The Catholic Defender: Catholics Hold Fast

Christmas Day was full of great joy and peace for many people, my own family had a great Christmas celebration.

However, there are those who seek to carry on more attacks against the Catholic Faith.

The Catholic Church will always be the brunt of attacks by every conceivable enemy. 

For many this is a great sign that the Catholic Church is the true Church of Christ.

It will be hated around the world because they first hated the founder of the Church, Jesus Christ.

In Dallas, there is a Protestant Church that took the attack at a different level this year.

Here is an example coming from Facebook:

"The Gospel to Catholics
On Christmas Eve nine members of Grace Life Church of Dallas went to St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church in Plano to share the good news of Jesus Christ. The evangelism went well as our sovereign Lord directed us into several lengthy conversations. We witnessed from 4:45 until 6:15. One of our members preached the Gospel while Catholics were leaving the sacrifice of the Eucharist. The head priest came out, shook my wife's hand and asked her to leave. Jane tried to show him that we were giving away the Greatest News anyone could ever hear about the Greatest Gift they could ever receive according to Scripture alone. He said, I’ve seen it. Please stop. She said, Oh good, you already have one of our Gospel tracts, so you’ll read it? He turned and walked away. I went inside to talk to the assistant priest. After 15 minutes he was unable to reconcile God’s Word with his Catholic traditions so he asked me to call him next week for a meeting.

One man took a tract from me and asked "What are you doing here proselytizing members of our church?” I told him I was an ambassador of Jesus Christ delivering His true message of salvation. He said he was a Protestant who turned Catholic because of the early church fathers. I gave him a tract and asked him to call next week to get together for coffee. One guy wanted to know why we were doing this to people who already believe in Jesus. We told him the "Jesus" Catholics worship is another Christ and then spent 15 minutes explaining the differences. All in all, it was a successful outing with several challenging conversations. May God bring forth eternal life from the seeds of HIs imperishable word that were sown in many hearts."

Here are some of the comments made by supporters:

Donna Ron Hessler Dear Mike Gendron I have RC family members, thank you! I went out with a friend on Christmas Eve & shared your tracts with many!

 

Leslie Sneddon Praise the Lord! Thank you faithful servants for your witness to the Lord of Heaven and earth. May the Truth of Christ prevail. RC's leave your religion and come to Jesus!

 

Ahava Araya Mike, That is really courageous of that assistant priest! ...........Not to mention you and your wife. He sounds like he might be ready to hear the real Gospel. Wow!

Tami Lohman What a blessing to those folks even if they may not yet realize it! Keep up the good fight Mike & Jane! God bless you! :)

Mike Gendron It seems every Catholic who responds on this page defends their position with the ongoing lie that Jesus founded the Roman Catholic Church. According to Scripture, He founded one church made up of born-again Christians whose names are written in heaven (Luke 10:20, Eph. 4:5, Heb. 12:23). The Roman Catholic Church officially and dogmatically went apostate at the Council of Trent and now condemns born-again Christians with its "infallible" dogmas.

What Mike Gendron does not share here is how quiet they became after Catholics like Paul Mathers, Craig Pryor, John J. Breslin and others  who quickly responded to this unprovoked attack.  

It was like the Protestants quickly left the building.

Interestingly, about the same time that Grace Life Church in Dallas was making their attack on Catholics, another attack was taking place a half a world away.  A young woman went running up through the crowd and jumped on the Altar of the Lord.

She had taken off her clothes and on her chest she had wrote in English that "I Am God".  She was quickly taken away, but her intent was to bring confusion and disruption.  Grace Life Church and this Feminist group interestingly joined together in spreading misleading information and cast attacks on the people of God.  They were not spreading Christmas cheer or good will but to go on a rant.

That is not the end of it but the beginning.  On Christmas Eve in the Middle East, several Catholic Churches were attacked and several parishioners were killed.

I spent a lot of time in Iraq (Middle East) and among the people.  How tragic this is to see this taking place throughout the Middle East. 

I served in the Republic of Korea beginning January 1998 and I chose the song "Be Not Afraid" as my anthem while I was deployed.  That song has always meant a great deal to me in times of stress and danger.

Here are the words to the song:

1.
You shall cross the barren desert, but you shall not die of thirst. You shall wander far in safety though you do not know the way. You shall speak your words in foreign lands and all will understand. You shall see the face of God and live.
R.
Be not afraid.
I go before you always.
Come follow me, and
I will give you rest.

2.
If you pass through raging waters in the sea, you shall not drown.
If you walk amid the burning flames, you shall not be harmed.
If you stand before the pow'r of hell and death is at your side, know that I am with you through it all.

3.
Blessed are your poor, for the kingdom shall be theirs.
Blest are you that weep and mourn, for one day you shall laugh.
And if wicked men insult and hate you all because of me, blessed, blessed are you!

 What a beautiful song that inspires us to hold fast to the teaching of Christ as we bear his image to the world.  Jesus said, "If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you." (John 15:18).

St, Jude wrote,  "Beloved, although I was making every effort to write to you about our common salvation, I now feel a need to write to encourage you to contend for the faith that was once for all handed down to the holy ones". 

There is something that the bible states that ties the Grace Life Church, the radical Feminist, and the Muslim Terrorist together.  John 16:2 states, They shall put you out of the synagogues; but the hour is coming that every one who kills you will think to render service to God."

The vast majority of those who attack the Church will refuse to debate us on Blog Talk Radio to answer for their tracts and misrepresentations.  If they would debate they would be made responsible for their statements.




                    

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*BEST OF DTB #240* The Catholic Defender: Christmas Timeline

The Promise:

Genesis 3:15, "I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; He will strike at your head, while you strike at his heal."

1250 B.C., Deuteronomy 18:15, "A prophet like me will the Lord, your God, raise up for you among your own kinsmen; to him shall you listen."

742 B.C., Isaiah 7:14, "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you this sign: the Virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel."

742 B.C., Micah (Contemporary of Isaiah) 5:2, "But you, Bethlehem-Ephrathah, too small to be among the clans of Judah, From you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel; Whose origin is from old, from ancient times."

538 B.C., Daniel 9:24, "Seventy weeks are decreed for your people and for your holy city: Then transgression will stop and sin will end, guilt will be expiated, Everlasting justice will be introduced, vision and prophecy ratified, and a most holy will be anointed.

The Preparation:

9th of Av 586 B.C. (Tish'a B' Av) The destruction of the Temple (2 Kgs 24:18-25). This broke cycle of the priestly duties which would resume in 538 when the Hebrews returned from exile. This would set the stage for an important event. Zechariah of the priestly division of Abijah, was conducting his duties about October 2nd-9th, Yom Kippur (Luke 1:10). The prophecy of John the Baptist through an Angel of the Lord.

63 B.C. Pompey abominations spoken of by the Jewish Historian, Josephus said it was 27 years from this date to when Herod captures Jerusalem.

36 B.C. a Sabbatical year, During the Jewish High Festival, Yom Kippur, Jerusalem fell to Herod whose reign begins on the first of Nissan, 35 B.C. This is important because Herods death takes place soon after an eclipse on Jan 10, 1 B.C. (King Herod would be the ruling authority in Judea-a puppet of Rome, at the time of Christs birth, December 25, 2 B.C.)

October 3 B.C. The Day of Atonement-Yom Kippur, the busiest Temple day of the Temple year (Luke 1:10) sometime late March early April. The Angel of the Lord appeared to Zachariah and announced the coming of John the Baptist.

September 3 B.C. The planet Jupiter was in conjunction with Regulus, the brightest star in the constellation of Leo-Leo the Lion. This would be the star the wise men would follow leading them to Bethlehem. They followed the star for about 16 months until the Star rested over Bethlehem for six days beginning on Dec 25, 2 B.C.

February 2 B.C. Caesar Augustus received the title "Pater Patriae on Feb 2 B.C. calling for his presence in Rome beginning early fall of 3 B.C. Quirinius, the Governor of Syria (Luke 2:2), acted as Governor of Palestine through 2 B.C. This is important because of the decree for the whole world to be enrolled which is what leads Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem. This fulfills Micah 5:2.

March-April 2 B.C. "In the sixth month (since the announcement of John the Baptist-October 2 B.C.), the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, "Hail Full of Grace, the Lord is with you. But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom there will be no end."
(Luke 1:26-22)

March-April 2:B.C. Mary hastens to visit Elizabeth who was in her sixth month of pregnancy.

June (25) 2 B.C. Birth of St. John the Baptist.

The Christmas Story

December 25 2 B.C. The Birth of Jesus "For a child is born to us, a son is given us; upon his shoulder dominion rests. They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-forever, Prince of Peace. His dominion is vast and forever peaceful, From David's throne, and over his kingdom, which he confirms and sustains by judgment and justice, both now and forever." (Isaiah 9:5-6).

"Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." (Matthew 1:18-21)

"In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was Governor of Syria. So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town. And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn."
(Luke 2:1-7)

December 25, 2 B.C. The angels announcement of the good news and the visitation of the Shepherds.

December 31, 2 B.C. The Visitation of the Wise men following the Star of Bethlehem and the vision of the angels to travel another route from King Herod.

December 31, 2 B.C. St. Joseph receives the vision to flee with Mary and Jesus from King Herod's massacre of the Holy Infants trying to kill the Christ Child.

The Presentation

January 1, 1 B.C. In Jerusalem, about 5 miles away from Bethlehem, Jesus is brought to the Temple for Circumcision in accordance to the Law of Moses. Then continues to Nazareth where St. Joseph leads the Holy Family to Egypt until the death of King Herod and the end of the danger.

January 10, 1 B.C. The Eclipse spoken of by the Jewish Historian, Josephus who then identifies King Herod's death soon after. This would have been in his 37th year of his reign as shown by Josephus.

April 33, 3 A.D. Jesus dies on the cross and rises from the dead three days later. the Ascension of Jesus would be 40 days later and the Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles in Jerusalem takes place 50 days later. This marks the birthday of the Church founded by Christ, the Catholic Faith.

The Celebration:

December 25, 125 A.D. Pope Telephorus, 7th successor of St. Peter, established the custom of Midnight Mass.

During this time, we also read the following words of Theophilus (A.D. 115-181), Catholic bishop of Caesarea in Palestine: “We ought to celebrate the birthday of Our Lord on what day soever the 25th of December shall happen.”

December 25, 127 A.D. Pope Telephorus began the custom of Midnight Mass singing in honor of the Christmas Story, the angels announcing the good news.

In the 2nd century, a massacre in the catacombs on December 25th was recorded as having occurred on the date of the Nativity.

Alfred Edersheim, a Messianic Jew, wrote, "There is no adequate reason for questioning the historical accuracy of this date. The objections generally made rest on grounds which seem to me historically untenable."

Shortly thereafter in the second century, Saint Hippolytus (A.D. 170-240) wrote in passing that the birth of Christ occurred on December 25:

"The First Advent of our Lord in the flesh occurred when He was born in Bethlehem, was December 25th, a Wednesday, while Augustus was in his forty-second year, which is five thousand and five hundred years from Adam. He suffered in the thirty-third year, March 25th, Friday, the eighteenth year of Tiberius Caesar, while Rufus and Roubellion were Consuls."

313 A.D. The Early Christians built a Church over the site of where Jesus was born, Constantine was by this time a Christian.

379 A.D. The preaching of Saints such as St. Gregory Nazianzus.

Saint Augustine confirms the tradition of March 25 as the Messianic conception and December 25 as His birth:

For Christ is believed to have been conceived on the 25th of March, upon which day also he suffered; so the womb of the Virgin, in which he was conceived, where no one of mortals was begotten, corresponds to the new grave in which he was buried, wherein was never man laid, neither before him nor since. But he was born, according to tradition, upon December the 25th

397 A.D. The hymns of St Ambrose began to inspire many.

567 A.D. The Council of Tours establishing the Seasons of Advent and Christmas into the Church calender.

The Christmas Season runs from December 25th through 6 January, the Feast of the Epiphany, the Wise men.

12th Century, St. Francis of Assisi inspires plays and caroling through the Nativity scene

We here at Deepertruth want to wish you all a Merry Christmas (which is really taken from the root Christ Mass) and a Happy New Year.

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The Catholic Defender: Jerry Laine Rose, An American Hero

On Monday, 16 December, 2013 it was announced that Retired SGT Jerry Laine Rose had passed away in his sleep.

SGT Rose was one of my Soldiers serving with the 2-5 Cav, 1st Cav Div.  and this news was a terrible shock to all of his family and friends.

SGT Rose was well liked by his teams as he served as a Senior Line Medic and he worked with the Forward Aid Station in Iraq.

He was responsible for many things supporting the Battalion and Company Elements preparing them for deployment and while being deployed.   During our talks he was always respectful and never had a bad thing to say about anyone.  I am proud to have served with SGT Rose, he was a true American Hero.

SGT Rose is picture standing on the far left, he might have been short in stature, but he had the heart of a lion. 

He had that "Can Do" spirit, he was fully able and competent.  He never froze in the heat of battle when the dead and wounded came in.

He took care of his Soldiers and at the end of the day, that is what matters most.

Many of our readers might not understand what it is to be deployed for 12-15 months at a time.  The sacrifices Soldiers and their families undergo for the sake of freedom around the world.  Every Soldier that we were able to help save from battle injuries, there would be a family waiting at home for their loved one.

SGT Rose retired from the Military serving four years with the United States Air Force and then 16 years in the United States Army.  I am honored to have served with about 5 years with him.

I remember we had a fun debate on the Harry Potter books and movies, he really liked that series and he never wavered in his support for them.  He had strong integrity and commitment to accomplishing the mission.

Occasionally I would find SGT Rose on his Facebook page and I would sometimes see how he was doing, he always looked forward to doing the things he loved.  He would care for his animals and he seemed satisfied with his retired life from the service.  He will be truly missed by all who knew him.


 The Combat Medic Prayer

Oh, Lord I ask for the divine strength to meet the demands of my profession. Help me to be the finest medic, both technically and tactically. If I am called to the battlefield, give me the courage to conserve our fighting forces by providing medical care to all who are in need. If I am called to a mission of peace, give me the strength to lead by caring for those who need my assistance. Finally, Lord, help me to take care of my own spiritual, physical and emotional needs. Teach me to trust in your presence and never-failing love. Amen.

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The Catholic Defender: The A&E Boycott

As of this time I am beginning my personal boycott against A&E until  "Duck Dynasty" star Phil Robertson is returned to the show.

He is being targeted because of his Christian beliefs which teaches that the practice of homosexuality is a sin.

The Magazine GQ's Drew Magary interviewed Phil Robertson and asked him about homosexuality.

Because he responded from a Christian perspective which he implied homosexuality was sinful in the same sense as "Bestiality, sleeping around with this woman and that woman and that woman and those men. Don’t be deceived. Neither the adulterers, the idolaters, the male prostitutes, the homosexual offenders, the greedy, the drunkards, the slanderers, the swindlers -- they won’t inherit the kingdom of God. Don’t deceive yourself. It’s not right.”

I myself have refereed homosexual behavior as sin no less or no more than adultery, fornication, or any other sexual deviancy.  This is what the liberal media does, they ask questions hoping to stump those who are known as Christians and twist their words.  We have seen recently the same situation with the Pope Francis interviews. 

A&E made this statement:  "We are extremely disappointed to have read Phil Robertson's comments in GQ, which are based on his own personal beliefs and are not reflected in the series 'Duck Dynasty.' His personal views in no way reflect those of A&E Networks, who have always been strong supporters and champions of the LGBT community. The networks has placed Phil under hiatus from filming indefinitely."

(Why would GQ Magazine's interviewer (Drew Magary) ask Mr. Robertson about Homosexuality in the first place? A&E didn't need to respond here as the question and answer had nothing to do with "Duck Dynasty or A&E? Would A&E respond in the same way if the interview were being conducted by a Christian source? Is A&E basically saying that Phil Robertson could not speak publicly WHEN ASKED by any source?)

This is an issue of religious freedom and the right of free speech.! Pure and simple.  The Gay and Lesbian Task Force is really the intolerant ones. 

What A&E found so offensive was that Phil Robertson remarked that "homosexual offenders" would not "inherit the Kingdom of God."  He also states, "But hey, sin: It's not logical, my man," He repeats, "It's just not logical."

1 Timothy 1:8-11 states, "We know that the law is good, provided that one uses it as law, with the understanding that the law is meant not for a righteous person but for the lawless and unruly, the godless and the sinful, the unholy and profane, those who kill their fathers or mothers, murderers, the unchaste, sodomites (homosexuals), kidnappers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is opposed to sound teaching, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted".

What Phil Robertson was defending was the teaching of the Church.

Galatians 5:21 St. Paul states, "I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God".

Phil Robertson stated, “Everything is blurred on what’s right and what’s wrong.  That is the tactic of the progressive left.  Isaiah 5:20 states, "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!"

With the current oppression of Christian beliefs by the liberal media, we are seeing a systematic breakdown of society.

The Gay Agenda attacks people of faith calling opposition to homosexual acts as hate speech.

Bernard Whitman, an analysis for Fox News, appeared on "The Kelly File" and defends a man's right to love another man, (he claimed to be Jewish and Gay)? That is an oxymoron, that is incomparable.  He called Phil Robertson's comments as hate speech because he implies homosexuality as sin.

It is getting more and more frustrating that the Christian voice is getting silenced and the left-far progressives are coming out with all authority of the State to lash out against Christians.  I have personally seen first hand progressives attacking Christians in the College classroom.  We are seeing the dismantle-ling of the Military who are now persecuting Christians who regard homosexuality as sinful.

The Bible and Church teaching is being silenced from being aired in the press and national television.

If the Media is so offended because of statements made in an interview, especially on homosexuality,  then don't ask them about that issue! The real issue is that the progressives are out to attack people of faith.  That is the bottom line.

Notice in this report by CNN, how they give the Gay Agenda telling Christians they have to get in line to accept Gay sex. Is the Country changing? Are we that far gone? Heaven help us if that would be true. Does only 44% of Americans oppose homosexual behavior? I do not believe that the United States of America is that left of center. This is the goal of public school educators for years, to challenge our Christian foundations. We need to pray for our country.

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The Catholic Defender: The Secular Threat

According to the Pew-Research report (18 December 2013), a Religion and Public Life Project, is just off the printing press.

This study was based on interviews with more than 35,000 Americans aged over 18.

The Pew Research reveals some serious concerns.

For the Catholic Church there is good news and their is bad news.  Which would you prefer first?

I'll give the bad new first.  According to the survey, roughly one-third of those surveyed identified themselves as former Catholic.  This would mean that nearly 10% of all Americans would statistically fall in as a former Catholic.  This would clearly be the second largest group in the survey.

Clearly that is not good news but it is not anything unexpected.  We have seen this the past few years.

The good news is that the Catholic Church is relatively stable because of the numbers of people converting to Catholicism each year.  That is about 2.6% of the population.

Another positive aspect that was not covered in this survey was the importance of many Catholics who are returning to the Faith.  I myself would fall into that category as well as many more.  The basic result for the Catholic Faith in the overall percentage who claim to be Catholic remains stable.

Apologetics from Deepertruth, Catholic Answers, Catholics Come Home, Defenders of the Catholic Faith (DCF) and many other good Catholic Apologetics last year helped to bring home more than 300,000 fallen away Catholics.  That is a step in the right direction.

Currently. about 25% of all Americans classify themselves as Catholic and that has been the mid-line for some times.  Catholics hover around one in four Americans.

The survey also raised an important factor that has been developing is the influx of Hispanic peoples coming to America.

The Catholic Faith for the past few years have been receiving great Catholic Converts such as Steve Ray, a former Non-Denominational/Baptist Minister.  They have had a great impact in reaching other Protestant Ministers of all Denominations.

EWTN, A Catholic Television Network based in Alabama features a show, "The Journey Home" that interviews many prominent  conversion stories.

It is good to see the Catholic Faith being stable, but the problem of anyone leaving the Faith continues to be a challenge. 

Protestantism, according to the survey seems to be on an obvious decline.  Americans aged 70 and older 62% claimed Protestantism which is about six-in-ten people.  The same survey shows that Americans aging 18-29 represents about 43% which is about four-in-ten.  What was not questioned was the decrease in the mainline Protestant churches who are classified as liberal.

Church attendance radically drops from those denominations that have accepted women priests and pastors, who have embraced Gay marriage, embraced Gay ministers.  Those who accept abortions on demand are in decline.  Some of the "mega" churches (Non-Denominational) along with the Catholic Faith have been the recipients of many of these people.

According to the results of the survey, the general pattern shows a "decline in the number of Protestants and the growth of the unaffiliated population may continue."

 The following are the basic highlights of the report:

• Men are significantly more likely than women to claim no religious affiliation. Nearly one-in-five men say they have no formal religious affiliation, compared with roughly 13% of women.

This pattern seems to reveal a problem that is not new, men for a good while have not been supporting their role as a Father and leader of their family.

This very problem is a major reason their Children have abandoned the Catholic Faith.  When the Man is leading his family being a responsible Catholic, their Children embrace the faith well over 90%.  When everything depends on the Mother and the Father is out of the picture, only about 30% of the Children hold onto the Faith.

Among people who are married, nearly four-in-ten (37%) are married to a spouse with a different religious affiliation. (This figure includes Protestants who are married to another Protestant from a different denominational family, such as a Baptist who is married to a Methodist.) Hindus and Mormons are the most likely to be married (78% and 71%, respectively) and to be married to someone of the same religion (90% and 83%, respectively).

This is an issue that many Catholics find themselves.

Many who do convert to the Catholic Faith come from those who married a spouse who was Catholic.

St. Paul speaks about this issue 1 Corinthians 7:12-16.

• Mormons and Muslims are the groups with the largest families; more than one-in-five Mormon adults and 15% of Muslim adults in the U.S. have three or more children living at home.

This reveals that Catholics in general have accepted the attack on marriage and motherhood.

The use of Artificial Birth Control and Abortion is problematic for a large sector of the Catholic population.

The Church has not done well in presenting the gospel message in this area as have the secularists pushing the culture of death.

• The Midwest most closely resembles the religious makeup of the overall population. The South, by a wide margin, has the heaviest concentration of members of evangelical Protestant churches. The Northeast has the greatest concentration of Catholics, and the West has the largest proportion of unaffiliated people, including the largest proportion of atheists and agnostics.

This highlight shows my previous response.  The Northeast is overwhelmingly liberal and many of the Catholics there voted for the Democratic Party who espouses the far-ultra left.

This is a serious problem that the Catholic Church has to come to terms with in the Northeast.  The hierarchy cannot compromise the gospel for political expediency.

• Of all the major racial and ethnic groups in the United States, black Americans are the most likely to report a formal religious affiliation. Even among those blacks who are unaffiliated, three-in-four belong to the "religious unaffiliated" category (that is, they say that religion is either somewhat or very important in their lives), compared with slightly more than one-third of the unaffiliated population overall.

The Black family has been largely attacked by the progressive liberal.

The NAACP continues to espouse the ultra-left which pushes for abortion, gay rights, and the attack on fatherhood.

Blacks will vote overwhelmingly more than 90% for the Democratic Party.  Their religious commitment is second to their political will.

• Nearly half of Hindus in the U.S., one-third of Jews and a quarter of Buddhists have obtained post-graduate education, compared with only about one-in-ten of the adult population overall. Hindus and Jews are also much more likely than other groups to report high income levels.

This is a very important statistic.  This survey shows that much of the general public have accepted the liberal mentality that wealth should be dispensed from the rich to give to the poor.

The incentives to move a head and make something of yourself is disappearing.  People are being raised with a right to food stamps mentality.

Our Country have clearly shifted over to a Socialistic State and freedom is being trampled.  The Constitution is being reduced by a political will that empowers the Government that ultimately enslaves the masses.

• People not affiliated with any particular religion stand out for their relative youth compared with other religious traditions. Among the unaffiliated, 31% are under age 30 and 71% are under age 50. Comparable numbers for the overall adult population are 20% and 59%, respectively.

This highlight reveals the impact that many young people have accepted the secular atheistic beliefs rejecting religion.

Children being taught that evolution is a fact of science as opposed to a theory, when religion is not given freedom in public schools, the results are obvious.

This is the goal of the secularist who want to push for Abortion and Gay marriage.  They want to take Christ out of public life.  This is where the Democratic Party derives it's war on Christianity.

• By contrast, members of mainline Protestant churches and Jews are older, on average, than members of other groups. Roughly half of Jews and members of mainline churches are age 50 and older, compared with approximately four-in-ten American adults overall.

This is a serious problem and an obvious evidence of decline.  I am so thankful that the Catholic Faith was not in that picture.

There are a lot of youth who are searching for the truth and the Catholic Faith is attracting many because of it's tradition, liturgy, history, and foundation.

It is the one true faith.  I recently spoke with a 16 year old teenager who was unaffiliated with any church.  He told me that his Mother was raised Catholic, but had not been practicing for many years.

A couple of days ago, this young man thanked me for helping him to see the Catholic Faith.  His Mother went to Mass with him the past two weeks and they are excited about it.

• In sharp contrast to Islam and Hinduism, Buddhism in the U.S. is primarily made up of native-born adherents, whites and converts. Only one-in-three American Buddhists describe their race as Asian, while nearly three-in-four Buddhists say they are converts to Buddhism.

This movement began to change in the late 1960's when the Beatles and the Beach Boys began to follow Eastern Mysticism.

After the Beach Boys would play their concert, they would turn the stadium lights down and present Maharishi Mahesh Yogi who would then preach to the young people the ways of Transcendental Meditation and the way to Eastern Mysticism.

As a result of these appearances  it is approximated that nearly 1,000,000 young people became followers.

Many young Americans began to follow the Krishna movement.

Another group that has grown recently is the Wicca Witchcraft groups, there are "neo-Pagans" and Pagans.

Much of this interest developed with the widespread interest in the Harry Potter books and movies.

• Jehovah's Witnesses have the lowest retention rate of any religious tradition. Only 37% of all those who say they were raised as Jehovah's Witnesses still identify themselves as Jehovah's Witnesses.

This highlight reveals a sad truth that people eventually discover.

The Jehovah's Witnesses have no real foundation.  They were founded by Charles Taze Russell in the later 1870's incorporated in 1884.

They have many early false prophecies claiming the second coming of Christ.

They have no foundation.  That is a serious problem that all Protestantism has because they each have men as their founders and have lost that Catholic foundation.

Catholics in the past have been vulnerable to those visitors knocking on the door.  That might be changing today as more Catholics are discovering their roots.

• Members of Baptist churches account for one-third of all Protestants and close to one-fifth of the total U.S. adult population. Baptists also account for nearly two-thirds of members of historically black Protestant churches.

What this survey doesn't tell you is that there are 31 Baptist Denominations totally distinct from one another.  That is a sad consequence of division within the Baptist Communities.  When you add them all up together, they are a large group.

Protestantism in general, especially many of the Non-Denominational "mega" churches compete with everyone else much like a business.  For one of these churches, a convert is a potential support with monetary value.  That is how they pay for their expensive stage shows and bands.

Compare what the average Protestant Minister makes in his salary compared to the Catholic Priest.  It is night and day.  Many of your Protestant Pastors have a 6 digit income, have more bodyguards that your Government representatives.  It is more than souls, it is about profit.

The Catholic Priest in comparison lives with a very modest income, Religious Order of Priests take vows of poverty.  The Diocesan Priest may have a car and a rectory, but that is provided by the Church Community. 

The entire Catholic structure is all about the worship of God, it is Community driven.  The Protestant has far more considerations because they have to compete to appeal to followers and their support.  That is why 44% of Protestants in the Pew-Research Survey revealed that they have "church-hopped" because they move where they might like the music, the preaching, the youth programs better.  They drift to what might be more popular.  The gospel of wealth sells a lot of material.

For Catholics, our response to all of this is the greater need to activate fathers to take their leadership role in leading their family.  That Catholics change their political support for those running for office that defend the Culture of Life.  That promotes the Constitution of the United States and the defense of religious freedom.  That we take back our educational places of higher learning that will stand up for Christmas and religious freedom.

We do this, we would go far in turning around the direction America has been declining towards.  Pray for the United States of America.

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The Catholic Defender: The Love of Missionaries

The Catholic Faith was founded by Jesus Christ nearly 2,000 years ago and from that time on many people answered the call to follow Him!

Acts 1:8 Jesus says, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

We see the Great Commission of Christ at the Ascension of Jesus, "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.  And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age." Matthew 28:19-20)

Jesus taught his followers to feed the hungry, to give drink to the thirsty, to welcome the stranger, to cloth the naked, to care for the sick, and to visit the prisoner.

This is the heart of the Missionary.  We see this from the beginning of the Church.

There are many Orders of Religious who serve among the poorest of the poor, along with many lay volunteers to help.

One place that has need of missionaries is Sri Lanka.  Sri Lanka is an island in the northern Indian Ocean off the coast of South Asia.

It is close to India with a Buddhist heritage.

The Catholic Church continues to make inroads there largely due because of the various Missionaries there.

I am reporting on one special lay missionary serving at Sri Lanka near the village of Kanda.

Evelyn Takahashi is a Missionary from the Philippines who has been living there among the people.

Evelyn is a Facebook friend of mine and what a great blessing it is to be able to reach and support others around the world to build up the Kingdom of God.

Sri Lanka has many outlying areas where people live in small villages.

It is a hilly/mountainous terrain with a lot of rain in the rainy season.

People will walk great distances each Sunday to attend Holy Mass walking through the canons, the valleys, passing despite the great cool rainfall.

Because of the support given the Missionaries, they will give food items to the people.

I have always been taught that the Missionaries are the extension of our hands when we give to support these causes.

St. James asks this question, "What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well, but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it?" (James 2:14-16)

St. James is bringing home the importance of Jesus teaching to do the Corporal Works of Mercy.

We are to see Jesus in each and every person.

That is the calling we each share.  Evangelization begins at home.  We are all involved in some fachion if we are following the Faith.

We are to toil and labor to do the Lord's work, we become His hands when we do His will, we become His feet when we go where he calls, we become His voice when we proclaim his Church.

St. James continues, James 5:7-8, "Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord.  See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient with it receives the early and the late rains.  You too must be patient.  Make your hearts firm, because the coming of the Lord is at hand."

We are the presence of the Lord to those who are in need, doing His will.

St. Peter gives this challenge, "But whoever is made to suffer as a Christian should not be ashamed but glorify God because of the name.  For it is time for the judgment to begin with the household of God; if it begins with us, how will it end for those who fail to obey the gospel of God?" (1 Peter 4:16-17)

In other words, as Christians, we should not allow ourselves to become idle, to become so attached to things that we forget our real purpose in life.
To care for those who are suffering.

The need is great and there is so much to be done.

It is not so much of how successful we are, but rather, how faithful we should be.

Jesus gives us the basis for his teaching and for our participation stating: "You are the salt of the earth.  But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.  You are the light of the world.  A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.  Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lamp-stand, where it gives light to all in the house.  Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father." (Matthew 5:13-16)

Some are called to be missionaries to go where the need is great and thank God for them.

We need people to give this kind of commitment.

We also need to renew our faith in our families.  To bring back the light of faith that anchors the imagination of the mind to seek to do God's will.

Please keep in prayer Evelyn and all our missionaries serving throughout the world.  They truly are the hands who serve those in great need.  Many are facing persecution particularly in the Middle East because of the violence there.  Please keep them in your prayers and pray that our Government will finally do something about that.  You become a participant when you support them.  God bless you and Merry Christmas.

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