Pray for Our Country

Okay, I’ve been around a while, and during those many years have lived in the South, the Northeast, the Middle Atlantic, and the always strange West Coast. I’ve also traveled extensively throughout the world and schmoozed with the natives in many European and Asian nations. During most of those years, I found that much of the world admired, and sometimes even feared, the United States, if not always publicly, certainly privately. And it wasn’t just our industrial and military power that caused others to envy America. For many, particularly those who understood us best, their admiration centered on our long history of governmental stability. Ours has always been a nation that, despite changes in political leadership, has managed to demonstrate a strong and abiding faith in its constitutional foundation. Although many nations in the world are older than the United States, very few have governments that have survived as long as ours.

Sadly, given what’s happening in our nation today, I fear this stability might not last much longer. We have become a divided nation in which a growing, vocal, and very active gang of radical socialists hope to effect permanent change in our nation and its government. They are feared by those in the Democrat party who need their votes for reelection, and consequently the so-called moderates agree to further the bulk of the socialists’ radical legislative agenda. Much of the nation, certainly most of those who usually exercise their right to vote, are inherently conservative, in that they see no need to change a system of government that has served generations of Americans rather well. For almost 250 years, despite occasional stupidity, mistakes, and moral and ethical lapses, as a nation we have done remarkably well. 

But the times are changing, so much so I encourage all Americans, regardless of political party, to turn to our loving, forgiving God and plead that He will bless and protect our nation, its future, and its people. As Catholics we are not locked into any political party. We look not to the vagaries of political machinations, but turn instead to the Way, and the Truth, and the Life, and to the timeless teachings of the Church. In the spirit of this hope, I offer the following thoughts, asking all to join me as we pray:

For the forgotten. So many in our nation, and throughout the world, are simply overlooked by all levels of government and, yes, even by churches. These forgotten included the abject poor who must survive at society’s depths, those who suffer from generational poverty, mental illness, and addictions, those who are somehow forgotten by governmental and other programs. So often we turn to government, assuming only it can address the problems of those in greatest need. But government programs are inherently inefficient and plagued by bureaucracy and its many failings. As disciples of Jesus Christ, we must get our hands dirty and take a healing walk through our communities, providing the help, encouragement, and love that others need. And remember, Jesus healed the physically ill and cast out demons, but His primary focus was on the spiritual health of those He encountered. Pray for the conversion of the poor, the forgotten, those tossed aside by society. And pray for the wealthy, for the elites who actually believe they are better than the rest of us. Pray that they may learn the humility of the Son, who emptied Himself for our salvation. Oh, yes, and pray for yourself, that you will do God’s will in the tiny slice of creation In which He placed you.

For the Fragmented American Family. Far too many, including too many Christians and Catholics, have caved in to the evil of so-called same-sex marriage. Marriage is a sacramental reality, one given to us by God Himself, and as Sacred Scripture and 2,000 years of Church teaching remind us, marriage can exist only between a man and a woman. Divorce, too, is at a high, and perhaps even more disturbing, many couples are simply not getting married, preferring instead to live outside the marriage bond. Children, of course, suffer most from the dissolution of the family. Far too many couples have also accepted a contraceptive mentality, one that includes the travesty of abortion, simply for the convenience of their lives. Pray for the families of our nation, and pray especially that they will be accepting of God’s gift of life. And pray, too, for the unborn and for those who seek and perform abortions. Ask the Holy Spirit, the “Lord and giver of life,” to work within the hearts of our politicians, our judges, and our people.

For those who protect us. So many, today both man and women, willingly devote their lives to the defense of our communities and our nation. Many, far too many, are seriously injured or lose their lives in this selfless effort. Let us all remember that these are true American heroes, who along with their families suffer the physical, mental, and spiritual wounds that most Americans will never experience or even understand. As a nation, and as individuals, we owe these courageous men and women, especially our veteran warriors, our deepest thanks. 

For our Church. The Church throughout the world, but especially in our nation, is under attack, particularly by the political left. This, of course, is nothing new. The Catholic Church has been attacked by the Nazis or national socialists, and by the communists, the international socialists. Today, religious freedom, once considered the first of our freedoms, has been tossed aside by many politicians for whom ideology trumps all personal freedom. Pray that out nation holds fast to the God-given freedoms enshrined in our constitution, so that we may, as Catholic Christians, “make disciples or all nations.” 

Finally, the absence of faith is fear, so be not afraid! Keep the faith! The God who loves us, the God who gave His Son for our redemption, is in charge. He will bring all to completion. Our nation, like all nations, is nothing more than an ephemeral human society that will eventually fade away. But God remains and will be with us forever.

Multicultural Disaster

If you've got the stomach to read any of my politically oriented posts, you'll know that when it comes to politics and the things of the world, I'm a bit of a pessimist...perhaps more than a bit. I've actually come to believe that, as a nation, we have probably reached the point of no-return. By this I mean that the United States of America will never again be the beacon of freedom it once was. The statist elites are so deeply imbedded in all levels of our societal infrastructure, I see no way to exorcise them. And that's exactly what our society needs: an exorcism. Perhaps our loving God will take pity on us and change the hearts of a people who have strayed so far from their real home.

For generations those who suffered persecution, those whose religion, class, or ethnicity had trapped them in a continual cycle of poverty, looked to America as a nation where freedom reigned. In America they could start over and achieve a degree of success unattainable elsewhere. 

Not one of my grandparents was born in this country. Three were born in Ireland and one, also of Irish descent, was born in Canada. They came here seeking freedom, the freedom to work and succeed so they could feed and house their families, educate their children, and freely practice their faith. They didn't feel entitled because no entitlements existed. They took whatever jobs they could find, learned skills that were in demand, and worked hard. There was nothing unique about my grandparents; they were just like millions of others from around the world who came here to experience that same freedom. No longer were these immigrants simply Irish, or Italian, or Russian, or Greek, or British, or German. No longer did they define themselves solely by their class or religion. Now they were Americans! Now they were free men and women, no longer beholden to an upper class or a bureaucracy that lorded over them, but personally responsible for their own lives. I can recall my father, born in 1909, saying that he was most proud of his Irish forebears because "they had the guts to leave the blasted place and come to America!" Amen, Dad.

When they arrived here, they encountered hardships, and bigotry, and hatred. The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution didn't stop citizens from sinning. Here in the land of the free some men gave free reign to their baser instincts. Hanging on the wall of my home office is a sign made by the Boston Sign Company in 1915. It reads, "No Irish Need Apply," a not uncommon warning that often met my ancestors when they looked for work. Not very nice, but far better than the lynchings and other atrocities that far too many Black Americans suffered. But despite the rantings of the far-left ideologues of Black Lives Matter, we've come a long way...and for the good.

Today many immigrants come to this country for the same reasons that motivated my grandparents. Many still work hard at multiple, demanding jobs to provide for their families and to offer hope to their children and grandchildren. I see them every day here in central Florida. They came here from Mexico, Jamaica, Haiti, Brazil, or any of a hundred nations. They mow our lawns, pick up our trash, clean our swimming pools, cook our meals, paint our houses, and repave our roads. Many probably accept that they will work in these jobs for the rest of their lives, but see the future through the lives of their children who they hope will go on to be engineers or doctors or teachers or entrepreneurs. Some, already educated in their native countries, came here to escape the institutional oppression of socialist bureaucracies. Since moving to Florida I have been treated by doctors and PAs from Croatia, Russia, Pakistan, and India. I am continually amazed by those I meet, people who have come here from all over the world. Just last week, as on-call chaplains at our local hospital, Diane and I spent several hours visiting patients. On that single morning we met and prayed with patients from Egypt, Hungary, the U.K., Ireland, Brazil, and Colombia -- all here in search of a better life.

Most of today's immigrants will eventually assimilate just as my grandparents did. It may take an extra generation or two because of the multicultural mindset that governs many of our governmental agencies and turns the path to assimilation into an obstacle course. 

This multicultural mindset demands an assumption which I refuse to accept: the idea of cultural equality, that one culture is as good as the next. I disagree because I believe that our Western Civilization, the civilization that grew out of ancient Greek and Roman societies, was leavened by Mosaic Law fulfilled in Christianity, and reached its fullness in Europe and North America, is the greatest civilization our world has experienced. Of course it has its flaws -- many, many flaws. Original sin guarantees that. But even burdened by all its imperfections, Western Civilization far outshines any other. Multiculturalism denies this and would assume that sharia law is just as good, just as ennobling, just as supportive of human life as the Bill of Rights or the Ten Commandments or the Beatitudes. This I cannot accept. And the very fact that millions throughout the world sacrifice so much to come here, shows that most of them cannot accept it either.

But the real problem with multiculturalism is that in practice it simply doesn't work. Need evidence? Just look at the history of what was once Yugoslavia, a phony nation created by the same European elites that gave us World War One and its disastrous consequences. A patchwork of diverse ethnic, religious, and cultural groups, Yugoslavia was formed into a kingdom that experienced only chaos between the wars. After World War Two this "nation" was held together by the oppressive, totalitarian rule of Communist strongman Josip Broz (aka, Marshall Tito). When the dictator died in 1980 the crises erupted once again, resulting in years of inter-ethnic conflict that tore the country apart

Iraq is another patchwork nation, maintained for years by the tyrannical regime of Saddam Hussein and his Baath party. No doubt it will suffer a fate not unlike Yugoslavia and be undone by ethnic and religious strife, no thanks to us. I give it ten years maximum. Or look at the Catalonians who today threaten to create a new nation separate from a Spain whose culture they prefer not to share. And what was Brexit if not one culture's rejection of an attempt to create a multicultural superstate? Ironically, the U.K. may well face a similar rejection within its own borders should the Scots decide to go their own way. Yes, indeed, if a nation seeks to destroy itself, multiculturalism provides the perfect recipe.

Unfortunately, some of today's immigrants do not share our cultural values. Too many come here not for the freedom, but for the entitlements. They carry with them a set of cultural values foreign to, and often destructive of, the foundational values of Western Civilization. But the multicultural elites who welcome them actively discourage assimilation. No need to learn the language. No need to respect our laws if they conflict with your cultural values. No need to assimilate; stay together in your ethnic enclave where you can continue to celebrate and strengthen the culture from which you came.

Perhaps surprisingly, many Americans seem to understand that once the culture dissolves, the society it supports will collapse. Will we succeed in turning things around? Probably not. The opposing forces are likely too entrenched (again, my pessimism).

Western Civilization has had a pretty good run, but one gets the sense that it has aged, that its end is not too far off. I suppose it could end peacefully in the kind of societal hospice the Europeans seem to hope for; but most civilizations die with a bang and not a whimper. 

I hope I am wrong and we can rise up and reclaim our patrimony. But this won't happen unless we reclaim our faith, the "cult" that gives life to a culture. This will require some divine assistance, but "for God all things are possible" [Mt 19:26]. One thing we know for sure: if we seek perfection we'll have to wait for the Heavenly City.

Persecution of Christians: Some Links

After posting my earlier comments on the rise of chaos in the world, I thought my readers might find a few related articles of interest. Here are the links:

US Enables Christian Persecution

Islamist - Nazi Connection

Christianity Finished in Iraq

Pope Francis: Trust in God Overcomes Worldly Fears

...all are interesting and relevant reads.

And here's a world map showing the nations in which the persecution of Christians is greatest:

For more information go to: Open Doors

God's peace.