On January 20, over 60 Catholics gathered to hear pro-family activist, author, and journalist Austin Ruse speak about why “Now is the Time to Fight.”
The event was held at the Washington Bureau of the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family, and Property (TFP) in McLean, Virginia. Mr. Ruse is the president of the research institute C-Fam that monitors and protests the anti-family actions at the United Nations.
In his most recent book, Under Siege: No Finer Time to be a Catholic, he underlines the need for Catholics to fight in the culture war raging all over the nation. Mr. Ruse gives multiple examples of how to do this. He showed, for example, how to get pornographic books removed from local libraries or the efficacy of praying with pro-life groups in front of abortion clinics.
No Finer Time to Be a Catholic
The packed house listened to his talk titled “Now is the Time to Fight,” which was based on his book Under Siege. He pointed out how a newly established religion of the left mandates what children must believe and even the pronouns used to address people. He argued that the “cultural snipers” who surround conservatives are precisely the reason why there is no better time to be Catholic. In any direction one turns, one can find a target-rich environment to peacefully wage the religious and cultural battle of the day.
No One Else Comes Under Attack as Much as the Church
Mr. Ruse reminded his audience that the world is obsessed with the Church. For example, the media disproportionately focus on the sex abuse scandals in the Church while ignoring other denominations and institutions. He also observed the debate about whether Joe Biden is a good or bad Catholic receives much more attention than other non-Catholic leaders.
Eternal and Natural Law: The Foundation of Morals and Law
No one knows what trials and tribulations still lie ahead for Catholics, but it is good to remember that God can bring good out of evil.
Don’t Get Distracted
Mr. Ruse urged his audience to stay on track in waging the cultural battle around them. Those engaged in the fight should not get distracted with nostalgia for the “good old times” of the fifties or earlier. They should not get sidetracked by video games or sports but be good stewards of the time that God has given them.
He closed the talk by asking everyone to join him in chanting the TFP battle cry used at the end of campaigns, which sums up the present fight: “Tradition, Family, Property! America! America! America!”