Easter arrived late this year especially when you consider how it was on March 31st last year. I often wonder how many of the American faithful understand that every year it is the lunar cycle that determines Easter’s date.
Easter is not just another benevolent Sunday, rather it is the holy remembrance of the salvific victory Jesus Christ had over death and is the defining moment in human history.
The preceding sentence is sure to work up some readers.
Provided it does, just move on – it’s that simple.
After all, that is what the op/ed page is for. Differences in opinions and facts should lead to discussion and debate, not enmity and censorship. America needs more Jefferson and Paine and less Marx and Mussolini.
This column was absent from some publications last week because it exposed how Planned Parenthood is the nation’s largest abortion mill outside of Communist China and funded by your tax dollars. This publication was not one of them and they are a credit to the journalistic creed.
The naysayers’ argument was Planned Parenthood provides healthcare for women. Aborting nearly 400,000 babies yearly isn’t healthcare: it’s murder. Science and Scripture both affirm that life begins at conception. Abortion intentionally ends human life, which is made in the image of God making abortion humanity’s scourge upon itself.
Moreover, plenty of news’ outlets rarely, if ever, acknowledge the carnage that so many Christians face daily – worldwide. Within the last month, hundreds have been murdered, raped, and tortured in Syria alone.
Ironically, those facing the greatest persecution are the most devout Christians and rarely are they in the United States. That is not to say persecution doesn’t exist in America because it certainly does.
The FBI has targeted and infiltrated the churches of traditional Catholics, which the feds regarded as potential violent extremists. Since 2020, at least 372 attacks have occurred against American Catholic churches. According to the Family Research Council, “acts of hostility” against all churches doubled from 2022 to 2023. Dating to 2018, the violence increased eight-fold.
In Africa, the Middle East, China, North Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Venezuela, and Cuba persecution is bloody murderous and business as usual. In Nigeria, nearly 5,000 Christians are murdered, yearly. The body counts worldwide are attributed to Islamism and communistic atheism that seek to deliver Christianity to history’s ash heap.
Unlike Christians in other parts of the world, those living in the West for the most part, have not had to endure nearly as much but they are increasing. Some persecution is backhanded like when Sen. Dianne Feinstein infamously told Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett that “the dogma lives loudly within you.” While others are violently unprovoked. When Roe v. Wade was overturned, the left attacked Catholic churches.
The 20th century had the most Christian martyrs than all the other centuries combined making the faith the most persecuted religion on planet earth. Estimates say 300 million Christians worldwide are under constant threat including the once “Christian West.”
It was nearly a decade ago in France, once known as the eldest daughter of the Church that Father Jacques Hamel was beheaded, and three worshipers had their throats slashed during Mass. Christians around the world face this reality every single day, enduring hostility, imprisonment, and even death.
International institutions are of little help. However, one pontifical organization established in 1947 stands alone. Aid to the Church in Need USA provides humanitarian support to persecuted Christians the world over and has been most effective. They support over 5,000 projects annually in 149 countries rebuilding churches, aiding refugees, and sponsoring Catholic media.
In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus warned persecution would come. Likewise, in his final letter to his acolyte Timothy, St. Paul was blunt: “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”
Most American Christians are apathetic, and their silence is tacit approval to the prevailing culture. Many preach about tolerance and religious liberty especially those in the news’ media but few work toward its reality.
Persecuted Christians risk everything for their faith – daily.
Today’s frontline is not some venue a world away but your own front door.
Until Christians accept these things it will only get worse.
