Bishop Joseph Strickland criticized the FBI’s targeting of traditional Catholic churches as resembling Nazi Germany or communist Russia more than the United States.
He said it reflected a nation losing its way and using government agencies to attack those living according to God’s truth.
Strickland argued the FBI targeted Catholics due to their conservative pro-life and pro-family values that reject the “woke agenda” as going against God and human nature.
Strickland said, “Well, I really don’t claim to have the answer for why they would do this, but I do see it as a sad symptom of a society that sounds too much more like Nazi Germany or communist Russia than the United States.”
“Freedom of speech, freedom of religion — all of those freedom issues seem to be bound up in this … I think the FBI has been weaponized to go after people who simply believe deeply in the message of Jesus Christ and believe in the truth that He’s revealed,” the bishop continued.
Adding, “And sadly, in the nation and really in the world, even in the Catholic Church, we’re having a lot of people not so sure about this truth that God has revealed through his Son Jesus Christ.”
Strickland said, “She can always come back, but we’ve got to listen to the truth that God has revealed to us and come back to those foundation stones and not use government agencies to attack people for living the truth.”
He claimed, “If we’re afraid of the truth, then we’ve got more to fear than any individual who may be standing for that truth.”
He added that tyrannical leaders feel threatened by those who stand up for truth and won’t compromise.
Strickland explained, “The Catholic Church is, and should be, totally opposed to this woke agenda … The Catholic Church should reject [the woke agenda] because it’s a rejection of God. It’s a rejection of who we are: created in the image and likeness of God.
He added, “I think it’s natural that those standing for that truth are going to be seen as a threat to this agenda.”
“Just as we look to Nazi Germany or to the communist state of Stalin: how many people died because they said no to those despotic regimes? The same thing is going to happen here, but we have to speak against the false messages — no matter how many hearts and minds the false message captures,” concluded Strickland.
Strickland said Americans must stand for truth amid lies, acknowledging speakers of truth will be seen as a threat like in Nazi Germany and Stalinist Russia, but it’s important to counter false messages no matter their popularity.
