When we Americans look at other countries who have been traditionally Catholic for many centuries, such as Mexico, Spain, and France, sometimes we assume that the Church has been safe and protected in those countries and would not have experienced trouble in being a part of society. However, all three of those countries I mentioned have had terrible times of persecution, when society and government have turned against the Church and have initiated a time a great persecution. We in the US have often taken the Church for granted, but given our current political and cultural climate and the signs of the times throughout the world, the freedom that the Church has to proclaim God’s kingdom can not be taken for granted any longer. We pray for the freedom for the Church to fulfill its calling in American society and throughout the world.
From the USCCB website (American Bishops):
Pray: That the Church would have the space to carry out her mission of service and mercy for the whole world.
Reflect: The Church is the body of Christ, the pilgrim people of God. She is not simply another charitable organization. The Church is called to carry forward the mission of Jesus Christ in all times and places. Much current work for religious freedom asks for exemptions from the state. But we should keep in mind that the government is not granting us rights. Rather, the state is correctly acknowledging the right of the Church to fulfill her purposes. As Pope Francis, echoing Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, has said, the Church is not merely an “NGO” (nongovernmental organization). The Church is empowered by the Holy Spirit to carry out the mission of Christ, and a well-functioning government will recognize its own limits and allow the Church the space to do her work.
Act: Our freedom for mission is difficult to appreciate if it is not exercised. Get in touch with a local parish or diocese, find out what your local church is doing in your community, and see how you can get involved. Even if you don’t have time to volunteer, prayer can be an important way to stay connected to the work.
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