"It is proper for the noblest hearts to discover the most urgent need of their epoch and to consecrate themselves to it."

On Divine Mercy Sunday 2010, a priest from the Diocese of Palm Beach recalled words "of the famous French priest, Lacordaire, in speaking of the pathway to holiness: 'It is proper for the noblest hearts to discover the most urgent need of their epoch and to consecrate themselves to it' [emphasis added]....many of those who strive for holiness today will consecrate themselves to the most urgent need of our epoch: namely, putting an end to the wholesale slaughter of the innoncents by modern day Herods and Pharoahs." The priest goes on to offer a deeply disturbing, yet profound challenge to all of us:

• "it is only the united Christian church, expressed most completely in the authority of the Catholic Church, that has the spiritual resources to end the culture of death; a work which it could accomplish overnight if it were to fully 'consecrate itself' to the mission of driving out the demon of child sacrifice from our land. It is painfully evident to any objective observer that the Church has not yet fully taken up this mission. In fact, the lack of unity of Catholics in this country is largely responsible for the prolongation and intensification of the culture of death since the 70s. When Catholic bishops publicly contradict each other on the appropriateness of the nation's Abortionist-in-Chief receiving an honorary degree at a prestigious Catholic university; when 54% of so-called Catholics vote for the most pro-abortion President and elect the most radical Congress in American history; when Catholic doctors prescribe abortifacient birth control, and Catholic hospitals look the other way with a wink and a nod at sterilization and abortion referrals from within their walls; when Catholic women pour into killing centers at the same rate as the pagan generation we are immersed in; when alleged Catholic politicians and public figures use their high profile positions to aid and abet the prevailing evils of our day--the Church has clearly become part of the problem instead of being the solution to these evils. The Church at all levels, from the bishops to the people, has clearly failed to understand the demonic nature of the industry that practices its evil right down the street from many Catholic churches. It has also failed to marshall the spiritual resources at its disposal to stop it"

In his book, the priest reminds us that "spiritual warfare is not a material form of warfare. As such, there is never any justification or excuse for violence of any sort, and anyone who would use the Church or the tenets of spiritual warfare to justify violence is simply making an illegitimate argument for change that the Church neither makes nor accepts....Prayer is the primary weapon of spiritual warfare when understood as an act of the whole Church. Lay persons pray powerfully when they stand in front of abortion centers and plead for the lives of the unborn, but they need the leadership of the clergy to guide them in the formal prayers of the Church at these clinics [By the way, 40 Days for Life efforts continue at Comley Road, Warminster and nearby Trenton.]....Other types of spiritual warfare are the various means of witness and conscientious objection that have a public character."

Now, if we believe that there will indeed be a Judgement Day, how can any Catholic remain on the sidelines? If we believe that there will be a Judgement Day, how can we let any of those whom we love fall into an abyss?On his own campaign web site, Congressman Patrick Murphy flagrantly defies the teaching of his Church and attacks his opponent for following those very same teachings! By his own ready admission, Patrick Murphy had difficulty graduating from Archbishop Ryan High School and gaining admission to King's College. At the time of his graduation, his alma mater was considered to be among the least impressive of American law schools. Other than for his experience in the military, his work credentials were also extremely limited, before election to one of the highest offices in the land. In sum, Patrick Murphy went to Congress as a prime candidate for manipulation by others. Is it possible that Patrick Murphy has even been deluded into actually believing that his anti-life positions are acceptable for Catholics in public office?

There are many who believe that clerical silence, with regard to Patrick Murphy, is coming from a fear of alienating "Catholics" who reject the teachings of their Church. Does the clergy of the 8th congressional district love Patrick Murphy, pre-born children, and the rest of us enough to publicly correct egregious errors?