7th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Feb. 19, 2012
Fr. Anthony Brankin
Gospel: Mark 2:1-12 Healing of the paralytic
(Today’s sermon was followed by heartfelt applause.)
Sermon summary: Cardinal [Francis] George has predicted that the persecution of the Church is coming. He said that he himself would die in bed, but his successor would die in jail, and that the next successor would be executed.
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This secular government is coming after us. The government passes laws that neutralize grace and goodness in the world. What the cardinal was saying was that one day we may have to shed blood. We won’t provide contraception and abortion — things that are in themselves immoral. Catholic schools and colleges will have to drop their health insurance, or they will be fined. Thus, the government will close institutions that we have worked for two hundred years to build.
See you in jail
That is the trajectory — the arrests of bishops and priests. We will all be cellmates. Our message is that we will not kill babies; we will not kill love. Love is permanent, faithful and fruitful.