I run a mailing list for Catholics and a few things have come across lately that I really can’t say I agree with anymore. Even my statements below are more reaction that anything else. I guess a few days and a few nights of sleep will change a lot.
While I understand as much as anyone the pain and fury we all hold concerning this recent attack on America, we have to understand a few things.
1. We are still Catholic. Like it or not, we are called to forgive our enemies and those that smite us. It hurts, and it hurts a lot, but the right thing normally does hurt.
2. We cannot follow the feelings of rage that people have nationwide. We are different. While we are patriotic, and that’s not contradictory to anything we stand for with regards to God, we have to understand that we are really setting the example here and that is that we understand more about the world and how it really works than anyone else, especially those full of uncontrollable hatred over these events. Hate only breeds more hate, while understanding breeds discussion and resolution. Yes, they have punched us, yes it was below the belt. That’s meaningless. While America can and probably will retaliate, we cannot support the killing of more people, innocent or not. Death is still death, and it’s rage and hate that perpetuate that. Catholic teachings state that the death penalty is allowable only in the most extreme circumstances, which I feel this qualifies. Only those that did this will get punished and it will be out of justice, not out of hate.
3. We are a light, and must let it shine. We have to keep ourselves calm and loving still. We have to be the example in this world, as always, of what God’s love is really about. If you hear racial comments you are called to say something. We might not like it, and it might get us into personal conflicts, but we need to handle things as best we can and be practicing representatives of our faith, especially in days like this. Obviously, this does not call us to get into fights, but just to make a rational thought known and let people know when they’ve gone too far.
4. We are not alone in this. I have full faith that every creation of God, as well as God Himself, is in complete sorrow over this along with us. We have the love and strength of God behind us, though, so do not fear for the future; things will eventually come about and come to peace, but only though God. You are called to help that happen.
I’ve failed the past few days to see this, I know, but it’s time to change and it’s time to come about and come to God for me, and I wanted to share this with others that might be in the same boat.
Thus I also ask that if you forward anything to the list about this, that it meets these criteria (as well as that of the charter so please, please clean out the forwarding notes and material and just send the message itself as the charter specifies). I cannot allow something I support to send any messages of hate at all. We have to love God’s creations for the sake of their being God’s creations and our fellow man and we cannot stand up and yell for their destruction. All we can ask for is justice as God sees fit to allow through the people we have selected to perform it.
Also, while it seems painful, we must return to normal. In our hearts and in our deeds we can show respect for what happened, but to allow the terrorist’s acts to stop us takes meaning from the deaths of the people. If we don’t let it affect us, if we keep going in our daily lives, the people that died are a patriotic statement that America is truly the home of the brave. We are God’s nation of democratically-protected free will and we will persevere through this, though never on our own.
Pray for Bush. He has repeatedly shown his willingness to bring Scripture and Light to his statements and call on God, and we need that kind of strength to remind us all that he really is handling this very well so far, and we have to support him in this.
St. Pedro de Corpa’s feast day was the 11th and I believe Patrick is the patron of Manhattan, so prayers upon them, Christ, Mary, and the angels of the people struggling through this would help immensely.
In the corporeal world, please do your part and give even a few dollars (Amazon is defaulting to $10) to the Red Cross:
http://s1.amazon.com/exec/varzea/paypage/PKAXFNQH7EKCX/102-2575622-7749735
http://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=p/gen/relief-outside
http://www.redcross.org/donate/donate.html
Blood is being given nationwide and will be needed for weeks to come. People with a fear of needles, close your eyes and go for it. This is the one time it’s really needed.
sad