Most Reverend Jerome E. Listecki
Archbishop of Milwaukee
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
From the very beginning of the United States, there has been prejudice against the Roman Catholic Church. Perhaps it was because of the structure of the Church and concern that the pope would interfere with the citizens of the new country. Maybe it was the large number of the Church’s faithful throughout the world that created fear in many. From the very outset, Catholicism was misunderstood. John Adams, writing to Thomas Jefferson, said “Cabalistic Christianity, which is Catholic Christianity, and which has prevailed for 1,500 years, has received a mortal wound, of which the monster must finally die. Yet so strong is his constitution, that he may endure for centuries before he expires.” I do not believe the Church is anticipating its demise, but there are many who would like the Church to disappear. It cannot — because it was created by Christ to lead men and women to salvation. The very dignity of the human person is vested in the Church herself. When the objective truth is boldly proclaimed, it is a challenge to those forces that reject objective truth.
There were always movements throughout history that attempted to eliminate the Catholic Church — the Roman Empire, Nazism, Communism — only to be challenged by the martyrs whose blood and faithfulness witnesses to the rightness of the Church. In the United States, the Ku Klux Klan was created to attack not only people of color, but Catholics and Jews. Throughout the history of the United States, the Catholic Church has been limited by judicial judgments, under the guise of the separation of church and state, which restricted the Catholic Church more than any other faith.
If some thought that prejudice towards the Church was a thing of the past, most recent depictions have reminded us that prejudice is alive and active. The recent Olympic opening ceremony with a presentation of the Last Supper in drag caused Christians across national lines to issue their offense. The creators of the scene, which they called “Festivity,” were surprised at the offense. They claimed it mirrored a 17th century work called “The Feast of the Gods” celebrating the Greek god of celebration. They apologized to anyone offended. What amazes me is that the creators themselves who claim to be artists did not see the similarities. It is disturbing that we have so distanced ourselves from religious works that we do not even recognize the works that have graced our history. In the United States, some have taken aim at religious women as the “Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence,” presenting themselves as sisters and priests in drag. At least there should be some respect for the women who have sacrificed their life in service to the community. Where would we be as a community if they and their predecessors failed to fill the hospitals, schools, and Catholic charities? Most recently, we’ve had a politician distributing a Dorito chip like a Communion host to a kneeling podcaster in a video.
I guess it is open season on Catholics but that is no surprise when the Church boldly proclaims its support for life, its opposition to abortion, its promotion for traditional marriage and its care for the poor. We can understand how the opponents of the Church would like it just to go away. But we cannot. We did not during the Roman Empire, Communism and Nazism. We are charged with something greater and that is to live like Christ in the world for the sake of our brothers and sisters. We will continue to pray for our country and echo the words of St. Thomas More before his execution, “I die the King’s good servant but God’s first.” Despite the prejudice, the ridicule and the attacks, we will follow Jesus and do our best to LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
Sincerely,
Most Reverend Jerome E. Listecki
Archbishop of Milwaukee
Note: This blog originally appeared as the October 29, 2024, "Love One Another" email sent to Catholics throughout the Archdiocese of Milwaukee by Archbishop Jerome E. Listecki. If you are interested in signing up for these email messages, please click here.