Posted on 12/25/2005 9:16:31 AM PST by Diago
Government is not Religious; Americans Are
Fr. Michael Stalla
December 10, 2005
Some of you might have had the opportunity to see the broadcasting of the life of Pope John Paul II on television. Our dear Pope was very influential in the collapse of the Communist Regime in Poland and worked diligently to protect the survival of faith during the time of persecution.
The Communists worked tirelessly to de-christianize the Polish culture. They would often try to take a Christian Holy Day and our devotions and, consciously attempt to remove the religious or spiritual significance. However, every culture loves their feast days and it is very difficult, if not impossible, to simply put an end to such long-lasting traditions. Their tactics changed from banning Festivals, to a much more subtle approach: they would simply change the meaning of the celebration. The people could have processions, but it was more a parade. Remove the religious images and replace them with national symbols.
Make the Holy Day a Holiday and the people can have their fun without strengthening their faith. The plan was simply: Steer the focus on to national pride and away from religious devotion.
Eventually people will forget the original purpose of these feast days. Pope John Paul II would not allow us to forget who we are or why these days are holy.
Brilliantly wiggling around the Communist bureaucracy, the faith of Poland persists to this day. They might even be considered stronger for having endured such persecution.
Here in the good old U.S. of A., we pride ourselves on religious freedom. We have no fear of any regime coming in to dictate through law our devotions. This was the dream of our forefathers: to give everyone a chance to express their faith without fear of persecution or prejudice.
In the past 10 years, there has been more and more attention brought to the religious language that is so much a part of our culture. And what a good thing that is: we are so faith-filled that our basic vocabulary is steeped in religious imagery.
If someone sneezes, we say, “God bless you.” If we swear before a judge, we place our hand on a Bible.
The Government does not mandate this from above; it is simply the culture of the people starting from the grassroots and sprouting upward into every level of our lives.
Our Government is not religious, Americans are.
Recently there has been a conscious attempt to remove any notion of God from our society and culture. Learning from the mistakes of the Communists, the strategy of this ambiguous enemy is, not so much to attack religion directly, but to undermine the spiritual significance of so many aspects of our American way of life and redirect us to a more nationalistic mentality. They too want to change our Holy Days into holidays; to pacify the people with parades as long as we eliminate any God-language or imagery.
Some might think I’m being paranoid. Is there really a Communist-like conspiracy to rip God out of our culture? Absolutely.
Thanksgiving was implemented by a president of the U.S. to give thanks to God for the bounty we enjoy. But today no national representative would every give thanks to anyone but ourselves for our hard work.
Easter has been warped into non-sensical images of eggs and rabbits to the point that most children, and sadly many parents, have no clue what the resurrection is.
And now this ambiguous, maniacal enemy is seeking to rip Christ away from Christmas.
Christmas, a name that bears the title of the beloved Christ, has become the focus of greed and mythology. We have been pacified into believing it is a season of good cheer among neighbors. WRONG! It is a season of the Incarnation: Out of his great love, God became flesh and dwelt among us to suffer and die for us so that we might have a chance to dwell with Him in eternity.
When I focus on the manger scene, I remember being a child, playing with the sheep and the cows. Caring for the baby Jesus. Studying the peace and loving expression of Mary and Joseph. Puzzling over the humility of the kings who knelt before my Lord. I loved the angel Gabriel especially, reminding me that this is an event when Heaven and Earth come in contact. Dear Jesus, come live in my manger, in my home, in my heart.
Somehow these memories fill me with a child-like peace and serenity. That’s what Christmas is about. Everybody has a Christmas tree, but how many have a manger scene.
The enemy has been working on us for generations to rip God from our culture, to tear Christ away from Christmas. We must be even more relentless, as Pope John Paul II had been, to consciously and faithful invite Christ back to Christmas.
Teach your children.
Speak of Jesus in your home and at work.
I know we are pressured not to say Merry Christmas anymore. But this season demands of you not to make a holiday, but remember this day is Holy.
Do not say Merry Christmas, proclaim it boldly.
And be not afraid of the consequences. We are not Communists, we are American. And we have a radical freedom of religion, a freedom to express our religion without persecution or prejudice. As established by our forefather, no one has the right to fire you because of your expression of faith. No one.
Do not be intimidated by the enemy. Do not forget who you are: a Christian. Do not abandon our Tradition. Come back to Bethlehem. Follow the Star to the Virgin and Child.
Find your true peace and tranquility in Jesus, our gentle Savior.
Merry Christmas everyone. Merry Christmas.
Recently there has been a conscious attempt to remove any notion of God from our society and culture. Learning from the mistakes of the Communists, the strategy of this ambiguous enemy is, not so much to attack religion directly, but to undermine the spiritual significance of so many aspects of our American way of life and redirect us to a more nationalistic mentality. They too want to change our Holy Days into holidays; to pacify the people with parades as long as we eliminate any God-language or imagery.
At the Christmas Vigil Mass last night, the first thing Father said after the opening prayer was that he was so tired of hearing "Happy Holidays" and could we all please turn to each other and wish each other a "Merry Christmas". Everyone laughed, but obliged and the church was filled "Merry Christmas".
Also, the ACLU, and the like, try to use the establishment clause to call acknowledging God, an established religion.
Even Bush-appointed Judge Jones ruled against a one-minute statement to be read in the classroom in Dover, PA, stating that there was another side to the Evo theory, Intelligent Design.
Judge Jones said: "We find that the secular purposes claimed by the board amount to a pretext for the board's real purpose, which was to promote religion in the public school classroom."
I'd like to ask Judge Jones WHICH religion might that be. Hinting that there is a God, or even downright saying that there is a God, is NOT an established religion.
"In God we trust." is our national motto.
Thanks for the ping, and Merry CHRISTmas!
The ACLU started as a front group for the communist plan to corrode then destroy America. The Soviets have crumbled but the ACLU presses onward, with their new master plan to secularize this nation then place it under the 'guidance' of Sorosesque enlightened modern commies. What pisses me off most is our tax dollars fund the ACLU bastards!
You are correct.
The aclu SAYS they don't get government funding. But they collect their attorneys' fees from the government every time they sue it.
Our tax dollars!!
Ironic, considering that this particular feast day was originally an orgiastic celebration of the birthday of Sol Invictus.
And don't get me started about Easter...
Here come da trolls.
"Everybody has a Christmas tree, but how many have a manger scene."
While I love the beautiful lights folks put up on their homes, and outside, I wish there were more manger scenes included.
While driving home from the family CHRISTmas celebration, my husband and I enjoyed looking at the beautiful displays last evening in front of so many homes, but was happy to see a manger scene at the last house I saw - our house.
Why is it that calling 12/25 "chr*stmas" is offensive but treating it as if it were THE holiday everyone has been talking about lately (especially after the liberals have done so much to promote alternatives) isn't?
Personally I have switched from chr*stmas to Chanukkah, but I detest hypocrisy and political correctness!
I hope this priest also preaches against higher criticism and evolution!
No, the early Christian church was competing for followers and so they co-opted the birthdate of another deity. Jesus, if he were to be compared to any of his contemporaries, would be most like Zoroaster and another man named Josephus. Both reputedly raised the dead, healed the sick, cast out demons, and returned from the dead.
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