Fantastic! I agree wholeheartedly! I couldn’t sleep last night and found myself pre-formulating arguments I could use against this and for that and coming up with words that would, once and for all, show “those idiots” the error of their ways. And suddenly, I realized what was going on. Yes, it is right and just to fight the good fight, but only if it actually helps the side you’re fighting for!  I prayed to the Holy Spirit to give me the words to say and take from me the words I should leave alone, and asked Him to guide my use of all of them. And then I drifted peacefully off to sleep.

Are there people that upset?  I have to say, we’ve been slumping in this direction for a long time (since Adam and Eve, to be technical, though the past 40 years gets a special shout-out).  I would think if anyone is so upset they can’t function it would be because they weren’t paying attention to all that’s been going on that lead up to this!

In any case, we could die today, or in 80 years.  Things could get better, or much, much worse.  No matter, when God calls us we should be lovingly doing our jobs.  Even if our job is freaking out on FB.

Hear, hear!  (Or, alternatively, “here here!” if you want the dog to come running.)  Wonderful message, that I think I’ll forward to my mom.  She needs it right now, poor lady.

You know how yesterday you wrote about lyrics that go through one’s mind?  When I read this, I kept thinking of the first lines in “Uncle John’s Band” by the Grateful Dead: “Well the first days are the hardest days/Don’t you worry any more/Cause when life looks like easy street/There is danger at your door…”

Exactly.

Thank you.  I usually bury my head in the sand when it comes to politics.  It really upsets me mostly because I feel powerless to change anything anyway.  But this whole issue has pulled me out of my shell.  However, I do struggle with the sin of despair.  So this was a nice reminder to not let this issues suck all the joy out of one’s heart.

Thank you for the article. I’ve contacted my congressman and both of my senators. I also deeply appreciate your advice in this quote:

It doesn’t help anyone if our pounding hearts and racing minds keep us up at night, or if we’re too busy to make dinner because we’re debating about religious liberty on Facebook.

My husband is having a hard time with this one. It’s like being a football widow. The household is swirling around him and he’s arguing with people he doesn’t know online while I’m cooking, cleaning, doing laundry, and helping the kids get ready for school the next day. His moral righteousness is keeping him up at all hours of the night and he finds it difficult to disengage despite my promptings. Perhaps he needs some fry pan justice.

You’re the best. Thanks.

True wisdom.  Thank you!

“too busy to make dinner because we’re debating about religious liberty on Facebook”
Who, me?  How did you know?

Absolutely.
Losing your peace of soul is exactly what the devil wants. This stuff is important, but we can’t wait around planning catacombs and deciding what our last heroic words are going to be (I’m torn between “Father forgive them” and “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints”).
So, I guess I’m going to try to spend some more time in Adoration and write a nasty essay (Discuss the components of Anglo-Saxon literature in 500 words or more.) that’s due tomorrow.

Love it! Thank you.

yesyesyes…just learned about 8 Christian families in Egypt whose homes were taken and given to Muslims…at least they weren’t killed (not yet)

to husbands and wives who are dropping the ball because of politics, Church problems, Church discrimination- I say ORA ET LABORA. One must pray (and be with the family- the reason for living) as much as one ‘works’ at fighting the good fight in com boxes.

And if one is fighting for the survival of the Church- maybe we can drive an old lady to church, make a meal for a new mom, cut the grass at church

We are not dead yet. 

If you are plugged into the news all day, it means you are not talking to God TRiune or praying enough while you are working.  It means you need and believe that you only pray with a kneeler and some form of prayerbook and cannot pray from what is inside of you and do not feel good enough to talk to God on your own. 

Sorry being 48,  this is the worst part of the generation before and after me. 

Don’t panic. Didn’t God say not to panic. He’s in charge.  Fear not is written 365 times in the Bible. 

They are going to have to sit down and talk about this because either if they they are fined or whatever happens, like someone is going to complain on either end of it,  they are going to have to talk to each other.  It is the way God has made humankind. 

We are the dumb ones who fear, do not trust God at all.

We are not dead yet. Don’t fear

If you are plugged into the news all day, it means you are not talking to God TRiune or praying enough while you are working.  It means you need and believe that you only pray with a kneeler and some form of prayerbook and cannot pray from what is inside of you and do not feel good enough to talk to God on your own. 

Sorry being 48,  this is the worst part of the generation before and after me. 

Don’t panic. Didn’t God say not to panic. He’s in charge.  Fear not is written 365 times in the Bible. 

They are going to have to sit down and talk about this because either if they they are fined or whatever happens, like someone is going to complain on either end of it,  they are going to have to talk to each other.  It is the way God has made humankind. 

We are the dumb ones who fear, do not trust God at all.

I don’t know how you know exactly what I need to hear and when, but you are spot on.  Thank you for helping put in perspective.  And if isn’t this issue it will be something else.  We’re a big old work in progress here on planet earth!

I was just thinking this the other day…. If you don’t carry on, the terrorists win….

NAILED IT!

Many years ago, when I felt mentally and spiritually exhausted by these things, a very astute priest said to me, “No, you are approaching this all wrong—like Peter, using earthly means, and cutting off the high priest’s ear.”  I learned to *sanctify* my day and everything that pertains to duty, realizing that this *elevates* the whole world, and does indeed “Fight the good fight”.  God could solve the whole thing in one stroke, in one instant.  The last thing my family needs is an “activist” with a messiah complex.  Sometimes He does indeed ask for more *intense* spiritual effort, but how can we hear that small inner voice, if the noise of a hundred other voices drowns it out?  (sigh,mea culpa, duty calls right now, I won’t wallow in the news that he backed down!)
Bravo, good post

Just what I needed to read!  Thank you for the word prod to get away from the computer and do some needed work!

Genius, Simcha!  Just what I needed!  +JMJ+

As usual, you speak what is in my heart and mind.  My Irish-American blood has been boiling now for a week, lots of calls and emails have been written, a second ‘letter to the editor’ of my local paper has been submitted, and, as you say, it is well to put it all in persective.  Daily Mass, when possible, helps…

I was just beginning to feel this way about the last three weeks…thanks for the reminder!

It is hard to do this in the heat of the moment.  My heat of the moment came two nights ago when Fox News had Fr. Morris and a Unitarian lady reverent in a priest’s collar debate the HHS issue.  Of course she was parroting the liberal line.  Before I knew it certain words flew out of my mouth.  I have prayed for her since but I should have taken your advice before watching this segement.  I normally do that when I am going to talk with people about things we may disagree on.
Great advice though.

Thank you for saying what needed to be said.  Frankly, there is no reason to get all hysterical at this time because this has been coming for a long, long while, and there is no end in sight. We don’t have to feel like we must get our points across Right This Instant or the moment will be lost because we will have many, many, more moments.  Had the bishops and their theologians done their duty in 1968 when Humae Vitae came out and not ignored or in some cases fomented dissent against it and again in 1972 when Roe v. Wade came down we wouldn’t be in this situation now. They needed to hold the line then and provide the catechisis and moral support on life issues and take a stand against immoral laws.  But people largely cooperated with or looked the other way expecting that “waivers” would always be provided so they didn’t have to feel personally involved.  Of course it’s not as if the laity are blameless here either.  Those stalwart bishops who did speak up were largely speaking to a small remnant of the faithful.  Someone asked me if the church in the US will have even one bishop with the courage of John Fisher who stood alone against Henry VIII when all his brother bishops abandoned him.  I think we have several, but only time will tell.  And we need to pray and support our faithful bishops so that they stand firm. And we need to support each other too.  Remember, we may be the only Catholic some people know and it is not up to us to convince people it is only up to us to provide a witness.  The convincing is up to God.  The praying and fasting is up to us.

Started my day today with Facebook instead of prayer, with predictable results.  Thank you for the reminder I needed.

It`s not like any of us didn`t see this coming. It was pretty well established fact from Obama`s voting record and his stint in the Illinois senate where he was coming from, but for some reason known only to the USCCB who may have been more interested in promoting illegal immigration and social justice issues and of course cafeteria Catholics who were led to believe that it is quite alright to vote for pro-choice Democrates in order to change the circumstances of poor woman so that they wouldn`t need abortions and liberal,’ laity in charge mindset,’ Catholics who have been handed leadership roles from a ministry who wanted to trade roles and promote a sort of all inclusive protestant type service in their newly created and sometimes offensive and abusive Novus Ordos while the bishops smiled and looked the other way with some of them actually openly objecting to the Holy Father`s Universae Ecclesia and downright forbiding
Tridentine Masses, while the Jesuit head of Notre Dame invites Obama
to give a commencement speech and recieve an honorary degree with no real outcries or push back from the leadership. And now they, having been blinded, hoodwinked, and lied too, want to rally the troops after fourty years of liberal theology and actually get Catholics to stand against the most left wing liberal the country has ever seen, some of whom even voted for the pro-abortion, community activist from Chicago and Jeromiah Wright`s Church. Yea. Right. Actually, this is an enormous constitutional issue. A blantant violation of the first amendment and it will be reversed just as the other attempt by this administration to violate the seperation clause was shot down by the Supreme Court 9 to 0. Sadly, it took a threat to cut the Government support for all the Catholic Universities and charities and hospitals to awaken the sleeping giants of the Church. I think we need love and truth, veritas, without both, love cannot survive. I love my Church and I have always been faithful. However, I also love the truth, and it needs to be said no matter where it leads us. Maybe all this, in the end is actually a gift. God, making straight a crooked path. Pax.

http://cnn.com/video/?/video/bestoftv/2012/02/10/sot-nr-lothian-contraception-compromise.cnn

Thank you Simcha!

An answer to my prayer!  Finding myself feeling very uncharitable towards folks with logs in their eyes who can’t seem to see the Truth in front of them.  This was a good reminder to remove the log from my eye and pray for Divine Mercy for all of us. Thanks, Simcha!

I have actually felt more at peace since this mandate came out, than at any other point since the ‘08 election. The the administration’s mask is off, the elect are catching on that they were deceived, the battle lines are drawn.

We know where we stand, and we know Who stands behind us, guiding us and giving courage.

This is quite possibly the best thing I have read in the past few weeks. I really needed this gentle reminder. Thank you, Simcha.

Obama is not giving in. Do not be fooled. His statement on CNN and his political solution for all the people who are gullible enough or just plain not paying attention or want a feel good solution that will justify
their vote and are not really giving any thought to the situation might be
satisfied with his statement but, allow me. He said, “No religious institution, be it a university or a hospital or whatever will be required
to pay for contraception. Instead, the insurance companies will be required to pay for it 100% without out of pockect expense to the woman.”
Fine, great, wonderful. Who is the insurance company? That is us, under the health care bil, the Government runs the insurance company.So now you can feel good about not violating your conscious since now you are sinning by proxy and unless he is going to establish a seperate private insurance company that will only handle abortions and contraceptives, WE
are in the end, paying for, or get fined, the insurance that will pay for the contraceptives. This is purly a political move till after the election. Don`t think for a moment he won`t have Sebilius change all this if he is re-elected. He is dangerous. Very scary. Pax.

My soul has been quite disturbed these past weeks and I had come to your conclusion in prayer - but have been dragging my feet in doing it fully.  Thank you for this necessary reminder!

“But we’ll fight better if we preserve interior peace, in our homes and in our souls.”

Amen.

I was at adoration this morning and felt God giving me Psalm 37 to meditate on; this verse especially struck me as appropriate to so many things going on in the world and my family:
Psalm 37:8-9 - bolding is mine - Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; DO NOT FRET - it leads only to evil. For evil men WILL be cut off, but those who hope in the Lord WILL inherit the land.

Thanks so much for you blog and your amazing balance of humor and serious issues.

I could retitle this article, Chicken Soup for the Catholic soul battling on all fronts… Definitely needed!  Blessings!

Thank you. I needed this reminder!

Thank you for writing this.  I could not sleep last night thinking about all thatbhas been going on.  Through prayer and meditation this morning, God guided me to the conclusions you wrote about.  Live holy lives, raise children to love God and to be holy, and be good citizens by doing our part to change the laws.  But in everything, pray and trust that our father hears us and holds us always.

The peace begins at home, in our Church.  Unfortunately it’s difficult to require all to rally behind the Church when the Church continues to marginalize so many.  When our Church becomes united, we may have a chance to see better days.  Regarding Obama, he is a scape goat.  I would ask everyone to consider EVERYTHING the various candidates stand for, not just the few, high-profile stands they take.  We have adulterers, corporate bigwigs who heartlessly (and soullessly) disregard the very people that Jesus would have us care for.  Remember, “when you do for the least of these, you do for Me.”  Be careful about letting your minds be swayed by pretty words.  Regardless of who you vote for, consider what Jesus would say and who Jesus would want cared for - the unborn, absolutely, but also widows, orphans, the elderly, the marginalized (I believe he cries tears for what the Church has done in this regard), and the poor.  Our country’s very premise (at least as set forth recently) of being all for monetary success holds the downfall of our civilization.  “It is more difficult for a rich man to attain Heaven than it is for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle.”  Why then would any Catholic be in favor of an every-individual-for-himself policy and celebrate everyone getting as rich as possible on the sweat of others?  Don’t get upset about the political upheaval going on but also don’t mindlessly go with the herd.  Our Church has many ills to heal within herself before she even has a chance of making a real difference in society as a whole.

Tom

  It is very difficult to unite the Church when you have a left wing liberal Chicago style President who divides people to accomplish his political objectives which is exactly what he is doing with this government mandated health care plan that will tell us what moral beliefs to violate according to Obama. He has, as he did in the beginning, divided Catholics on the abortion, contraceptive and many other issues by pitting people such as the liberal Sr. Keehan of the hospital networks against the bishops, poor against the rich, old against the young,(took 500 billion out of medicare) and even members of his own party. Remmember also Christ said,“render to ceaser the things that are ceasers and to God the things that are God`s.” Feed the poor, clothe the naked, help the widow and the orphan, but He DID NOT say give your money to the government so they can do it for you. I don`t know about where you are in our Church we ave a food bank, clothing drives, free dental for those who have low income and if they can`t get there we bring it out to them. We don`t get a dime from the government. I agree secluraism and greed and a me first society has emerged and I frankly don`t know what the perfect form of government is. But I do know this, marxism and socialism does not work and unbridled capitalism doesen`t either. A study of history or even a look a Greece today will show the results of all that. One thing I do know, I don1`t want a President who hates the constitution because it gets in his way. Of all the forms of government, I`ll take the one that protects my freedom for which so many gave their lives for. Pax

Tom T, you are obviously part of the held-up-on-a-pedastal group in the Catholic Church if you think I’m only talking the poor and politics.  There is a reason that the parking lot at the end of mass of most Catholic churches is one of the most dangerous places on the planet.  A certain fraction of the population has been held in such high esteem by the Church, historically to keep parishes alive and going way back to keep money coming into the Church.  This fraction now believes no one but themselves exists in the Church.  They tend to drive their SUVs and minivans without looking side to side.  No, it won’t start with politicians and it did NOT start just a few years ago.  It is an historical divide that is just now being addressed by those of us in the minority and one which the Church will have to reckon with all over the world before you can hang any of the blame on any politicians.  BTW, politicians on both sides should be shouldering the blame equally as should those in the Church who don’t even acknowledge that there is a problem.

Tom

  You either did not read or understand my comment. I acknowledged that there are problems in the Church as well as in society. Also I think you have a tendency to judge and classify in a general manner, people in the Church. There are to be sure many, many problems in the Church most coming from liberal interpretations of Post Vatican II Documents. The creative applications applied by liberal priests to the Novus Ordo which in and of itself has in Pope Benedict`s words “caused a neglect of the paschal mystery,” not to mention the sex abuse scandals and the over use
of extraordinary ministers and on and on. The biggest problem that seems to have brought us to where we are and the spot the bishops now find themselves in, actually began in the sixties when the Kennedys invited Catholic professors and theologians to their compound in Mass. to find out how to get Catholics to vote for pro-choice Democrates. They did this by cherry picking Caritas In Veritate and came out with plan that the bishops could support, namely social justice issues and later with diocese
across the nation in deep financial trouble from all the law suits, immigration reform, as they were a growing support of the Church. Sadly, issues of gay marriage and predominately abortion got pushed in the background and a whole new class of do good ‘save the whale’so to speak, liberal Catholic was born convinced that it would not violate their consious to vote for a pro-choice Democrate. It has, in the end come back to haunt them and now must fight and try to unite a divided Church to demand religious freedom. Only in facing our real problems can we find solutions and will be only through pray, unified leadership and a sincere return to doctrinal beliefs and quite frankly I don`t really care what kind of car or how much money people have, I drive a beater myself,
in the end we all have to stand before God and answer the very personal questions of what was in your heart and what kind of stewart were you for the blessings God has given you. The only judge then will be God, not you or me. Pax

A girlfriend and I were discussing the HHS issues while at our daughters American Heritage Girls meeting. She mentioned being scared, and depressed. This article is perfect to share.

Thanks, Simcha. It’s so hard to feel like you’re battling all around you and still find peace in the home (and, like most women, I stew on things while tenderly caring for my FREAKING ADORABLE kids). As a stay at home mom, a good deal of my down or me time is spent chatting with other mothers and reading up on news and debates. I wish I could just shut out the world (or the pieces that I don’t like) and still feel good about it, but I want to be informed, I want to know the other side of arguments, I want to know more- and this dang internet brings it all to my couch and invades my peace! Dang it! Long ramble aside, it’s encouraging to hear (okay, read) your words- I am not alone, WE are not alone, and fighting for what is right and just has it’s place, just as letting it go can. Now if I can only figure out how to do that…. Well, I think then I’d be a superhero.

Tom T, I actually read your post carefully.  I understand that you feel it is the Democrats and the liberal interpretation of Church teachings that divide the Church.  Whether or not I agree with you, I am not talking about anything political.  Obviously I need to be a bit more black and white about the divide that I am talking about - families (married couples with children) vs those who are alone.  Unfortunately, the Church finds no use for single people as though it is their decision to be that way.  I won’t trail off into a whole other discussion on this thread.  However, I will say that, until ALL members of a parish are acknowledged as equally important and prayed for as having valid needs, the Church will never be a unified place.  There are too many of us who keep the faith and have very strong, personal relationships with God but fully understand that the Church see us as a useless waste.  No, the Church doesn’t say that.  However it is what the Church doesn’t say that condemns it of this sin.  Peace within the Church must come before any good Catholic can feel true peace at home and fight for what is right out in the general community.

Why waste time in the blame game?  Fall in love with Christ, the Holy Mass, contemplative prayer, and Christ in your neighbor.  Abortion and contraception are an abomination.  I want to help my neighbor, rich or poor, Republican or Democrat, to avoid the subtle quicksand of this world, which refuses to see the *child*, and *the family*, as a sublime *good*, worth fighting for.  I will “say it” when appropriate, “live it” with self denial—(is *the child* self denial, or really *bounty*)...and fight for my right, not to be coerced into being RAILROADED into contributing to a *corrupt*, worldly outlook.

“I would also suggest that the more secular the world becomes for Christians, the more political Christians will become. We will necessarily resort to the same tools and weapons as those who do not believe.” - Fr. Stephen Freeman.

Thank you for this post! I totally “neglected my duties” last week - in fairness, so did my husband. We were donating to Susan G. Komen and then demanding our donation back. Trying to present the truth in love - and then banging our heads against the wall when people were leaving troll-y comments like crazy. And we our expecting our first baby in 6 weeks - and she will not wait on the repeal of the contraception mandate, nor should the joy of her arrival be dampened at all. So I said, we have to step back. For all the reasons you suggested. We aren’t disengaging. But we have to pace ourselves. It is not LESS important now that I create a loving, peaceful home - it’s MORE important. Again, great post. Be involved. But don’t let it suck the joy out your life. We are going to need it now more than ever!

Very Chestertonian, this. Thanks for the timely reminder. :)

I am not Catholic, but I am a fellow Christian, and I agree with you! Sometimes in the midst of the political outrage it is difficult to keep our hearts set on Him while fighting the battles I believe we are called to fight. Thank you for your timely post!

I realized awhile ago that most abortions are funded by people like us.  We have no option in our health insurance to avoid abortion coverage.  It is pretty routine.  PP does a lot of abortions but most of the abortions in the US are funded by your everyday person’s health insurance: harvard pilgrim, anthem, cigna—you name it.  Your health insurance funds abortions at PP.  So we are all up in arms about this HHS mandate but the fact remains we have been directly funding abortion for quite sometime without any conscience clause.

To often Catholic are shouting and screaming and they really need to just take a few minutes to pray and speak from a heart centered on God.

Thank you for this post. I am currently reading this post because I was in a Facebook debate about abortion; and couldn’t fall asleep because I was too riled up. I appreciate the wisdom in your words :)

I’m with you, Jocelyn - I’ve been very upset about all this abortion/HHS stuff, and recently engaged an old friend (of over 30 years!) about her ‘pro-choice’ views.  I hope we are still friends, but she gave me a thinly-veiled warning that our friendship would be challenged if I continued to try to ‘change’ her views, (which are essentially unchanged, and unexamined).  We are supposed to evangelize, but the advice to back off - and continue to pray - is good.  Thanks, Simcha!