Reflections: We Are The Cristeros

June 3, 2012 / MariaNews.com 

We Are The Cristeros

(By Heart of a Lion – A CatholicDaily.com Blog) - “Vivo Christo Rey ! This was the battle cry of the Cristiada, the persecuted Catholics of Mexico who refused to say publically that God was dead. Less than 100 years ago in Mexico, the government made a proclamation that “God was dead,” expelled foreign priests, closed churches, and forbid even the use of the word, “Adios,” as it literally contained reference to God. Religious articles were forbidden, such as crucifixes and rosaries. Priests who consented to “register” their churches with the government were able to continue to function (under the watchful eye of Los Federales).

Thousands of brave citizens resisted, and obtained their ultimate goal: to die for Christ. Over the years, the country of Mexico has repeatedly introduced legislation that is hostile to Catholics, a lesson for us in the United States. Yes, it is happening now, here. We as a Catholic people have been persecuted and harassed by our own government simply for exercising our freedom of religion. While our existence here is far from a totalitarian regime, the United States has officially crossed the line: first in the courts with Roe v. Wade, continuing into recent history with the national health mandate requiring employers, employees, and medical professionals to violate their own moral conscience and religious freedom.

Surely, we must raise our eyes to heaven and ask God to forgive all who have been involved in this coup against us, for they know not what they are doing, but to tolerate the attacks on the Catholic faith, is to condone them, tantamount to the death of the soul at the hands of The Enemy.

President Obama has recently encouraged churches to, “Get political.” While this could be seen as a cheap parlor trick in order to get votes from his Christian constituents, many see his tactics also as devisive within the American Body of Christ, for Protestants and Catholics alike. Considering Obama’s stunning announcement in favor of gay marriage, I wonder how far he is willing to go to achieve the endorsement of minority and other groups who have been marginalized. If Obama can entice churches to accept his doctrine of immorality and death by infanticide, not to mention his socialist practices, he can begin to undermine the role of the church via the watchful eye of the government. Priests would be forced to officiate unholy unions. The doctrine could be watered down to be more palatable for some of the masses, who would most likely never attend a church if it stood against the behavior they wished to normalize. Truly, the Enemy conspires day and night to topple our Holy Mother Church!

Our Catholic Confirmation automatically makes us Soldiers for Christ. We are loving and peaceful in our fight, which occurs with movie back-drop-worthy intensity every day of our lives. Jesus Christ is our King, our life and our hope. He is our General, not the President (although we respect the office of the presidency), not our government. We will continue our fight against religious control by our government, and shield our children against the evils of Planned Parenthood. Our fight will never end, until we breathe our last, savoring the moments when we are called to act out our baptism in courageous and noble ways.

Viva Christo Rey !

Read more from Heart of a Lion here: http://catholicdaily.net/heart/

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