National Catholic Prayer Breakfast - Uphold Religious Freedom; Enemies May Become Friends

4/22/2012

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there is a dictatorship but even where there is democracy.

He also applauded the bishops in the United States for their recent efforts in the area of religious freedom.

Sister Agnes Mary Donovan spoke last but not least. She began her talk with carefully chosen words, forcefully re-emphasizing the challenge that lay before us.

"We face a summons to action in response to a global and national reality which we are reluctant to perceive: Christians as the object of open persecution."

Just as forcefully she put our trial in context.

"A crisis such as the one," she remarked, "which the Catholic Church, Christians, and the faithful people of God of every religion, face at this moment in our nation can be a time for unprecedented growth and new life, if we respond with grace.

"In spite of the pain, confusion and difficulties, this moment - which is our moment - contains within it tremendous spiritual potential. This crisis is a summons."

She concluded by saying, "As inheritors of the Judeo-Christian faith, ours is the 'freedom story': A history of freedoms won and lost, both as a people and individually. It is the story of a people who exercised the freedom to live the great dignity of the human experience becoming who we are - and this same freedom shamelessly surrendered in weakness to the sirens that excite our passions, in fear to oppressors, and in faithlessness to the idols of the age.

"Freedom is given us by God that we may choose to love, and follow the way of transformation in Christ allowing ourselves to become a total self-gift to another. In the words of the Exultet, 'Awake, O sleeper,' for the crisis we face urgently demands that we exercise and grow in this precious freedom by loving others (in the words of Mother Teresa) 'until it hurts.'

".Seize that freedom! Avail yourselves of the sacrament which frees us from the bondage of sinfulness. Secure that freedom! Receive from the treasury of grace at Holy Mass, in times of personal prayer and in the praise and adoration of Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. Be a witness to the greatest freedom of all - women and men fully alive in the Lord capable of reflecting the glory of God."

Monsignor Jeffrey Steenson, the newly appointed Ordinary for the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter concluded the breakfast with some remarks and a benediction. The words he chose, which came from Book I of St. Augustine's "City of God" clearly put the call to action heard throughout the morning in context.

From Augustine's writings, part of what he quoted said, ".But let this city bear in mind, that among her enemies lie hidden those who are destined to be fellow citizens, that she may not think it a fruitless labor to bear what they inflict as enemies until they become confessors of the faith.

"These men you may today see thronging the churches with us, tomorrow crowding the theatres with the godless. But we have the less reason to despair of the reclamation even of such persons, if among our most declared enemies there are now some, unknown to themselves, who are destined to become our friends."

The message each attendee took away underscored the need to stand for religious liberty, both here and abroad. This is not a localized condition and Christians everywhere are in the crosshairs.

But as we stand, we cannot let hatred or enmity take root in our hearts. The spirit of the Gospel and the grace available to all - including our enemies - must be of paramount importance. Some of our enemies are destined to become our friends!

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Randy Sly is the Associate Editor of Catholic Online and the CEO/Associate Publisher for the Northern Virginia Local Edition of Catholic Online (http://virginia.catholic.org). He is a former Archbishop of the Charismatic Episcopal Church who laid aside that ministry to enter into the full communion of the Catholic Church.

- - -

Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

Keywords: National, Catholic, Prayer, Breakfast, Carl Anderson, Archbishop Chullikatt, Mother Agnes Mary Donovan, Religious Freedom, Religious Liberty

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1 - 5 of 5 Comments

Theresa H.
1 year ago
I agree with you John....I suspect it would be very difficult for the Bishops to "let go" of federal monies--but we see the eventual outcome of turning to the civil authorities! It seems to me that the real "bottom line" is the fact that any money (emphasize "any money") the government allocates to various "Causes" that (who) have petitioned for assistance--all (emphasize "all") comes from "we the people" to begin with.... So, why don't the Bishops forget the government, and go directly to "we the people." I would wager that the Bishops would get even more money directly from the people, especially if they explained the above to us and stopped going to the government for handouts! We also should be voting for a reduction in Government spending--else we'll continue to be taxed more and more--for the government to do more and more what they want with "our" money--whether we like it or not! Our Founding Fathers were correct in advocating "limited government." "Government" doesn't love people; "people" love people--via our Churches and other local community "causes" for the needy--where "we the people" can exercise "surveillance" over the allocation of money much better than in Washington!
John Mainhart
1 year ago
I have an honest suggestion for Bishop Lori and the other Bishops. I sincerely believe that Catholic Institutions should refuse to take any government money in return for our freedom to run our institutions the way we want to. It is obvious to me that the government never gives you money without requiring some restriction that violates our conscience. I believe that is why the early christians started organizations to serve the fellow christians that were outside the pervue of the Roman Goivernment. It did not save those christians from persecution but the Roman govt.was not democratic or a republic by the time our Savior began His ministry.
I think we would have many more sympathetic voters if we took the step I suggest.
Gloria St. Jacques
1 year ago
Robert what you just said is so.......true .I am with you 100%.You said it so well. I thank God for yoy. God bless you & all of us .who are with you.
Bob
1 year ago
Be careful! Obama is like a fox a reference to the sly King Herod. He is much slicker than Willy and is looking for Catholics and other Christians to be proted by the Occupiers to cause riots in the streets so he can declare martial law and bring relief at the expense of our liberties. Be praying and remain peaceful. We must trust in the Holy Spiriit to guide us!
Robert
1 year ago
It makes my heart jump to hear Catholic leadership in the United States speak up against the Obama administration.

I am tired of hearing the voices of rouge catholics with microphones such as Pelosi, Reed, Sebelius including rouge nuns, and personally I include Fr. Jenkins at Notre Dame etc..

I do not know what is in their heart and I myself will not/cannot cast the first stone.

This I do know:
It is exciting to hear the words of Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop Chaput, Bishop Jenky, and others. Kudos to parish priests who have the conviction and courage to speak up. I pray that more of our catholic leaders speak out to show us the true path. I pray they speak up and boldly proclaim the pathway to follow Jesus.

I am longing to be inspired with passionate sermons. I believe millions of Catholics are similar to me and long for that inspiration on Sunday mornings.

Catholics must involve themselves in political matters or accept the moral decay of our nation.

I want to look my daughter in the eye and say, " cherish you freedom, people sacrificed dearly for your freedoms," vs. " honey, I am sorry, I did not do enough when I could. You can no longer worship God in the public square, you cannot pray to Jesus outside the home, you must accept immoral behavior as moral behavior. There is no right or wrong anymore. I should have done more, but I was a coward. Our leaders should have done more but they could not find the strength. "

Please pray for this nation.

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