We are coming up on the one year anniversary of the horrific school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. It was on Ash Wednesday (of all days), February 14, 2018, that the heart breaking news broke. I wrote the following, just days after the shooting …

This past Saturday, I had the good fortune to join Doug Barry in giving a day of reflection for men. By and large, the day centered around being, as Doug calls it, “Battle Ready.”

 

As the day approached, I was working on my two talks … refining and tweaking. It was the day before our “Battle Ready” day that this news broke from CNN:

 

When Coral Springs police officers arrived at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, on February 14 in the midst of the school shooting crisis, many officers were surprised to find not only that Broward County Sheriff’s Deputy Scot Peterson, the armed school resource officer, had not entered the building, but that three other Broward County Sheriff’s deputies were also outside the school and had not entered, Coral Springs sources tell CNN. The deputies had their pistols drawn and were behind their vehicles, the sources said, and not one of them had gone into the school.

 

You read that right … there were four armed officers outside the school. And none of them did anything, according to CNN.

 

With less than 24 hours before presenting to those men at that day of reflection, I completely “reframed” my talks. But, I didn’t change the essence of what I was going to talk about, because it could not have applied more squarely on what happen on that Ash Wednesday at the Florida school.

 

“You see?” (I told the men) … “those four officers, cowering behind their cars in the school parking lot, as they listened to the gunman kill one student after another, could not encapsulate more effectively what has gone on in our culture, especially in the past half century.”

I’m writing this, today, because of all of the events that have occurred in recent days having to do with abortion. And, as I read this story: “Virginia bishops ‘distraught’ at abortion bill, governor’s comments.”  Distraught? How about “LIVID” or “INCENSED” or “ENRAGED”?

How about AWAKENED TO COURAGE, Bishops!!! How about a CALL TO ACTION!!!

I’m sure those four officers behind their cars were very “distraught” as they listening to shot after shot of gunfire, each shot meaning another precious young life was being taken. BUT, they chose to keep themselves protected behind their cars, as a greater priority than saving lives.

Up to now, we have gotten perfunctory calls from a few bishops to pray to end abortion. A very few “brave” bishops have spoken out. You get that? It is “brave” to speak out. Why? Because the ruling class does not permit such a thing, and the vast majority of bishops are “beholding” to the “forces in charge” in our country. Instead, we are assured that our bishops are close by, behind their proverbial cars, as 60 million babies are slaughtered … under their watch!

Why are virtually all pro-life efforts “grassroots”?! Why are “pro-death of children” politicians allowed to claim they are in good standing with Catholic Church, and allowed to receive Communion?! Why such soft and non-committal language?!

Why are they not “publicly excommunicated”?! You, conveniently, use crafty language to avoid stepping on “ruling class” toes: “We don’t want to weaponize Communion. We should not use excommunication as a weapon.” Please, do not twist Catholic teaching, to keep protected behind your proverbial car. Excommunication is meant to “save souls.” It is meant to send a very loud and scary message to the sinner that he/she needs to make a 180 turn in order to avoid eternal damnation. And, it sends a very clear message to onlookers that this matter is extremely serious, and so please don’t support it in any way … stay clear!

Bishops, with this extreme over-reach of the “pro-death of children” politicians, we have been given a defining moment in history. We need your authoritative voice and your authoritative call to action, NOW!

Please, come out from behind your proverbial cars and run in to SAVE BABIES! Together, let us all say …

I’M GOING IN!