Fr Frank Pavone:What the Scalise Shooting Tells Us

Wednesday morning I was on a train headed to D.C. for a quarterly meeting with pro-life leaders when I heard the news of the shooting of Congressman Scalise and others. I was just with Scalise a few weeks ago. He is a strong fighter for our values and for pro-life. We at Priests for Life, are joining our prayers together for him, as well as for the other victims, for a full recovery and continued service to our country and the cause of life and of justice.In short, this is a battle. May God awaken his people to its seriousness, confirm his people in their commitment to nonviolent solutions, and protect and unite all of us as citizens of the greatest nation on earth.

Representative Steve Scalise

Highlights

By Fr.Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life
Catholic Online (https://www.catholic.org)
6/15/2017 (7 years ago)

Published in U.S.

Keywords: Congressman Scalise, President Trump, Fr Frank Pavone, shooting, Washington DC

WASHINGTON, DC (Catholic Online) - Wednesday morning I was on a train headed to D.C. for a quarterly meeting with pro-life leaders when I heard the news of the shooting of Congressman Scalise and others. I was just with Scalise a few weeks ago. He is a strong fighter for our values and for pro-life.

We at Priests for Life, are joining our prayers together for him, as well as for the other victims, for a full recovery and continued service to our country and the cause of life and of justice.

As I arrived in D.C., I noticed there is heightened care and security around the Capitol and the Supreme Court today, as we seek to protect those who we elect to make our laws and represent our values.

Former Speaker of House, Newt Gingrich, made an excellent point in a speech this morning, trying to make sense of the violence aimed at Republicans. He said there is real tension and division in our country. And it is an understatement.

With the election and new Congress, there is a new intensity in the battle between the different views of what America is and what it should be. It is real and it is intense. The attempt to take peoples lives today is never justified. But it demonstrates a deep level of animosity and tension.

Gingrich said that, under the surface, there is a very real fear in the hearts of people who see their positions being threatened as we, who are working with the Trump administration and the new congress, make real progress in the eradication of abortion from our country, in the defense of family, marriage, and religious freedom. So many think their vision for America is about to go out the window and down the drain.

We are dealing with a very real schism, based in spiritual warfare. Moreover, there is widespread ignorance on the part of many who dont understand our American system, by which political, philosophical, and policy differences can be resolved by patient dialogue, trust, and the full utilization of the tools our Constitution offers to keep a very diverse nation united. But some, either ignorant of all this or downright despising it, resort to violence.

It is time to sit down and invoke the Holy Spirit for insight, grace, and wisdom as we iron out problems. At the very least, our opponents should have an open mind and heart to listen to, and work with, those who are representing the values upon which this country was founded and the values of the gospel. However, our adversaries dont desire logical things, but things that go against even the natural order. Our times require repentance, and abandoning erroneous and evil ways.

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There is a lot we still need to learn about what happened Wednesday morning and the reasons for it. But there is no doubt about what we already know: there is a battle in America and we must not minimize it or underestimate how significant it is. We are talking about the survival of our country and matters of life and death. There are fundamental differences about things that God himself has ordained, including the protection of life, family, marriage and freedom.

Scripture tells us to pray for all those in authority. In fact, at our Priests for Life D.C. office, which stands behind the Supreme Court, there is a sign that reads ‽We always pray for the president. 1 Tim 2:2."

There is no better time than on President Trumps birthday, to remain steadfast in our prayers for him and for the protection of all our government officials, especially those who serve us in the Capitol and the Supreme Court, as they serve our nation. They are courageous men and women.

Many dedicated and faithful Christians are serving in Congress, and  they are working hard. Many of these faithful Christians are not seen in headlines or in the news. They work behind the scenes to apply Gospel principles to the process of hammering out pubic policies.

In short, this is a battle. May God awaken his people to its seriousness, confirm his people in their commitment to nonviolent solutions, and protect and unite all of us as citizens of the greatest nation on earth.

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Fr Frank Pavone is the National Director of Priests for Life. Priests for Life is the world's largest Catholic organization focused exclusively on ending abortion

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