Comments (0)

By Bishop John, June 4, 2012 4:53 am

I was very amused last month with the statistics coming out about Texas and the United States about the fact that the white anglo dominance in North America since the 1650’s can see its numeric influence gradually eroding. The change in the racial makeup of our country is only natural in view of the fact that for the most part the upper echelons of our society have ever smaller numbers whereas immigrants, coming in from Mexico, South America and Asia, tend to have sizable families. Gradually, you see the white majority slipping from the 75% to 55% and now just going under 50%.

This fact in itself doesn’t mean the end of the world, although some whites react as though it did. The crucial need is that the dominant forces in our society need to pull out all the stops regarding our educational systems. We are not doing that! At the local, state and national levels drastic cuts have been made over the last five years from the resources allocated to education. At the same time, there is a marked increase in jails and prisons and there is a direct relationship between those two budget items.

And happily the negative mood present in our society regarding our failing schools is reversible. We have the technical know how and the resources to handle the problems smoothly but our response to this new situation must be devoid of racism, fear, panic and vindictiveness. The ideal of a fair and equitable education being provided to all of our young people is not a nice goal to be pursued. It is an absolute necessity if we are to have a stable society twenty and thirty years from now.

Let’s pray that our leaders understand the importance of giving everyone a good education and the poor require not an equal education but the best education. What we have to do is all too clear. Whether or not we will do it is questionable. Let’s also pray that we are not a nation of ostriches.

Share on Facebook

Comments (2)

By Bishop John, April 19, 2012 4:50 am

A few centuries back when the Catholic Church enjoyed (suffered?) tremendous power, that power was frequently misused and abused. Those desiring to push the anti-Catholic agenda are quick to draw historic images of the Crusades, the Inquisition, and even the obvious wealth of the Church today, a wealth that is most obvious in buildings and real estate, which frequently are far more of a liability than an asset.

Putting all that aside, however, it is necessary that Christians should become more sensitive to the fact that they are an oppressed people, not in the West, but across much of the globe. The Catholic relief agency (Aid to the Church in Need) estimates that 150,000 Christians die for their faith every year in locales ranging from the Middle East to Southeast Asia to sub-Sahara Africa and parts of Latin America. This means that every hour of every day roughly 17 Christians are killed somewhere in the world either out of hatred for the faith or hatred for works of charity and justice that their faith compels them to perform.

Look at Iraq for example. Prior to the first Gulf War, there were more than 2 million Christians in Iraq, the vast majority being Roman Catholic while today, there are between three and four hundred thousand. This is a tragic loss on the world scene and no one seems to be paying much attention to it.

Catholics should endeavor to ease up on their inner family conflicts between liberals and conservatives, and rekindle the missionary thrust that is so much a part of its essential nature. Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ will come again. Yes, that is true. But his coming greatly depends on the missionary element of his Church.

Share on Facebook