Acknowledging Christ

I put a brief note about a proposed amendment to our state constitution in the bulletin recently. The proposed amendment (#3) seeks to make it legal to murder babies in the womb for any reason the mother may want. Yes, I am being direct; just as direct as I was in bulletin note. I just presumed (oh my!) that it was my duty as parish priest to inform my parishioners that this amendment is wicked. Not everyone agrees.

A visitor to St. George (who will remain nameless) said to me recently, "I really liked what you put in the bulletin about the proposed amendment. I wish my priest would be willing to say the same thing." We are not speaking of an issue that Catholics are allowed to disagree about, but about abortion--the taking of innocent life. There is only one Catholic position on this issue and it is perfectly clear. The denial of Christ and His truth is something that terrifies me. It is often a motivator in the decisions I make in life, and I thank God that He has granted me to feel this conviction.

I do not want to speak against my fellow priests; they are my brothers in Christ and I do not know why they choose the decisions they make--that is totally between God and them. I do, however, need to say that any priest who is unwilling to speak openly about the truth (and is also unwilling to endure persecution for the sake of our Lord), needs to consider--right now--that Jesus told him: "whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 10:33). He should also expect to hear those words on Judgment Day: "I never knew you; depart from me, you evildoers" (Matthew 7:23).