First, click here to watch a classic scene from the movie Braveheart
Braveheart is obviously a classic. In the film, Robert the Bruce, the dashing young man from the video above, betrays William Wallace for money, lands, and titles. He regrets it after looking into Wallace's eyes and seeing the wreckage that his decision has on his country.
I firmly believe that when Catholic hospitals are closing, when priests are being arrested for not marrying Adam and Steve, when our country starts aborting children with tax money, when the Catholic Church is completely turned on and the movement by secular atheists to annihilate the Church begins in full force, then the utterly horrendous, morally bankrupt nature of the voting practices of the cafeteria Catholics will finally be realized, and a lot of Catholics who voted for Obama will say the same thing Robert Bruce said above:
"Money, lands, titles, power..nothing...those pro-life Catholics fight for something that I've never had, and I took it from them when I betrayed them and I saw it in their faces on the battlefield, and it's tearing me apart."
What would have been both the Catholic and Catholic Priest's responsibility who were living under Hitler? Hitler was so evil their responsibility was to work day and night to stop the evil. So you are not wrong to speak so fervently about this evil but you also need to realize when it becomes an unhealthy obsession. Christ was surrounded by zealots but none of them were His disciples. You need to be a disciple - not a zealot.
ReplyDeleteYou miss the point. Our Church, our very existence is under attack. Look whats happened in Europe. The pews are empty. We need more priests willing to bravely fight the evil that is permeating our society.
DeleteAnon - you bring up Hitler and say priests should have done more then criticize my efforts. You worry about my zealotry, but I worry about the schizophrenic nature of your post.
DeleteIt also reminds me of a quote from my football coach - "Obsessed is what the lazy call the dedicated."
Dear Father Hollowell,
DeleteI share your misunderstood zealotry, or “obsession” as your football coach would have said. The first anonymous critic of your post was quick to point out the absence of zealots among His disciples; not sure Malchus would necessarily agree with that statement; however, his point is and should be well taken – Christ did put his ear back on, did He not? Pity He does not restore the child to the womb in like fashion, something anonymous may not seem to be as concerned about as yourself, but an attempt to separate disciple from zealot does not make one schizophrenic, any more that a disciple that speaks out as yourself, makes himself a zealot. You are dedicated and not obsessed, I agree, my Father. But that does not make our anonymous friend lazy.
Those who have come to your defense here have done so bravely, I think; though I’m not sure I’d rather have pews filled with hypocrites rather than empty ones instead.
Others are not so optimistic they say; convinced their fellow churchmen will either support the persecution of the faithful or praise their own enslavement as to the gallows pole they head.
I firmly believe something also, as you do my Father, - “when Catholic hospitals are closing, when priests are being arrested for not marrying Adam and Steve, when our country starts aborting children with tax money, when the Catholic Church is completely turned on and the movement by secular atheists to annihilate the Church begins in full force,” but is not that – “then the utterly horrendous, morally bankrupt nature of the voting practices of the cafeteria Catholics will finally be realized and a lot of Catholics who voted for Obama will say the same thing Robert Bruce said,” in his infamous quote.
No, it will be the Catholic faithful who will experience the frightful pangs of betrayal realized, as Braveheart did on the battle field that day. Remember that scene? When Robert the Bruce removed His helmet to reveal his identity after he fell from his horse before Braveheart? Only to be left there in his cowardice, by a man seeking victory, and not revenge? His life spared that day, not by Braveheart’s mercy, but by his utter lack of belief that a brother could not be closer than a friend…
It is then that the Catholic faithful will realize that it is not William Wallace that they have been, but rather Robert Bruce instead.
And it will not be your quote of him as they read it here today, but exactly as he has said it, speaking of the look on Braveheart’s face when he said, “I took it from him,” not them.
What he took from him was the reason that his men fought for him and bled the Fields of Falkirk red. Braveheart fled that day, and spared the life not of an enemy, but a friend.
"Money, lands, titles, power… Nothing...those anti-abortion protesters had been fighting for something that I to this day have never before had, and we took it from them when we betrayed them, ignored them, ridiculed them, and we saw it in their faces on the battlefield that day. Remember? Way back then?
One day the Johnny come lately “pro-life Catholics” will realize that the persecution has not just begun; only that they will have joined the ranks of those in defense of the unborn faithful who for decades have been taking it on the chin.
RbM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f81OWKHi2yM
DeleteI'm always reminded of A Man for All Seasons:
ReplyDeleteWhy Richard, it profits a man nothing to give his soul for the whole world... but for condums?
"I'll never be on the wrong side again!" We can only hope and pray that people will see the error of their ways. Great post! Great comparison!
ReplyDeleteAmen to this
ReplyDelete"So you are not wrong to speak so fervently about this evil but you also need to realize when it becomes an unhealthy obsession."
ReplyDeleteHow can one priest not speak so fervently about this evil and consider it an unhealthy obsession when over 55 million babies have been killed within the womb? How can any priest be silent when one major political calculation is to make the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church a partner to this evil?
D.v.
Fr. Hollowell, I wish I could be as optimistic as you are. I think, however, that those catholics who voted for Obama will not see the closing of Catholic hospitals, persecution of the Church for refusing (as though it were even possible) to perform gay "marriages", etc as a bad thing from their point of view. Rather, I think they will actively support the oncoming persecution of the Church for holding firm to Truth which contradicts their secularism and relativism.
ReplyDeleteMake standing up for Christ, defending the church, and instructing the ignorant your obsession too!
ReplyDeleteFollow Father's example "Anonymous" and allow Christ to consume your heart as well
ReplyDeleteWe as Catholics need to become more spiritual and be on our knees more. I received a post the other day that says I have a rosary and I am not afraid to use it, we need to use it more than ever and remember who we are to be faithful to, Our Lord and Savior. Amen
ReplyDeleteI want to believe these cowardly Catholics will change, but there is a side of me that thinks they will still be praising Obama's name as he drags them to the gas chamber.
ReplyDeleteFather forgive them they know not what they do! That is what I keep hearing in my prayer. So many have been seduced and they really don't understand that they are aiding evil. They can't hear the voices that are trying to teach them because those sources have been so discredited for them. They need to have a personal experience to open their eyes. It will come and many of them will feel so betrayed and overwhelmed, they will need our love and mercy. As we all need Christ's!
ReplyDeleteFather, I'm sure you believe you are on the side of right. The battle you are waging is just, but the way you go about it, with anger and hatred is not Christ-like.
ReplyDeleteA priest friend of mine, while studying at Catholic University for his degree in canon law, would take his visitors to the church of the Immaculate Conception so they could view the Asp ? where the wall mural of the Christ as judge was painted. This mural had arms that Arnold Schwarzeneggar would be jealous of. The stern look on the face of Christ is quite disconcerting to the guest, father tells me. He further explains that modern catholic, christians have been fed a diet of a loving, hollywood God who simply wants to love. while Our Father in Heaven is love itself, and wants all his childen to come to heaven and be with him in eternity, he also makes it quite clear he will judge in the end all who decide heaven is not their goal. I think this is my response to Anonymous, November 13, 8:05 pm. You see Father Holloway is not angry. He is forthwright in telling you, just as Christ did to the merchants in the Temple, there is a stand that has to be made for what is right. Evil is lurking and we do not wish to see it. It would be so much easier to just pretend somehow all will be well. We can go to that Al Smith dinner and eat and drink and make merry with an enemy that wants nothing more to make us his footstool. Maybe the hope is that if we do not stand up now, that enemy will be kinder to us in the end. Dont count on it. Father Holloway is probably being too nice when he thinks that those who voted for Obama will one day grieve their decision. I believe they knew clearly what they were voting for and will not regret what happens to faithful catholics and christians. yet, they will regret when all the lies and promises are not given them and they live in utter poverty and under the totalitarian government which they are now supporting. Just a thought.
ReplyDeleteSo many Anonymouses! ;) I agree with Anonymous of November 15, 2012 2:45 AM. It's time to stand AGAINST evil, no ifs ands or buts. Being "tolerant" is not the answer. If you truly love your fellow man, tell him the truth. The Truth will set him free. He longs to be free from sin; he just doesn't realize it. So many times, I've read of martyrs gladly giving their lives for Christ and in the process converting bystanders as well as their murderers. That's our aim: conversion to save souls. God won't just condemn those who are skipping blythely to hell. He will condemn those who did nothing to stop them when they had the means in their power.
ReplyDelete