National Catholic Register

7/31/20: AOC Promotes Ignorance of Both History and the Will of the Hawaiian People by Attacking St. Damien

https://m.ncregister.com/daily-news/after-aoc-decries-statue-hawaiian-catholic-says-st-damien-gave-his-life-ser

NY congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez really stepped in it when she attacked St. Damien of Molokai on Instagram. She claimed the statue honoring him in the U.S. Capitol is part of colonialism and “patriarchy and white supremacist culture.”

In reality, St. Damien was a “hero” priest who spent the last 16 years of his life caring for lepers in the Hawaiian Kingdom. He answered the call and served the needy, eventually contracting the disease himself and dying from it.

“Any Hawaiian here who is aware of their history–which most Hawaiians are–would absolutely, Catholic or not, defend the legacy of Damien as a man who was embraced by the people, and who is a hero to us because of his love for the Hawaiian people…We did not judge him by the color of his skin. We judged him by the love that he had for our people.”

Dallas Carter, native Hawaiian and a catechist for the diocese of Honolulu, in an interview with CNA.

Backlash has been abundant.

Please pray for AOC, for justice and for God’s will to be done!

7/31/20: Will the Campaign to Wipe Out Iraqi Christians Succeed?

https://m.ncregister.com/daily-news/return-or-go-extinct-5-things-that-must-change-now-for-iraqs-christians

Out of the 102,000 Christians that called the Nineveh Plains home before ISIS’ invasion, there may be only 23,000 Christians by 2024, according to a report by ACN.

The report also details 5 key issues that must change for the Church to survive and thrive in Iraq.

  • Lack of security
  • Corruption
  • Freedom of religion
  • Economic opportunity
  • Belief in the future of the country.

Please pray for these things when remembering the Church in the Middle East, and for God’s will to be done!

7/31/20: Loyola U. buckles to Mob Despite Support/Encouragement from Catholic Peers.

https://m.ncregister.com/daily-news/loyola-university-maryland-renaming-dorm-that-honored-flannery-oconnor

https://www.ncregister.com/commentaries/who-was-flannery-o-connor-and-why-is-she-being-canceled

Catholic university Loyola said it plans to rename Flannery O’Connor dorm over accusations of racism. However, 80 authors and scholars signed a letter sent to the university president, urging him not to make the change and defending O’Connor, who is considered a potential future saint.

Please pray for justice and God’s will to be done!

7/30/20: Jesus Statue Desecrated in Poland

Jesus Monument Desecrated with LGBTQ Rainbow Flag & Anarchist Symbol Mask in Poland

https://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/warsaw-cardinal-decries-desecration-of-christ-statue-with-rainbow-flag

Activists desecrated a statue of Our Lord in Poland. The tools of desecration were rainbow flag and a symbol of anarchy. The flag was placed in Our Lord’s arms in an effort to replace the cross, and the anarchy bandana was draped across His face.

“The profanation of the figure of Christ in front of the Church of the Holy Cross in Krakowskie Przedmieście in Warsaw filled the parishioners and residents of the capital with pain,”

Fr. Kryspin Banko

The ironies, which unfortunately are probably lost on the vandals, is that the cross is the one thing that could cure all the ills that the vandal seeks to remove in life.

The anarchy symbol represents chaos, darkness and a loss of order. How telling of the mental state of the vandals that they chose to use it to cover the eyes of Christ, the world’s light and guide to truth, beauty and goodness.

Please pray for justice and God’s will to ultimately be done!

7/31/20: Concerns For Imprisoned, Missing Chinese Bishop.

https://m.ncregister.com/daily-news/congressional-hearing-highlights-case-of-missing-chinese-catholic-bishop-su

Chinese Catholic Bishop James Su Zhimin was arrested in China in 1997, and has been held by the government since. His family has not seen him since 2003!

“What have you done in secret to this extraordinary man of God? And why does a powerful dictatorship fear peaceful men and women of faith and virtue?”

– Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J.

Please pray for Bishop Su, for justice and God’s will to be done throughout Asia!

7/30/20: SCOTUS Decisions Will Negatively Impact Catholics.

https://m.ncregister.com/daily-news/supreme-court-session-in-review

Two recent judgements will hurt Catholics going forward.

According to some of his peers, Justice Neil Gorsuch gets “textualism” wrong by redefining sex to include sexual orientation and gender identity. This could very well lead to legal persecution for Catholics, Christians and churches not deemed LGBT-friendly enough.

In another mistake, SCOTUS declared unconstitutional a Louisiana law requiring doctors committing abortions to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals. Despite the fact that a nearly identical law is in effect in neighboring Texas, the court still failed women and children.

This means in LA, you don’t have to be a “real” doctor to kill children, or operate in safe facilities.

7/28/20: Christians Kidnapped/Murdered by Boko Haram Splinter Group

https://m.ncregister.com/daily-news/christian-aid-workers-executed-in-nigeria-beyond-reprehensible

Archbishop: Mass burials common as Nigerians face daily violence

Three of five people kidnapped and murdered in an online video were known Christian aid workers, said the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom.

Members of the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) are responsible for the atrocities. The ISWAP is a breakaway group of Boko Haram, another Islamic extremist terrorist outfit.

Please pray for the repose of the victims’ souls, justice and the will of God to be done!