Practicing Catholicism a hate crime?

In Canada, quite possibly so, according to this article by Peter Vere.  Mr. Vere also warns us in the U.S. not to be complacent with our religious freedoms.  (HT for article:  Fr. Philip Powell, OP)

Gosh.  To think that Catholics and other Christians could suffer persecutions in my part of the world and during my lifetime is appalling… stunning… and yet not terribly surprising!  After all, I know firsthand just how much, how irrationally, and how venomously people can hate the Church and her people–I did it for quite a while.  There were times when I daydreamed of Catholicism being essentially outlawed.  I said, “Bring on the persecutions!”  So, ever since I rejoined the Church a little over 3 years ago, I’ve suspected that persecutions might indeed be brought on in the not-so-distant future. 

Naturally, that gave me some pause:  Do I really want to want to rejoin this Church?  Do I really want to identify myself as a Catholic?  Do I really want to live with the possibility, no matter how slim, of facing persecution someday?  It was a very serious decision for me.  You see, I had decided that if I was going to rejoin the Church and become a Catholic again, I was going to do it all the way, and to the end.  It was almost like deciding to get married.  There was not going to be any easy out.  I was never going to abandon my commitment.  I was going to be in it through thick and thin, better or worse, life or death.

Obviously, I decided to go ahead with it.  Because it’s just worth it.  I couldn’t imagine giving up so much out of a silly fear.  And I have never looked back.  My life would hardly be worth living if I didn’t have my Lord and my Church and my faith.  I’m not even afraid any more.  No matter what kind of hardship anybody might force on me, I will always know that my Lord and King has already borne the brunt of it for me.  To follow in His footsteps, in ways great or small, is nothing but a privilege unto me, and glory unto Him.  So, whatever anybody might try to gain from persecuting me would be only illusory–in reality, they would only be glorifying my Lord!  They might as well prostrate themselves before His feet! 

So, by one of those funny “coincidences” of life, I feel like saying once again: “Bring on the persecutions!” 

First Friday v. Abortion

Together with other local bloggers, I have taken to dedicating First Fridays to praying and fasting for an end to Roe v. Wade and abortion in general. 

I went to adoration and knelt before the Lord.  I gazed at Him, and He gazed at me, and many things flowed between us, some of which I know I don’t fully comprehend.  But one thing I did understand is that we, each and every one of us, belong to Him.  We are entrusted to human parents, but we are His first.  Abortion kills His children, by His children.  And so, the little ones in their mothers’ wombs are killed physically, but everyone involved in the action–the mothers, the doctors and nurses, the staff, anybody who assisted in procuring the abortion, anybody who in any way supports the provision of abortion–is killed spiritually (though many of the mothers also are killed physically).  They are killed spiritually, because by their actions, they are cutting themselves off from the Source of all Life. 

As I prayed the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary, I understood why He agonized and suffered and bled and died… He did it so that we might be whole and healed and have life.  He did it so that we might be spared such torment and humiliation and death.  And yet in our country, we violate and destroy even the most vulnerable lives, literally tearing them to pieces.  Not only that, but we do so with a sickening abandon, with the support of federal law and of many public leaders and citizens–often ordinary people who seem otherwise perfectly decent.  But these are the people who crowned our Lord and King with thorns, mocked Him, spat on Him, rained blows upon Him–Him and His rule and His laws.  But even that’s not enough.  Even the blood of our King isn’t enough–they allow the blood of His littlest children to run along with His, in great torrents every day in the United States, this nation built upon human rights and human dignity.  Today, in many ways, it would be more suited to the likes of Nero and Caligula.

If that sounds like a harsh indictment of this country… well, that’s exactly how I intend it.  Not because I hate this country or my countrymen, but because I dread God’s perfect justice upon men and nations.  I long for that justice… but I also dread it.  Our Lord knows, and understands that.  He Himself would far rather grant mercy than justice, and He demands the same of us.  And so, we must do what we can to fight the horrible scourge of abortion… but we must also be patient, merciful, and forebearing.  I often find it a very difficult, confusing, frustrating line to walk–a narrow path indeed!  It is hard to remain patient, merciful, and forebearing in the face of such outrageous evil!  But I know that the Lord has everything under control… He sees everything, He knows everything, He understands everything.  His wisdom and His timing, like everything about Him, are perfect.

And so, for me, praying and fasting and entrusting matters to Him (EDIT: Oh, and let’s not forget blogging!) seem like the surest way to make things right.  I am open to being more active in the movement against abortion, and I have been trying to discern, with God’s guidance, how I might do that.  On the other hand, self-knowledge has also taught me that where I am concerned… sometimes, less is more.