We, patriots and Christians, see the enemy and we are taking a stand against this injustice which is being perpetrated under the title of the HHS mandate.   We will not sit idly by as this latest attempt to strip away our freedom reaches into our churches, our Catholic hospitals, and our pockets.   We'll march, we'll rally, we'll donate time and money, we'll debate, we'll evangelize and we'll pray- all noble and necessary tasks, but a bit like my less painful plan to pull the weeds one by one and then step back in temporary triumph.

Before we can mount a sincere attack, the question needs to be asked, "From what root did these broad leaves of death spring?"  Taking a long, honest look you'll find that these are the fruits of contraception and the contraceptive mentality, the thinking that by utilizing a moral means one can legitimately justify the same ends.  

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