Also, the media is even more alarmist and predicting dire things for the future (though most of it not backed up by science or reliable sources).  Some of us are constantly watching or listening to the “news” or reading garbage on social media.  A steady diet of these things will not only rob you of peace but will warp how you look at reality and the world.  The media and various forms of online communication involves people who do not truly care for us.  They are out to expand their audiences and get better ratings by using lies, half-truths and bad speculation.

 

 

I have been asked numerous times why the pope is “backing” President Biden simply because he contacted the President to congratulate him on his election.

This has been done by popes for almost a century.  It is a regular thing done by popes after a presidential election.  It is not “backing” the President.  

 

I have been asked why the head of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops would send a message of congratulations to President Biden as well. Archbishop Gomez, in the same letter also asked the President to remember that he is a practicing Catholic and holds views and is acting contrary to the Faith of the Church. In reality Archbishop Gomez challenged the President.

 

I have been told that the pope “corrected” Archbishop Gomez.  This is a lie; the pope did not do this.  The Cardinal Archbishop of Chicago broke ranks with the other bishops and “corrected” and angrily defended the President who has pushed through Executive Orders liberalizing abortion laws and funding abortions in other countries though taxpayers' money. Again, the pope was not involved in the dispute between these two bishops.

 

People have stated that they heard on social media that the pope was arrested a few weeks ago for gun running.  That’s a good one!  Folks have sworn to me this is true even through the pope has been wandering around Vatican City and making public appearances as recently as yesterday.   The pope has diplomatic immunity as head of the Vatican City State, he cannot be arrested by Italian police.   Even with evidence proving otherwise some people do not believe what they can see with their own eyes.  “It was on the radio,” “I read it on the web”, “I saw it on Twitter.”  Well, these things must make lies true!  If it was on social media it must be true.

 

“Father, the economy is going to crash on January 15th, it’s going to be worse than the Great Depression!” Well, January 15th came and went: while the economy has been bad for over a year there was no major economic event on January 15th. “But Father, maybe they got the dates off a little.”  This is an excuse used when people predict something that doesn’t happen.

 

If you want peace stay off social media for long periods of time, if you want panic keep watching, reading and listening to constant, deliberate misinformation and disinformation. We can always find something that either fits our own inclinations or is in opposition to them.  We can then justify rage and attacks on others.

 

This is not the way of Christ.  At some point we must decide, does the current political and social climate bring forth the Kingdom of God or the reign of the evil one?  Do we stand with Christ and the Church or with raging mobs and lying politicians? I count on Christ, you should too. More prayer, less social media, less TV, less internet.  If we are serious about the Faith, we will choose prayer.

 

“Someone exists who holds in his hands the destiny of this passing world; Someone who holds the keys to death and the netherworld; Someone who is the Alpha and the Omega … And this Someone is Love. He alone can give the ultimate assurance when he says ‘Be not afraid!’” —Pope St. John Paul II