Saturday, January 23, 2021

Lesson From Columbus Ohio - Catholic Laity, Time To Toughen Up

Yesterday, at St Joseph Cathedral in Columbus, Ohio, Bishop Robert Brennan was celebrating Mass for pro-life efforts.  Yesterday was the 48th anniversary of the infamous Roe v Wade decision by the Supreme Court.  About 200 people were in attendance.

A little bit into the Mass (probably during the homily), 8 pro-abortion thugs with signs barged into the Mass, making their way up to the altar.,  Bishop Brennan, intrepid shepherd that he is (cough!), fled the pulpit.  Please note that this same Bishop Brennan has a penchant for sending orthodox and/or pro-life priests away for "evaluation" and the such.  That might explain his cowardice.  I should point out that this Bishop Robert Brennan is not to be confused with Bishop Mark Brennan of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charlestown in West Virginia.

My questions about this situation do not have to do with the feckless bishop as much as they have to do with the adults in the congregation.  I'm sure the police were called immediately, but between that phone call and the time that the police arrive, much damage could have been done.  The thugs should never have been allowed to advance as far as the altar.  Not only might they have damaged property, but worse, they might have actually committed sacrilege against sacred objects, and perhaps the Blessed Sacrament Himself.

The article states that about 200 people, including children, were present.  Assuming 50 of those people were children, that still would have left 150 adults to deal with 8 thugs.  That's almost 20 Catholics per pro-abort thug.  I would also venture a guess that there were more than 8 able-bodied men that could have blocked and/or restrained those miscreants until authorities arrived, with others video-recording the events for legal protection and/or action.

I've been involved in several facebook discussions regarding this situation.  Some people are actually defending the inaction of the congregation, stating that "Jesus didn't resist" and/or that the congregation shouldn't be expected to put themselves out to protect the church.  They forget that the Church on earth is the Church Militant, not the "church milquetoast".  Others, I'm happy to say, understand that the laity need to start stepping up to the plate and to develop action plans to deal with these situations when (not if, but when) they happen in our own parishes.

I will now say a word to those who are trying to justify passivity, laziness and/or cowardice by saying "Jesus didn't resist when arrested".  Jesus Himself told us why.  He reminded the disciples that He could all upon legions of angels at a moment's notice, but wouldn't because the plan of redemption had to be fulfilled.  Therefore, this does not excuse us from the responsibility to resist evil and prevent sacrilege to God's houses.  I certainly am not advocating violence, that is, unjust use of force against attackers.  However, we may and must defend the Church and other Christians via blocking attackers and/or restraining them until legal authorities can take over.  Men have simply got to be prepared to step up to the plate.  They (and all of us) must purge from their thinking the idea that Jesus was a prototype of the hippie-peacenik of the 1960s.  Nothing could be further from the truth.

It is incumbent upon each and every parish to come up with plans to deal with these disruptions when they happen.  Under a Biden administration, these incidents will likely increase, so let's plan now.  Of absolute necessity will be the recording of any such events.  Have at each Mass someone who will bring a camcorder and be alert to use it the moment a situation arises.  The ushers should be trained in detection of potential trouble, de-escalation of trouble, crowd-control and disruption control techniques.  If they are unwilling to involve themselves in this, what is the point of them being ushers?

When I received the Sacrament of Confirmation, the bishop lightly slapped us on the cheek.  That was a reminder of our duty to endure and to deal with suffering for our faith, a reminder that we are the Church Militant.  I understand that feature has been removed from the Sacrament now, a sign of the lower expectations being placed on Catholics. 

Catholics of our generation (and succeeding ones) have, in a sense, had it too easy.  We've become spiritually and morally flabby.  That usually results in lack of physical courage and endurance as well.  We simply have to stiffen our spines, thicken our skins, and harden our noses.  We, each and every one of us, must get used to the idea of skinning our knuckles and getting some dirt under our fingernails.  These episodes will increase.  We need to deal with it - NOW.

15 comments:

  1. I agree... Good report.
    I am reminded of the good Catholic that fronts the Pearly gates and asks to be admitted. God agrees and asks to see his scars, scratches, bruises. The good Catholic asks, what scars? What Scratches? What bruises?
    God replies. What? Was there nothing worth fighting for down there???

    ReplyDelete
  2. Parishes need to contact Doug Barry. He has a program in place that he teaches parishioners the art of self defense and defending the Church in a possible attack from the outside during Mass. I think it's called 'Battle Ready' but I'll have to go to his website to get more info. He appears with Fr. Heilmann's podcasts called 'Grace Force'. He's Fr.'s right hand man if you're familiar with it. I'll get back with his website and info. It's crucially important at this point in time with the climate we find ourselves in, that we as Catholics be proactive in defending the Church! I know he flies all over the country with helping Parishes in self defense. I'll get back.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I know of a traditional parish (with NO cv19 restrictions and no sicknesses either) that has trained a number of men with most having a CC. They take turns with duties as ushers and watchers and are prepared for an emergency such as what happened at this cathedral or even more dangerous situations. That pastor is to be commended and other parishes should do the same as the raw hatred against God and His most faithful people is about to ratchet up.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Then said he unto them: But now he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise a scrip; and he that hath not, let him sell his coat, and buy a sword."
    [Luke 22:36]

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jesus said that to the 11 newly consecrated Bishops not to the laity. Plus those two swords where there at the door of the well furnished upper room and this conversation took place after mass and as they were leaving. The swords where not present during the first holy sacrifice of the mass. So you can not use these words of Jesus to justify the laity carrying weapons on their person during the holy sacrifice of the mass. Find something else to justify your gun obsession. At the crucifixion of Jesus the only ones carrying weapons were the Roman Soldiers. St John did not carry a weapon and I bet the majority of you manly warriors would condemn St John for that and probably consider him effeminate. Guns do not belong at the holy sacrifice of the mass.

      Delete
    2. I don't know where you get the idea that there were no weapons at the Last Supper. Scripture is silent about that, saying nothing on the matter one way or the other. Other readers may draw their own conclusions. Guns are not inherently evil, so your last sentence is merely just your opinion.

      Delete
    3. No you can not draw your own conclusions about the two swords at the first Mass. Here is the order of the events involving the two swords:

      The two swords were not present at the first Mass so you can not use the two sword argument to justify carrying firearms on your person during the holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

      Mass was over when Jesus said let him sell his coat, and buy a sword:

      Matthew:

      Mass was over then this...

      And a hymn being said, they went out unto mount Olivet.Mt.26.30......

      Then Jesus said to them: All you shall be scandalized in me this night. For it is written: I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be dispersed. But after I shall be risen again, I will go before you into Galilee. And Peter answering, said to him: Although all shall be scandalized in thee, I will never be scandalized. Jesus said to him: Amen I say to thee, that in this night before the cock crow, thou wilt deny me thrice. Peter saith to him: Yea, though I should die with thee, I will not deny thee. And in like manner said all the disciples.

      Then Jesus came with them into a country place which is called Gethsemani; and he said to his disciples Mt.26.32

      MarK:

      Mass was over then this...

      And when they had said an hymn, they went forth to the mount of Olives. Mk.14.26......

      And Jesus saith to them: You will all be scandalized in my regard this night; for it is written, I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep shall be dispersed. But after I shall be risen again, I will go before you into Galilee. But Peter saith to him: Although all shall be scandalized in thee, yet not I. And Jesus saith to him: Amen I say to thee, today, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shall deny me thrice.....

      And they came to a farm called Gethsemani.Mk.14.32

      Luke

      Mass was over then this....

      And the Lord said: Simon, Simon, behold Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and thou, being once converted, confirm thy brethren. Who said to him: Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death. And he said: I say to thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, till thou thrice deniest that thou knowest me. And he said to them: When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, did you want anything?....

      And going out, he went, according to his custom, to the mount of Olives. lk.22.39

      Delete
    4. We cannot draw our own conclusions? Why not? You certainly did. Scripture is silent about the presence of the two swords in the Upper Room. Between the Last Supper and the Garden of Gethsemane, we can presume that the twelve did not have time to buy them. Moreover, look at Da Vinci's famous portrait of the Last Supper; what's that in Peter's right hand?

      This discussion is NOT going to devolve into some back-and-forth banter on the matter. My blog, my rules. Good Catholics can draw their own conclusions about the question of the swords, even if they don't agree with your own. With that, the debate on this matter is closed. Period.

      Delete
  5. Joe Biden supporters stormed Mass in a Catholic Church in Columbus, Ohio screaming obscenities about abortion
    http://4christum.blogspot.com/2021/01/biden-supporters-disrupt-pro-life-mass.html
    Biden, Pelosi Refuse to Condemn Storming of Catholic Church
    https://www.catholicarena.com/latest/pelosibiden

    ReplyDelete
  6. There are two things to be concerned about in taking action to safe guard the Church with a couple of friends, one, the coward Bishop Robert Brennan and two, the police. I suspect that Bishop Robert Brennan would throw any able-bodied man who defends the Church right under the bus and publicly condemn them. The "protesters" would no doubt want to press assault charges with the police and the feckless Bishop Robert Brennan would not stand in their way. The Little Dictator, "Governor" Mike DeWine, a "c"atholic, has yet to comment on it, much less condemn it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That is why video recording is necessary. Yes, we have cowardly prelates, but we are not thereby excused from our obligations to defend the Blessed Sacrament and other parishioners.

      Delete
  7. It’s a Bogus Disordo “parish,” right? Why then expect anything else?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The "bogus disordo parish", as you put it, still houses the Blessed Sacrament. What does your denunciation have to do with our obligations to defend the Church? This incident could well have happened where the Traditional Latin Mass is celebrated, for the leftwing thugs are not particular about Novus Ordo vs Latin Mass.

      Delete
  8. Just a thought. Not to excuse inaction in situations like this, but it may be a little tough for men, especially good catholic men, to jump into an altercation with a woman. Being trained to respect a woman, just maybe this could be a reason more did not act. However, today, women act like men, so sorry to say, they have to be handled with like force. Sad times for sure.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is not "respect" by any stretch of the imagination to let dingbat broads go marauding through the Church, threatening other women and scaring children. I'm not talking of delivering knock-out punches but restraining their stampedes.

      Delete

Please be respectful and courteous to others on this blog. We reserve the right to delete comments that violate courtesy and/or those that promote dissent from the Magisterium of the Roman Catholic Church.