Bishops are silent about Nigeria. Bishops are silent about the gay marriage debates. Catholic politicians are silent or support abortion. Priests talk about the Gospel passages in terms which have nothing to do with the details of our lives. Priests talk as if they are living in a vacuum.
I never, ever, hear a sermon from the pulpit on any topic which is undermining the Church's freedom in America. I have never heard a warning from the pulpit on the days to come, and preparing for such times.
Week after week, priests talk about spirituality as if it is separate from real life. Our spirituality must be that of the martyrs. Tough and strong, courageous and zealous spirituality must be taught now.
We are living in terrible times leading to persecution, and I have not heard one sermon in the States on how to become holy and prepare for strife. Not one.
Why? Why are the leaders of the Church at all levels avoiding talking about the signs of the times?
Even young people who are completely secular can see the decay of civilization and the marginalization of religion in the workplace and public square.
And, yet, not a word from the pulpit. No bishops' letters on preparing for hard times.....
Sorry, I do not want to hear about drives for money to build new assembly halls for the Church, or for the redecoration of the school, or for air conditioning.
No. I want to hear about how to be a remnant Church in a sea of unbelief.
I have written on this subject. Father Z and others have as well-the fact that we Catholics find ourselves surrounded by pagans seems to be a taboo subject.
Why?
And, some priests actually think we are heading for a time of glory and the coming of the Church Triumphant again.
The evil of false prophecies from Medjugorje has infected some priests' imaginations. These are in denial about the coming persecution. Why?
Because too many false prophets and false apparitions over and over and over speak of good times to come and the priests believe these messages? Have priests been stifled by their bishops? Have they tried to speak of the times?
We are in the last stage of Stage Four of persecution and rapidly moving into Stage Five.
If Catholics lose the Faith, or even commit suicide in the very hard times to come, what will those priests in la-la land say then?
Will they keep talking about trivia? Why are priests wasting time talking about trivia-bake sales, fish suppers, fund-raising, when we are facing the darkest time the Catholic Church has ever seen?
Please, priests, talk about building real community relationships. Talk about becoming saints and training children to become saints.
We do not have much time.
I heard two sermons on coming persecution in Europe. I heard one on this subject in St. Kevin's Latin Mass Chapel last summer. Bravo! And, I heard one is a church in Surrey last spring.
The priests had the courage to say the Catholics were going to face persecution.
I have heard nothing of the kind in America. Nada.
A crisis in leadership-when the shepherds are asleep, the wolves scatter the sheep.