By Judie Brown
In a world fraught with strife, we must remember and always keep in mind the encouraging words of Pope Benedict XVI. With these words, he inspired Catholics to be fearless in their faith: “Let us call on the Virgin Mary, model of total entrustment to God, so that amidst the plethora of anxieties, problems and difficulties which churn up the sea of our life, may our hearts resonate with the reassuring words of Jesus who also says to us ‘Take heart, it is I; have no fear!’; and may our faith in him grow.”
Though it’s not always easy, many Catholic bishops exemplify this fearlessness by word and by action each and every day of their lives. They live the truth taught by Christ Himself and serve as role models for those of us who often fall short. These bishops demonstrate that there is, indeed, hope for a future filled with the truth of Christ and His will for each of us. There are so many heroic Catholic bishops who speak the truth publicly that it would take thousands of words to share every one of their wise statements. But hopefully the following examples will not only inspire you, but will motivate you to shake any fear you may feel when the sea of your life is churning.
We begin with Cardinal Raymond Burke, who recently stated that in our current era of false teachers “the faithful are not free to follow theological opinions which contradict the doctrine contained in the Holy Scriptures and Sacred Tradition, and confirmed by the ordinary Magisterium, even if these opinions are finding a wide hearing in the Church and are not being corrected by the Church’s pastors as the pastors are obliged to do.” Archbishop Charles Chaput underscored this point, saying:
We’re in a struggle for souls. Our adversary is the devil. And while Satan is not God’s equal and doomed to final defeat, he can do bitter harm in human affairs. The first Christians knew this. We find their awareness written on nearly every page of the New Testament.
The modern world makes it hard to believe in the devil. But it treats Jesus Christ the same way. And that’s the point.
Yes, that is the point. Our world has forgotten Christ. It has forgotten mercy, love, and morality, and has replaced these things with hedonism. This is why we desperately need Catholic bishops who will stand in this gap and preach the truth no matter what the culture tells us.
Recently Bishop Robert McManus of Worcester, Massachusetts, spoke of the importance of marriage between one man and one woman. On the subject of same-sex marriage, he stated: “Marriage, as a natural institution, predates both religion and government and is grounded in the nature of the human person. . . . That nature, along with history, common sense and God’s wise design all confirm that the difference between a man and a woman does matter, as is witnessed by the potential to bring new life into the world through their love for one another.”
Rhode Island bishop Thomas Tobin has consistently defended respect for the dignity of the human person. On the subject of pro-death politicians, he took to Facebook to make his case:
Don’t be fooled by those who say they “aren’t pro-abortion, but are just pro-choice.” It’s a smoke screen for what they really believe, but are afraid to admit. After all, what kind of choice are they promoting? They’re not talking about choosing a favorite ice cream flavor, are they? And it’s not about so-called “reproductive freedom or women’s health care” either. Clearly, politicians who support abortion are encouraging a choice that ends the life of an innocent human being and ultimately harms the mother, personally and spiritually!
Let the words of these courageous men inspire you to action. There are several things YOU could do in response to their clear teachings. Vow to learn more so that you can follow their example in your families, in the schools your children attend, in the workplace, and everywhere where you have occasion to share the beauty of Catholic teaching.
Pray in thanksgiving for each of these heroic bishops and for so many others not mentioned here today.
And finally, write letters or e-mails or post gratitude on social media letting these bishops know you appreciate them and strive to learn from their examples.
Thank you, Catholic bishops, for your leadership and for your faith. Like you, we vow to have no fear, for we know the eternal love of Christ and that He will always be near.
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Join American Life League as we work to cure this toxic pathology by teaching the truth with our Culture of Life Studies Program, by showing others how to live it with our Life Defenders program, and by arming others for battle with our Stop Planned Parenthood International program.
image: JEFFREY BRUNO/ALETEIA Image Department