Catholics and Apostacy

I do not watch 'secular television' most especially the news. My television is set on EWTN 24/7 where I constantly hear the truth being proclaimed. The network news especially is controlled and scripted and the newscasters are hair-sprayed, overly made up actors following a script that if not their own even a little is approved for presentation. I have neighbors who are glued to Bill O'Reilly, Chris Matthews and others like they had just descended Mount Tabor with the news.

Friday nights, EWTN broadcasts The World Over. Here at least (since there are no sponsors), I can garner the real news and especially the truth as to what is happening within the world and the Church too. It is not polished up nor jaded - it is just the news. Raymond Arroyo, EWTN's news director presents the news plain and simple and occasionally has on experts in the fields under discussion - the latest being the Catholic College scandals of having openly pro-abortion politicians as commencement speakers.

Not too long ago, EWTN moved its news department from Irondale, Alabama where the network is headquartered, to Washington, DC. Mr. Arroyo is noted for his excellent guests and private interviews. Among his credits are the first private interview with now Pope Benedict XVI, Judge Clarence Thomas, and our former President (do I wish he was back) George Bush. The news center is located in the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center so being in Washington affords Mr. Arroyo the opportunities of meeting with the same people the secular newscasters and reporters do, the difference being, Mr. Arroyo will present the truth without icing.

Last evening, April 24th, a guest Theologian was on (as were other guests) - Father Robert Sirico, President of The Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty. The discussion concerned the scandals at Notre Dame over its President, Father Jenkins, inviting our current President who is the most pro-abortion president in history to be the commencement speaker, wear the Doctoral robe of Notre Dame bearing Our Lady, and receiving an honorary Doctorate. The protests are still pouring in - alumni ripping up their diplomas and mailing them back to the college, people returning memorabilia, slumni and others cutting off their donations and so on. Sadly, there is a number of faculty and student who are happy about the President coming but this speaks to the state of the college for some time. Father mentioned that a friend of his had sent his son to Notre Dame believing he would get a fine Catholic education. The son graduated and came home an atheist. He is but one.

Georgetown University covered up references to Jesus (IHS) and put flags in front of it. "If you deny Me before men, I will deny you before My Father Who is in Heaven." Ring a bell? The list goes on and seems to be growing...Xavier College, Saint Joseph's in Philadelphia and who knows where's next?

There's a serious point to be made here and Father made it in his remarks and I fully agree with him. He said there are two Catholic churches in the US. There's the one under Our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI and which is totally loyal to Church teachings as Christ intended when He handed Peter the Keys to the Kingdom. The other 'Catholic Church" is the one whose members (clergy included) who do their own thing, interpret their own meanings into papal documents (if they read them at all), celebrate abominable liturgies (like Holy Redeemer's Gay Catholic Church in California under Cardinal Mahoney's watch (he knows it too) and a church which is replete with new age Bishops, Priests, Nuns and others who promulgate all that is new age including Reiki, promote same-sex marriage and abortion, stem cell research and other ilk.

Now, Jesus had much to say about those who follow Him, not the least of which concerned those who were lukewarm. Jesus clearly told us to be hot or cold but not lukewarm for if we were, He would vomit us out of His mouth. There is great apostacy in our beloved Church and it is growing. For the faithful Catholic who stands up against these new age people, it can be a rough road especially if these new agers are the Bishops, Priests and religious. Do not assume that because someone is a cleric or prelate or in some position of Catholic authority that he or she is faithful to Christ and the Magisterium. Make no assumptions concerning your faith especially is something feels or smells bad. Get a Catechism of the Catholic Church and read it for the truth.

Now one final warning...Saint Paul admonishes us to "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." We have a conscience and we are responsible for feeding that conscience. If we knowingly participate in a parish or school/college which teaches against the Pope and Magisterium, that is our fault and we will be held accountable. Remember, at our particular judgment at the moment of death, it is we ALONE who will stand before Our Lord and give an accounting of our lives. It will do no good to offer excuses such as Father so and so told me; Sister so and so said...You and I are responsible for our own soul and while others especially those in positions of ecclesiastical authority guide us in the wrong directon, we need to go to someone else. The Catechism is thee book for Catholics and everyone should have one, at least one in every family. Of all the money we spend on junk, dinners out, movies and so one, the cost of one dinner out or less could buy you a Catechism. You don't need a fancy hardback one; many stores like Walmart, K-Mart or others have the paperback editions. A Bible and a Catechism are an excellent start towards mapping our life's journey. They are the GPS for the Catholic home.

When I came back to the Catholic Church, I thought I could simply find a church parish where I could worship and receive the Sacraments. There's one right next door to where I live so I went there. Never again. I tried five times and actually became physically ill everytime I entered. I should have know something was amiss. After 'Confession' there, I knew immediately what it was. I church-shopped for over a year and then one day, Our Lord, Our Lady, her Spouse the Holy Spirit, Saint Michael and my Guardian Angel led me to the most wonderful parish and pastor I could have hoped for. But it was a tough ride for a while as I rode actually to other states simply looking for a confessor who was orthodox. I think maybe God wanted to see how determined I was to find a true Catholic Church, Priest-Confessor/Spiritual Advisor and a home. Alleluia, He gave it all to me. By the way, our Priest wears a cassock, loves Our Lady, and before unpacking upon arrival at the parish, moved the Most Blessed Sacrament to the Main Altar in the tabernacle - His rightful place in His own house. That one act alone spoke volumes to me about the Pastor. We have one of the most awesome Permanent Deacons I have ever seen and heard. As a class, I have not been too impressed with the ones I met in the other parishes I visited. This man is a man of God and I thank the Lord we have him.

So if your faith journey is rough and you are confused, anxious or evens afraid in these times of ours when everything seems upside down, anchor yourself on Our Lord in the Mass and Holy Communion, go to Confession often, make visits to the Blessed Sacrament when you are able, say the Rosary (Our Lady loves it), say the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy at 3PM if you can but anytime will do and it doesn't have to be only once a day...I pray several throughout the day and at night too. Learn the Chaplet to Our Lady of Sorrows and say it to compassionate her for her many sorrows. Pray the Saint Michael the Archangel prayer - the one that used to be said after every Mass before Vatican II. Get statues and holy water, blessed salt and scapulars, extra rosaries and statues and holy pictures.

Bless yourself often and especially your children and home/apartment. Remain uncompromisingly loyal to Our Holy Father and develop a boldness (being careful not to be obnoxious) about your Catholic faith and never ever apologize for the Gospel. We have many enemies in the world, enemies seen and unseen and we the Church are under attack, make no mistake about it. But in the end, if we remain loyal to Christ, He promises a better life in a better place. Remember, we are spiritual beings on an earthly journey and in a short while, we will all eventually discard these things we call our body and the real you and me will emerge - free in Christ Jesus, washed in His Most Precious Blood and thereby found acceptable by the Father Who is in Heaven awaiting our return to Him.

Go forth with encouragement my friends and be not afraid. While it looks and probably is dark in our country and our world, Jesus is our Light while here and afterwards, we will at a time appointed to each of us by Him, follow that Light into eternal light forever. There's simply nothing here to match or even come close to that promise. Don't give it up for anything.