A Christian Revolution
Mark S. Roberti, Director of Stewardship and Development
Heartland Parishes of Ellis County

We’re in the midst of a worldwide Christian Revolution.  Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Pope John Paul II did much of the preparatory work.  But it’s Pope Benedict XVI and Christian leaders throughout the world who are launching this revolution.  It’s a peaceful revolution, not against particular people, but in support of traditional Christian values.  It’s revolution of Christian love and morality.

You might not have yet noticed it germinating.  There’s a reason for that; the American news media fears it.  This revolution will ultimately result in a collapse of the values they have stridently attempted to promote.  It will also result in the outright demise many or our present media outlets.

To put things into perspective, when I turned on my computer this morning I saw three articles.  The first headline, from British Broadcasting Corporation, stated, "Thousands of people have taken to the streets of Madrid to protests against government moves to legalize marriage for same sex couples."

The protest, it said, is being led by Roman Catholic bishops and members of the conservative opposition Popular Party.  Five hundred bus loads of people attended and there were special flights from the Canary Islands and Spanish parts of Morocco.  In April, Spain’s lower house passed a bill permitting gay marriage and related adoptions. If that bill is passed by the Spanish Senate it will make Spain the first European Country to do so.

In a related event in Poland, a World Net Daily headline read, Thousands march against ‘gay pride.’  Subsequently identifying Poland as a predominantly Catholic country, the article’s subtitle read, "‘Normal Parade’ brings out Poles opposing special rights for homosexuals."

A third article which I found in an Agape Press article tells of a coalition of pro-family groups joining forces to demand that the AFL-CIO rescind a recent resolution backing same-sex marriage.  The coalition that has called the AFL-CIO to task consists of approximately three dozen national and state organizations, and includes the heads of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, Catholic Vote, the Coalition of African- American Pastors and a number of Christian television and radio networks.

In Hays, an ecumenical grassroots group of Christians has formed to draw the line locally.  Already, we’ve engaged the Hays Public Library over Internet porn filters in the Children section.  Though not having completely won that battle, we’ve had some definite successes.  As a library board is a completely autonomous body that answers neither to the City Commission nor to the citizens of the community, we are implementing a long-term strategy to prevail.

With the help of our local Knights of Columbus chapters, we vigorously promoted a "Vote Yes" campaign for the marriage amendment this April.  We had a 74 percent favorable vote in this college town that has a small but very well coordinated contingent of "gays" and supporters.  To have a substantially higher, rather than lower, percentage compared to the state wide results, in a college community, is a significant accomplishment.

We are also presently collecting signatures in hopes of demonstrating to our Hays City Commissioners that there is substantial resistance to Sunday liquor sales in this city.  We want our city leaders to understand that the greater Hays community wants to "honor the Lord’s day."  Many people who have signed the petition feel there should be no Sunday sales period.   That issue is not up for vote, but we can draw the line.  It starts someplace.  It starts with us.

We are also in the beginning phase of launching a proactive zoning effort to prevent additional purveyors of pornography to operate in Ellis County.  Driving West on I-70 you will note an unmistakable "creep" of adult pornography superstores in this direction.  Figuring Ellis County is going to be their next stop, we plan to draw the line here.

So why am I writing this article?  I’m urging you to help in this "Christian revolution."  In whatever community you live within the Diocese of Salina, in whatever capacity you can help, there is work to be done.  In Scripture, Jesus says, "The harvest if plentiful, but the laborers are few" pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest." (Mt 9:36-37)

We are the laborers being called.  Praying for this harvest and laborers is essential for all of us.  It’s also necessary that those of us who can work in other ways in the fields do so.  The Church is responsible for this harvest. She needs us to be stewards of the harvest. She needs our time, talent, and treasure.  

Be part of this Christian revolution.