Thursday, January 1, 2015

Chistians Slaughtered in the Middle East: Where is Pope Francis?




 
      Devout Catholics do not like to be critical of the Pope.  After all, the Pope is believed to be in direct communion with God.  However, the Pope is only infallible when God is speaking to him as he sits “in the chair of Peter.”  Otherwise the Pope is just as human as the rest of us and he does make mistakes. 

         Pope Francis seems a peculiar type of shepherd.  While Christians are being killed in the most gruesome fashion in the Middle East, the Pope is talking about global warming, of all things.  Global warming!  Global warming is a political issue, not one of science, regardless of the claims made by environmentalists.  After all, it was some of these same environmentalists who manipulated and in some cases even destroyed the so-called scientific evidence they said their theory of global warming proved beyond any doubt.  If their documentation actually did prove global warming, they would have been running for the cameras and every type of publication they could find with that evidence, not destroying it.

         The Pope’s job is the shepherding of his flock.  While Pope Francis has made statements condemning the violence against Christians in the Middle East, so far he has not called for military intervention, which is necessary under the current circumstances.  Instead, the Pope has called for more discussion with the terrorists – as if people who behave like animals are capable of rational discussion about the issue of slaughtering their fellow humans. 

         The type of Islam practiced by jihadists is political, not religious.  It is a religion in the same way, ironically, as global warming is.  This slaughtering of innocent children in the most unthinkable ways is an effort to control the truly devout Muslim community as well as non-Muslims. Like global warming, the type of Islam practiced by terrorists is in no way the demonstration of a religion that worships God.  So why is the Pope suggesting we continue the useless practice of dialog with these individuals?

         Pacifism is dangerous and in some ways evil.  It can be argued that most pacifists have good intentions, but if their rally to non-violence at all costs leads to the catastrophes we are seeing in places like Libya, Iraqi and other nations in the Middle East, they are contributing to the problem.  And a man like Pope Francis is very influential.  His flock is watching him and many will be tempted to follow his lead because of who he is.  And the last thing we need right now is more pacifists.  How will this help the Christians who are being slaughtered? There is a record low of Christians in the Middle East because they are fleeing.  Meanwhile the Pope is encouraging Christians to stay in that part of the world.  While it is important that we not let ourselves be bullied by dictators and thugs, most people are not looking to be slaughtered if it can be avoided.

         Military intervention as a means of self-defense is part of Church doctrine.  While it is admirable to limit military force whenever possible, at what point will the Pope call for the Western World to use it?  If not when Christians are being slaughtered because of their belief in Jesus Christ, refusing to denounce their faith and leaving the only part of the world they’ve ever known as home, what will it take?  The Pope obviously does not have access to a military, but because of his position his words are important. 

         What of the people who refused to renounce their Christian faith and were executed for it?  Are they not seen by the Church as martyrs?  Why has the Pope not spoken about the deep love for Jesus these people have shown, some of them children?  Where are the speeches pointing to the courage of these people?  Most of us watch in horror from our comfortable settings as these atrocities occur.  These slaughtered Christians did not simply talk about their love of God, they displayed it in the most dramatic way - by giving their very lives on earth because of their dedication to Jesus.  Their examples for the rest of us to fight for Christian values need to be pointed out and applauded.  If these people willingly died rather than turn away from their Christian faith, surely we can do everything in our power to persuade others to turn to God for the first time, as well as invite fallen Christian to go back to God.

         The Pope is only one man. He cannot do everything and as Christians it is our duty to help spread The Good News.  But the Pope is the leader of the Catholic Church with wide influence among non-Catholic Christians.  We are watching and he needs to lead in the fight to save Christians in the Middle East.  What does the Pope’s lack of any practical involvement in this matter tell Christians all over the world?  It tells us that if jihadists begin these horrific practices in the West, he may not be there for us.  And with a president like Barack Obama, the idea of terrorists slaughtering innocent people in the West as they are our Christian brethren in the Middle East is not beyond the pale.

         So what can we do?  We can start by contacting our representatives and leaning on them for military intervention for our Christian brethren.  We can contact the Vatican and express our concern and sadness that this is taking place, encouraging the call for military action in an effort to stop it.  But most of all, we can lead the most holy life we can, in accordance to the Word of God and the example of our Lord, Jesus Christ.  It is important that all devout Christians do these things for our love for God.  We need to pray daily for those being persecuted and for those working to help them.  We are watching the Pope, and God is watching us.   The depth of our dedication is reflected in our actions and inactions.  How deep is your devotion?