Tough Times Give Rise to Catholic Dissidents

A large segment of the American populace is suffering from a lingering malaise – and it is not COVID-19. There are many infringements on the people, virus lockdowns, mask mandates, limited participation in religious worship, business closures, social isolation, and tech and media censorship. I am among the nearly half of the nation who believes extreme election fraud has occurred in our country. We watch the news and the machinery of government simply turn its head away from even looking at the evidence.

America and God

America has always had a special covenant with God. The United States has been the greatest protector of religious freedom ever. No country’s history is perfect and America has its sinful scars but it also has brought many virtuous achievements to the world. She balances power among disagreeable factions. Her law incorporates fairness. She has raised prosperity, education, and technological innovation to the benefit of people everywhere.

Today, however, the piercing reality is that the American Founders’ designs to thwart corruption may be insufficient to save the republic. So, the possible impending loss of the country is extremely disheartening for those who love her. It is a love so deep that it has nearly eclipsed the love for our faith; that self-reflecting upbraid is perhaps a saving grace in the current circumstances.

The Church is Also Experiencing Troubles

In times of such conflict, we might ordinarily look to the Church for guidance. Instead of comforting solid principles, what we find there is a jumble of confusing signs. The would-be incoming administration is unabashedly pro-abortion. Yet, Catholic leaders lost no time in congratulating the new president in waiting, and deciding not to withhold Communion from him, a claimed Catholic. There is continuing confusion about when or whether divorced and remarried Catholics can receive Communion.

Although the McCarrick Report has only been out a few weeks, no concrete plan has yet been publicized to finally stamp out sex abuse within the Church. The Church has advised Catholics that it is morally acceptable to take a COVID-19 vaccine derived from aborted fetal cells when there is no alternative. The Vatican recently produced a coin with a Pachamamma-like image on it. The modernist 2020 nativity scene is the subject of predominant distaste among Catholics.

Open public disagreement amongst Catholic leaders on topics such as how to vote and pro-LBGT ministry are being aired. On numerous other social and political issues, Catholic leaders seem to declare what are the only acceptable positions on immigration, so-called climate change, racism, capital punishment, etc. This is all head-spinning stuff.

Catholic Minimalists

In the coming years, Catholics are probably in for considerably more self, boot-strapping than ever, in my opinion. We should steel ourselves for increasing religious repression. On issues where the Church communicates internal unsettled dispute, we may need to rely more on ourselves, the Catechism, and the Bible. Take solace in recalling the last things Jesus said to his apostles before his Ascension. “And behold, I am with you always to the end of the age.” Mt. 18:20.

One can only wonder whether the Divine had a hand in the timing of the release of Rod Dreher’s book, Live Not by Lies: A Manual for Christian Dissidents. Dreher recounts the heart-wrenching stories of Catholics who lived under Iron Curtain oppression. In short, he recommends we do as they did to endure: form regular small faith groups to pray, read scripture, discuss, and buck each other up.

My hope is that parishes assist in forming and monitoring such groups as soon as possible. I am also presuming that Cardinal Pell’s first volume of his Prison Journal, just released, will also offer Catholics some fundamental inspiration from someone who bore the brunt of an unjust criminal conviction and kept the faith.