[THEME MUSIC] >> Father: I AM FR. MITCH "EWTN LIVE," WHERE WE BRING YOU GUEST FROM AROUND THE WORLD, AND TONIGHT WE WILL TALK ABOUT WAYS WE CAN GROW IN HOLINESS, AND FIRMNESS OF OUR FAITH, REGARDLESS OF OUR VOCATION IN LIFE. ESPECIALLY AS WE IDENTIFY AND CHALLENGE THE REAL WORLD THREATS TO THE CHURCH, OUR FAITH IN GOD, AND OUR COMMUNITIES. FIRST, WE WANT TO TALK BRIEFLY WITH EWTN'S PETER GAGNON ABOUT THE UPCOMING SEASON OF LENT. PETER, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO BE DOING FOR LENT OR WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO TRY TO GET US TO? >> TRYING TO GROW IN HOLINESS LIKE I AM SUPPOSED TO. >> Father: ALL RIGHT, THEN WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT TIME. [LAUGHTER] SPEAK ABOUT BEFORE THAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT A SPECIAL PROGRAM, THE WORLD KNOWS ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN UKRAINE AND RUSSIA, BUT WE HAVE A PROGRAM CALLED TO BELIEVE PRODUCED BY OUR EWTN UKRAINE OFFICE AND IT'S A POWERFUL STORY ABOUT THE PERSECUTION OF CATHOLICS IN UKRAINE BY THE RUSSIANS IN THEIR 20TH CENTURY. IT DEALS WITH A PASTOR OF A PARISH. IT IS A TRUE STORY, PASTOR SEBASTIAN AND THE FAMILIES WHO WERE A PART OF THAT PARISH. IT IS AT TIMES DIFFICULT TO WATCH BECAUSE IT SHOWS REALLY WHAT THEY WENT THROUGH AND THE DIFFICULTIES, BUT IT'S A VERY POWERFUL STORY. IT'S GOING TO AIR SATURDAY AT 10:00 P.M. EASTERN TIME. WE AIR AGAIN ON SUNDAY 10:00 P.M. EASTERN AND THE OVERNIGHT. THAT IS A PROGRAM I REALLY LIKE PEOPLE TO TUNE IN TO WATCH. >> Father: I DON'T THINK FOLKS HAVE AS MUCH OF A SENSE ANYMORE OF HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN SOVIET UNION FOR THEIR FAITH, AND IN PARTICULAR, THE GREEK CATHOLICS. THE UKRAINIANS, RUSSIAN CATHOLICS. THEY WERE VERY MUCH TARGETED, PARTICULAR TARGETS. >> ABSOLUTELY, AND THIS FILM REALLY SHOWS YOU WHAT THEY WENT THROUGH AND SUFFERED. BUT OBVIOUSLY WITH LENS PEOPLE TO KNOW WE ARE GOING TO BE BRINGING THE HOLY FATHER'S MASS WEDNESDAY, ASH WEDNESDAY, BEING A WEDNESDAY. AND WHEN WE KICK OFF THE SEASON OF LENT, BESIDES THE MASS WE ARE GOING TO HAVE SPECIAL PROGRAMMING, LAND AND REFLECTIONS IS A PROGRAM WE AIR EVERY WEEK FROM A DIFFERENT PRIEST FROM ENGLAND, AND THEN ALSO PEOPLE SHOULD GO TO OUR WEBSITE. IT'S EWTN.com/LENT, BECAUSE ON THAT SITE WE WILL HAVE ALL THAT PROGRAMMING INFORMATION BUT ALSO SPECIAL WEEKLY REFLECTIONS THAT FATHER JOSEPH GIVES AND ALSO DAILY REFLECTIONS THAT WE HAVE. SO WE HAVE A LOT OF RESOURCES FOR PEOPLE AND LAND. WE ALSO HAVE A REALLY NICE SPECIAL CALLED "REBORN." IT'S GOING TO BE AIRING NEXT WEEK AS WELL. IT IS A DOCUDRAMA WE PRODUCE AND IT'S BASICALLY A CINEMATIC RETELLING OF THE STORY OF THE PRODIGAL SON, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON THE SACRAMENTS PARTICULARLY OF CONFESSION AND KIND OF THE JOY OF COMING BACK TO THE FATHER. THERE IS INTERVIEWS AND OTHER REFLECTIONS THROUGHOUT. AND THAT WILL AIR ON WEDNESDAY AT 3:30 P.M. EASTERN. MARCH 2ND AS WELL. THEN AFTER "REBORN," MARCH WILL ALSO KICK OFF, I REGRET IS GOING TO CHANGE A LITTLE BIT. WE HAVE SEVERAL NEW SERIES WE ARE GOING TO BE PUTTING ON THE GRID IN A REGULAR BASIS. ONE OF THEM AS THE HERESIES HOSTED BY TIM MORIARTY, HE GOES TO HERESIES THROUGHOUT HISTORY. SO BASICALLY FROM GNOSTICISM ALL THE WAY TO MODERNISM. THAT WILL KICK OFF BEGINNING MARCH 3RD, IT'S A REALLY WELL PRODUCED PROGRAM AND WILL HELP PEOPLE REALLY UNDERSTAND THE HERESIES BOTH OLD AND NEW AND THOSE THAT ARE STILL WITH US TODAY. >> Father: MY BIBLE SAYS THERE IS NOTHING NEW UNDER THE SUN, AND IT'S AMAZING HOW A LOT OF THE OLD HERESIES KEEP COMING BACK. I'VE BEEN COMING UP AGAINST THE BELLY AND HERESY, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY COVER THAT OR NOT. >> WE AIRED A SPECIAL WE ARE GOING TO HAVE 13 OR 15 DIFFERENT EPISODES ON IT SO THERE ARE A LOT OF HERESIES WE ARE GOING TO COVER. WE ALSO BRING BACK "CATHOLIC SPHERE." WE ARE REFORMATTING IT, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT HOSTS, JACK WILLIAMS WILL HOST ANOTHER WEEK, AND IT WILL BE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO COVER DIFFERENT TOPICS. FATHER JOSEPH WILL ALSO HOST AND BRING IN THE CHURCH UNIVERSAL FIELD. THE FIRST ONES, THEY WILL BE BACK BEGINNING MARCH 3RD AND THAT WILL AIR ON TUESDAYS AT 6:30 P.M. AND WEDNESDAYS IN THE OVERNIGHTS, SO CHECK OUT "CATHOLICS FEAR." THE LAST ONE I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT IS EXPLORE WITH THE MIRACLE HUNTER. WE'VE BEEN AIRING SPECIALS, VARIOUS ONES THROUGHOUT THE LAST YEAR OR SO AND NOW WE ARE GOING TO GIVE IT A WEEKLY SLOT READABLE COVER EVERYTHING FROM LA CIANO MIRACLES IN PARIS, AND NEW ORLEANS. SO IT HIGHLIGHTS BASICALLY THE SUPERNATURAL ASPECTS OF OUR CHURCH THROUGHOUT THE AGES. IT'S REALLY A GREAT PROGRAM AS WELL. IT HAS INTERVIEWS, COMMENTARY AND REENACTMENTS OF A LOT OF THE MIRACLES. SO THAT IS BEGINNING MARCH 5TH ON WEDNESDAYS AT 6:30 A.M. AND SATURDAYS AT 6:00 P.M. EWTN.com/TV AND YOU CAN ACTUALLY FIND SERIES INFORMATION THERE, SPECIALS INFORMATION SO THAT IS A GOOD RESOURCE TO GO T TO. >> Father: AND YOU CAN GO TO EWTN/Lent? >> YES, FOR LENT FORMATION. >> Father: THANK YOU. WE WILL BE BACK IN A COUPLE MINUTES WITH TONIGHT'S GUEST, SO PLEASE STAY WITH US. [THEME MUSIC] [THEME MUSIC] >> Father: WELCOME BACK. OUR GUEST TONIGHT HAS BEEN A PRIEST WITH FATHERS OF MERCY FOR 31 YEARS, WHICH IS A PRETTY GOOD START. BUT BEFORE THAT HE WAS AN OFFICER IN THE U.S. ARMY, HAS A LOT OF EXPERIENCE WAKING UP THOSE WHO MAY HAVE BEEN A BIT LACKADAISICAL IN THEIR FAITH, AND HE HAS A BRAND-NEW BOOK THAT CALLS US ALL TO STAND UP TO THE MANY EVILS THAT ARE TEARING AT THE FABRIC OF OUR SOCIETY. THEY ARE TEARING OUT THE TRADITIONS AND TEACHERS OF OUR CATHOLIC FAITH. AND AT THE VERY EXISTENCE OF GO GOD. SO IT'S VERY FITTING THAT HIS BOOK HAS A PICTURE OF JESUS DRIVING OUT OF THE MANY CHANGES TEMPLE. GOT A FEELING HE'S NOT GOING TO MINCE WORDS WITH US TONIGHT EITHER, SO PLEASE WELCOME THE AUTHOR OF THE BOOK "YOU SHALL STAND FIRM." PRESERVING THE FAITH IN AN AGE OF APOSTASY. PLEASE WELCOME FATHER WILLIAM CASEY. FATHER CASEY, GOOD TO HAVE YOU. >> GREAT TO SEE YOU AGAIN. >> Father: THIS TITLE OF YEARS SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING I REMEMBER READING IN THE BIBLE. WHERE DID YOU GET TO THIS TITLE, "STAND FIRM?" >> I T CHOSE THIS PARTICULAR TIE BECAUSE THE WORDS "YOU SHALL STAND FIRM" WAS THE DIVINE IMPERATIVE, GOD'S COMMAND TO THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, COMMANDING THEM TO STAND FIRM IN THE FAITH AND MOST OF THE IDOLATRY AND IMMORALITY IN THE PAGANISM GOING ON ALL AROUND THEM. AND IN MANY WAYS WE CAN SAY WE ARE IN MUCH THE SAME SITUATION TODAY. >> Father: THE PAGANS OR SHIPPED TO VARIOUS GODS OF NATURE. THERE WERE FORCES OF NATURE THEY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THEY COULD AT LEAST PLACATE. COULDN'T CONTROL BUT YOU COULD AT LEAST PLACATE THEM. THIS WAS TEMPTING FOR ISRAEL, SO TO STAND FIRM IN THE FAITH IS AN IMPORTANT COMMAND FROM GOD. WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE PROBLEM YOU'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS? WHAT IS GOING ON THAT MAKES YOU REMIND US OF THAT VERSE IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, YOU SHALL STAND FIRM? WHAT IS GOING ON? >> I THINK ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS I WROTE THE BOOK IS THAT IN OUR TRAVELS AROUND THE COUNTRY, YOU KNOW THAT THE APOSTOLATE OF THE FATHERS OF MERCY IS TO PREACH AT PARISH MISSIONS AND RETREATS ALL OVER, SO OFTEN THE GOOD CATHOLICS THAT WE MEET, WE FIND, ARE IN A SITUATION WHERE THEIR MORALE IS LOW. I FIND IN MY TRAVELS THAT MANY OF OUR PEOPLE SEEM TO BE FRUSTRATED AND CONFUSED AND VERY OFTEN ARE ANGRY ABOUT THE THINGS THEY SEE HAPPENING, NOT JUST IN OUR COUNTRY BUT ALSO IN THE CHURCH AND THEY ARE EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT THE THINGS HAPPENING IN THEIR OWN FAMILIES. >> Father: GAVE -- LIKE WHAT KIND OF THINGS ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? >> I HAVE SPENT THE BETTER PART OF THE LAST 30 YEARS LIVING OUT OF MY SUITCASE PREACHING THE GOSPEL, AND EVERYWHERE WE GO TODAY IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THERE IS THIS GREAT LOSS OF FAITH, GREAT APOSTASY GOING ON EVERYWHERE, AND IT SEEMS AS THOUGH EVERY CATHOLIC FAMILY HAS BEEN WOUNDED IN SOME WAY INDISCREET. DON'T MAKE THIS A GREAT ABANDONMENT AND EVERY AMERICAN S BEEN AFFECTED IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. FOR EXAMPLE, WOUNDED BY ADDICTION IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER. WOUNDED BY DRUGS. >> Father: AND THE DRUGS AND ADDICTION WOUNDS ARE BEING EXACERBATED BECAUSE NOW THE DRUG DEALERS ARE SENDING FENTANYL IN THE COUNTRY AND IT'S NOT THAT PEOPLE ARE BUYING FENTANYL, IT IS BEING MIXED WITH THE MARIJUANA AND DRUGS AND MAKING THEM STRONGER. IT HAS KILLED 100,000 PEOPLE A YEAR. THAT IS TWICE THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE KILLED IN THE VIETNAM WAR APPEARED >> AND HOW MANY PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT? SO THOSE FAMILIES WOUNDED BY DRUG ABUSE, WOUNDED BY ALCOHOL ABUSE, WOUNDED BY SEXUAL ABUSE, THE FAMILIES WOUNDED BY PORNOGRAPHY, WOUNDED SOULS AND MARRIAGES, FAMILIES WOUNDED BY INFIDELITY, EMOTIONAL BREAKUPS AND ALL THE PSYCHOLOGICAL DEVASTATION THAT GOES ALONG WITH THAT. THE FAMILIES WOUNDED BY SUICIDE, CRIME, ATHEISM, WHATEVER. MOST PEOPLE WOULD HAVE THE GOOD SENSE TO REALIZE WE ARE LOOKING AT THE TIME OF THE VERY TRAGIC AND DISASTROUS COLLAPSE, SPIRITUAL AND MORAL COLLAPSE THAT NOW THREATENS THE VERY FUTURE AND LIFE OF THIS COUNTRY AND ANYBODY WHO DOESN'T BELIEVE THAT, JUST LOOK TO THE BIBLE, LOOK TO THE FACTS OF HISTORY, THEY DON'T LIE. IT SEEMS TO ME IN WRITING THE BOOK AND TAKING UP THIS SUBJECT THAT OUR PEOPLE NEEDED A MORALE BOOST. WE WANT TO PRESENT THEM WITH THE REALITY OF A SITUATION THAT WE ARE IN, HOW WE GOT WHERE WE ARE TODAY, BUT WE HAVE TO PRESENT THEM WITH THE HOPE THAT THEY NEED TO GO ON AND UNDERSTAND THAT GOD IS STILL IN COMMAND OF HIS CHURCH. >> Father: I THINK THAT WE HAVE SEEN THIS MORAL BREAKDOWN, BREAKDOWN OF FAMILIES SO THAT IT IS NOT EVEN SO MANY DIVORCES, PEOPLE ARE NOT GETTING MARRIED IN THE FIRST PLACE. MORE THAN HALF, JUST OVER 50% OF ALL CHILDREN ARE BORN TO UNMARRIED PARENTS WHO ARE NOT COMMITTED. YOU SEE THIS BREAKDOWN WITH DRUGS, ET CETERA, AND NOW WE ARE ADDING TO IT A SERIES OF ECONOMIC CRISES, PARTLY FROM THE PANDEMIC OF COVID. BUT NOW WITH THE PROBLEMS IN EUROPE, THE WAR IN UKRAINE AND SUCH, OUR GASOLINE IS MOVING CLOSER TO $5 A GALLON AND IT COULD GO UP TO $7. THESE KINDS OF ECONOMIC TENSIONS WILL DEVASTATE THOSE WHO DON'T HAVE THE MORAL AND SPIRITUAL FIBER TO SAY OKAY, WE ARE GOING TO MAKE OUR WAY THROUGH THIS. IF THEY DON'T HAVE THAT, THESE BECOME OVERWHELMING AND THAT IS WHY WE'VE SEEN LOTS MORE SUICIDES EVEN AMONG OUR YOUNG PEOPLE. >> IT SEEMS LIKE FOR MANY FAMILIES THEY SEEM TO BE MORALLY AND FINANCIALLY IN A FULL COURT PRESS NOW. FAMILIES ARE HURTING. ANOTHER FACTOR IN THIS IS THAT EVERYWHERE THAT WE GO, WE MEET THE PARENTS AND THE GRANDPARENTS WHO AGONIZE ENDLESSLY OVER WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THEIR FAMILIES AND OVER THE FACT THAT LOVED ONES, SONS AND DAUGHTERS AND KIDS AND GRANDKIDS HAVE LEFT THE PRACTICE OF THE FAITH, LEFT THE CHURCH AND OFTEN ARE LIVING VERY, VERY IMMORAL LIVES. IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THE FAMILY TODAY IS UNDER A VERY INTENSE AND DEMONIC ATTACK FROM EVERY LEVEL. >> Father: YEAH. WHAT IS IT, WE SEE THIS PROBLEM AND IT'S A FAIRLY WIDESPREAD AND SERIOUS SET OF PROBLEMS. WHAT ARE YOU SUGGESTING IN YOUR BOOK THEN? HOW DO WE COUNTERACT IT? >> I HAVE TO SAY IN ALL HONESTY THAT I GET VERY SICK OF HEARING CATHOLICS AND CHRISTIANS IN GENERAL SAY THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO. >> Father: YEAH. >> I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE, DON'T EVER SAY THERE'S NOTHING I CAN DO. THAT STATEMENT IS AN IMPLICIT INSULT TO GOD. IT IS A DENIAL OF GOD'S POWER AND GOD'S GRACE. THERE IS A LOT WE CAN ALL DO AS WE TAKE PART IN THIS GREAT SPIRITUAL BATTLE OF OUR TIME. >> Father: I MIGHT JUST ADD AS A LITTLE WISDOM I GAINED FROM MY MOTHER MANY, MANY YEARS AGO, STOP THAT WHINING OR I WILL GIVE YOU SOMETHING TO WHINE ABOUT! THERE IS NO ROOM FOR WHINING. YOU HAVE SOME VERY CONCRETE THINGS WE CAN DO ON THE SPIRITUAL AND ACTION LEVEL. >> WE HAVE GOT THE MOST POWERFUL SPIRITUAL WEAPONS EVER KNOWN TO HUMANITY AT OUR DISPOSAL AT ALL TIMES. I TELL PEOPLE, YOU CAN PRAY, YOU CAN FAST FOR SPIRITUAL SACRIFICES TO GOD, OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN. YOU CAN TAKE PART IN ADORATION, YOU CAN PLAY THE HOLY ROSARY, YOU CAN PLAY THE CHAPLET OF DIVINE MERCY, YOU CAN STAND UP AND SPEAK UP AND RISE UP IN CHARITY TO DEFEND THE CAUSE OF CHRIST, THE CAUSE OF TRUTH. >> Father: I THINK, THOUGH, GIVEN THE PRESSURE AGAINST STANDING UP FOR JESUS CHRIST, FOR THE CHURCH, FOR THE SACRAMENT, THERE'S A LOT OF PRESSURE AGAINST SPEAKING UP AND A LOT OF PRESSURE AGAINST SPEAKING UP FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD AND THE GOODNESS OF GOD THAT COMES FROM A WIDE VARIETY OF SOCIETY, PARTS OF SOCIETY. WHAT YOU WOULD DO IN YOUR BOOK IS TALK ABOUT HOW YOU HAVE TO HAVE THAT SPIRITUAL BASE SO THAT YOU HAVE INNER STRENGTH TO STAND UP AGAINST THE ENEMIES OF OUR FAITH. >> THIS IS SO TRUE. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS A TIME IN MANY WAYS OF GREAT CRISIS AND CORRUPTION AND CONFUSION IN THE CHURCH, BUT THERE IS THE OLD SAYING THAT HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF. FOR EXAMPLE, YOU COULD THINK OF THE 13TH CENTURY. A TIME, HISTORY AND THE CHURCH VERY MUCH LIKE OUR OWN. IT WAS OF COURSE THE 13TH CENTURY THAT GOD CALLED ST. FRANCIS TO REBUILD HIS CHURCH. OUR LORD SPOKE TO ST. FRANCIS AND SAID, MY CHURCH IS IN RUINS, REBUILD MY CHURCH. >> Father: AND HE CHOSE FRANCIS AS SOMEBODY WHO WAS LIVING A VERY WORLDLY LIFE, WHOSE FATHER LIVED A VERY WORLDLY LIFE, WAS FOCUSED ON WEALTH AND PROSPERITY ONLY. THE CHURCH GAVE THEIR MONEY AND ALL THAT, BUT WE GOT BUSINESS. AND IT'S FROM THAT KIND OF INVOLVEMENT IN A LOT OF THE SINS THAT THEY CALLED FRANCIS. SPEAK OF THE GOOD PEOPLE, THE FL CATHOLICS IN THE 13TH CENTURY, THEY ASKED THEMSELVES, HOW CAN WE DO OUR PART, HOW CAN WE REBUILD THE CHURCH NOW? THE OBVIOUS ANSWER IS WE START WITH OURSELVES. WE DO IT BY A BUILDING AND REBUILDING OUR OWN SPIRITUAL LIVES. WE ANSWER THE CALL THAT GOD HAS GIVEN TO EACH ONE OF US TO BE MEN AND WOMEN OF FAITH, PRAYER, AND DEVOTION. JOHN PAUL II USED TO SAY, WE MUST BE CATHOLIC CHRISTIAN MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE NOT CONTENT WITH SPIRITUAL MEDIOCRITY. NOT SATISFIED JUST TO BE SEEN AS JUST A GOOD PEOPLE ARE NICE PEOPLE. THAT OF ITSELF, THAT IS NOT GOING TO GET ANYBODY TO HEAVEN. IT IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH IN GOD'S SIGHT. I'VE KNOWN LOTS OF NICE PEOPLE IN MY TIME WHO WERE LIVING VERY IMMORAL LIVES. IT'S GOT TO DO MORE THAN THAT, GO DEEPER THAN THAT BECAUSE WE ARE CALLED TO BE, ALL HOLY PEOPLE. >> Father: I THINK A COUPLE THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND, IT CALLED FROM A WORLDLY LIFE, YOU HAD ST. DOMINIC IN THAT SAME CENTURY, WHEN BISHOPS WERE WORKING WITH NOBILITY TO GO TO WAR AGAINST A GROUP OF HERETICS. THEY SOUGHT INTERNAL HOLINESS TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THEM AND WIN THEM OVER. BECAUSE SOMETIMES IN VARIOUS PARTS OF HISTORY, THE BISHOPS AND PRIESTS WERE NOT -- THEY WERE ACTING LIKE THE SECULAR SOCIETY, AND VARIOUS SAINTS ROSE UP DESPITE THEM AND LEAD THE WAY TO HOLINESS THROUGH PRAYER AND IN THE CASE OF THE DOMINICANS, PROFOUND STUDY. >> I MENTIONED TO YOU EARLIER TODAY THAT WHEN I WAS A NEWLY ORDAINED PRIEST, MY FIRST PASTOR WAS A GOOD OLD VETERAN PREACH FROM KENTUCKY COME THE LATE FATHER BENJAMIN LUTHER, AND BEEN LUTHER WAS A GOOD CHURCH HISTORIAN, A GOOD THEOLOGIAN BUT I REMEMBER HE ALWAYS DID THIS, HE SAID ANY SERIOUS STUDENT OF CHURCH HISTORY WILL BE SURE TO TELL YOU THAT THE NORMATIVE STATE OF THE CHURCH'S TURMOIL, CONFLICT, STRUGGLE. THE CHURCH, THE BRIDE OF CHRIST WILL ALWAYS FOLLOW HER DIVINE SPOUSE BUT THIS IS HOW GOD GIVES HIS FAITHFUL PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRACTICE HEROIC VIRTUE. AND IT SEEMS TO ME THAT HISTORY HAS PROVEN TIME AND TIME AGAIN THAT GOD ALWAYS RAISES UP THE GREATEST SAINTS IN TIMES OF CRISIS AND HIS CHURCH. IN THE PRESENT AGE, I THINK IT WOULD BE NO DIFFERENT. >> Father: THIS IS THE SITUATION WE HAD ON THE 16TH ENTRY. YOU KNOW, IT BEGAN WITH A SERIES OF PRETTY CORRUPT POPES, ALEXANDER THE SIXTH WAS THE WORST, AS FAR AS THAT CORRUPTION WENT. TRULY IS THE SECOND WAS NO PRIZE. LEO THE TENTH, HIS COUSIN THAT TOOK OVER AFTER, WERE A MESS, AND IT WAS IN THAT SOCIETY AND TIME THAT YOU HAVE THE RISE OF THE CAPUCHINS WHOSE FOUNDING SUPERIOR LEFT THE CHURCH AND BECAME A LUTHERAN! YES. [LAUGHS] >> Father: THAN THE JESUITS, ST. PHILIP STARTS HIS OWN COMMUNITIES OF PRIESTS. YOU KNOW, LOTS OF THESE REFORMERS CAME UP, AND AGAIN, WE CAN'T WHINE ABOUT HOW BAD THESE OTHER PEOPLE ARE, THAT IS NOT THE WAY THE SAINTS DID IT. THEY WEREN'T WHINERS.% BUT THEY SOUGHT PERSONAL HOLINESS AND SALVATION OF THEIR OWN SOULS AND SALVATION OF THE SOULS OF THEIR NEIGHBORS. >> THERE IS THAT ONE VERSE FROM ST. PAUL HE ROACH, SIN ABOUNDS, GRACE ABOUNDS ALL THE MORE. >> Father: ROMANS 5. >> YES, WE ARE LIVING IN AN AGE WHERE THE SPIRITUAL BATTLE IS INTENSIFYING. I SOMETIMES THINK OF SOMETHING THAT WAS WRITTEN BY ST. THOMAS AQUINAS IN HIS TREATISE AND THE VIRTUE OF FORTITUDE, ST. THOMAS WROTE THAT IT IS FAR MORE VIRTUOUS, FAR MORE MERITORIOUS IN THE SIGHT OF GOD TO PERSEVERE IN THE FACE OF GREAT OPPOSITION, TO HOLD OUT AGAINST OVERWHELMING ODDS AGAINST YOU, TO KEEP THE FAITH THEN IT IS TO SPREAD THE FAITH WITH GREAT EASE AND SUCCESS, BECAUSE IN THAT IS THE EXPERIENCE OF THE CROSS, THE DAILY CROSS. >> Father: I THINK IT IS WORTHWHILE TO REMEMBER THAT WITH THE PASSION OF CHRIST, HIS SUFFERING, ALL 12 OF HIS NEWLY ORDAINED PRIESTS FAILED HIM. HE ORDAINED THEM ON HOLY THURSDAY AND ONE FOR TREATS HIM WITH A KISS, LOVE AND RUNAWAY, AND THE POPE DENIES YOU THE KNOWING HIM. THIS IS NOT GOOD, BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, YOU HAVE HIS BLESSED MOTHER, ST. MARY MAGDALENE, HIS AUNT, MARY THE WIFE OF CLOVIS. THESE ARE ALL PRESENT, AND JOSEPH AND NICODEMUS, THEY STAY. THIS IS WHERE WE HAVE TO MAKE A CHOICE, ARE WE GOING TO BE LIKE THE APOSTLES AT THE WORST MOMENT OF THEIR PRIESTHOOD? OR ARE WE GOING TO BE LIKE JOSEPH OR NICODEMUS, MARY MAGDALENE, MARY WIFE OF CLOVIS, AND ESPECIALLY, BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. THAT IS THE CHOICE WE HAVE. >> YES. HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF. TRAVELING AROUND THE COUNTRY AND SPEAKING TO SO MANY FAITHFUL CATHOLICS, SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT THEY RAISE ARE, FOR EXAMPLE, IN REGARD TO THE BIGGEST COMPLAINT WE USUALLY GE GET, AND ANOTHER ISSUE THEY USUALLY RAISE IS ONE THAT USED TO BE THE BIGGEST COMPLAINT AND THAT IS THAT OUR PEOPLE ARE SICK AND TIRED OF LUKEWARM, WATERED-DOWN CATHOLICISM. AND THE OTHER GREAT CONCERN IS WHAT IS HAPPENING WITHIN THEIR OWN FAMILIES. SO YES, HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF, SO I FIND THAT IT IS SO VERY IMPORTANT, ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO STAND FIRM, STAND FAST. THEY'VE GOT TO STAY TENACIOUS TO THE VIRTUE OF HOPE. HOPE, SO VERY IMPORTANT, THE SCRIPTURE CALLS THE ANCHOR OF THE SOUL. I TRY TO GIVE PEOPLE AS MUCH ENCOURAGEMENT AS I CAN AND I ALWAYS SAY, REMEMBER, I READ THE END OF THE BOOK AND WE WIN. YOU KNOW HOW THIS IS GOING TO END UP. IN SPITE OF THE TRIALS, THE OBSTACLES THAT ARE INVOLVED, JESUS CHRIST IS THE VICTOR IN ALL THIS. >> Father: I THINK FOR US TO REMEMBER THAT THE WHOLE ROMAN EMPIRE TRIED TO WIPE OUT THE CHURCH, AND THE CHURCH CONVERTED THE EMPIRE. THE NAZIS TRIED TO WIPE OUT THE CHURCH AT THE CHURCH HAS SURVIVED THEM. THE COMMUNISTS TRIED TO WIPE OUT THE CHURCH. AT THE VIDEO WE WILL BE SHOWING THIS COMING WEEK ABOUT THE RUSSIANS AND UKRAINE PERSECUTING THE CATHOLICS, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO REALIZE THAT IN THE LAST 100 YEARS, 40 MILLION CHRISTIANS DIED FOR JESUS CHRIST. OUT OF 75 MILLION MARTYRS IN THE WHOLE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH. MORE THAN HALF OF ALL MARTYRS DIED IN THE LAST 100 YEARS AND THEY ARE GOING TO BE REMEMBERED MUCH BETTER THAN THEIR PERSECUTORS. ADOLF HITLER, JOSEPH STALIN, NONE OF THEM ARE GOING TO BE REMEMBERED WELL. THIS IS SOMETHING WE HAVE TO KEEP PERSPECTIVE FOR WHATEVER LITTLE DIFFICULTIES WE MIGHT COME UP AGAINST. >> I REMEMBER LATE FATHER BENEDICT HE'S TO SAY THROUGHOUT HISTORY, THE CATHOLIC CHURCH HAS ALWAYS BURIED HER UNDERTAKERS. >> Father: [LAUGHS] SPEAK OF THE CHURCH IS SOMETHING MORE THAN JUST A HUMAN ORGANIZATION, IT IS A DIVINE INSTITUTION AND THAT IS WHY NO POWER CAN DESTROY IT. >> Father: THE BEST THING HE CAN DO IS GIVE US OPTIMISM, WHICH IS A HUMAN APPROACH. JESUS CHRIST GIVES US ETERNAL HOPE THAT EVEN IF WE DIE, WE WILL HAVE ETERNAL LIFE AND SEE HIM FACE-TO-FACE. YOU DIE A MARTYR, THIS IS A GOOD DEAL. YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO GO TO PURGATORY, ONE OF MY FRIENDS IS A MUSLIM CONVERT, THEY PUT A FATWA AGAINST ME. IF I DIE A MONITOR I DON'T EVEN HAVE TO GO TO PURGATORY DESPITE ALL MY SINS. SO THAT HIS HOPE THAT GOD GIVES, THAT OPTIMISTIC IDEALS THAT HUMANS OFFER. THIS IS WHERE OUR SPIRITUAL LIFE COMES IN. NOW YOU MENTIONED A LOT OF PRAYER. I THINK ANOTHER ELEMENT FOR THIS TIME IS BEING ABLE TO ANSWER THE OFTENTIMES SUPERFICIAL OBJECTIONS TO THE FAITH. YOU HAVE A LOT, THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT VERY GOOD HISTORIANS OR THINKERS, AND FOR US TO TRUST THAT IF WE ACTUALLY GO INTO THE HISTORY, WE CAN COME UP WITH GOOD RESPONSES TO THE VARIOUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE CHURCH AND AT THE SAME TIME ADMIT THE SINS THAT ARE THERE. AND WE HAVE GOOD ANSWERS TO THEIR IDEAS ABOUT LIFE IN GOD AND SUCH. THESE ARE ALSO THINGS WE NEED TO DO. >> WE TELL OUR PEOPLE, THEY HAVE GOT TO MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO KNOW THEIR FAITH. >> Father: YES. >> TO KNOW THE FAITH BETTER, TO LOVE GOD MORE AND GET CLOSER TO CHRIST. YOU CAN'T GIVE WHAT YOU HAVEN'T GOT, AND SO OFTEN NOW WE MEET THE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE SO BADLY CATECHIZED, OR NOT CATECHIZED AT ALL THAT THEY SEEM TO BE DISENGAGED FROM REALITY, THE SUPERNATURAL REALITIES OF LIFE. WE HAVE A LOT OF CATCHING UP TO DO RIGHT NOW. >> Father: YEAH, THERE IS PLENTY TO DO. SO THERE IS NO REASON TO BE BORED. I DON'T KNOW HOW PEOPLE HAVE TIME TO BE BORED. THERE IS A LOT TO DO. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE FATHERS OF MERCY AND THEIR MISSION, JUST GO TO FathersOfMercy.com. AND FOR US, WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE BREAK, COME BACK IN 2 MINUTES, AND IF YOU HAVE SOME QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE, WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU. PLEASE WITH US. [THEME MUSIC] [THEME MUSIC] >> Father: ALL RIGHT, WE ARE TALKING TO FR. WILLIAM CASEY OF THE FATHERS OF MERCY AND HIS NEW BOOK, WHICH IS "YOU SHALL STAND FIRM." PRESERVING THE FAITH IN AN AGE OF APOSTASY. OF COURSE, THIS IS AVAILABLE FOR PREORDER AT EWTN.com. YOU CAN PREORDER, IT IS NOT QUITE OFF THE PRESS, BUT WHEN YOU GET IT, IT WILL BE HOT OFF THE PRESS! BUT YOU CAN GET IT, PREORDER IT AT EWTNRC.com WHERE IT IS ITEM NUMBER 824222. THIS AGE OF APOSTASY HAS INCLUDED SOME VERY SERIOUS, AND YOU BROUGHT THIS UP BEFORE, VERY SERIOUS FAILURES BY PRIESTS WHO WERE ENGAGED WITH ABUSE OF CHILDREN, AS WELL AS NEGLECT TO GET THEM TO STOP. THOSE WERE THE TWO SIDES. SOMETHING THAT AFFECTS ALMOST 4% OF THE PRIESTS OVER THE LAST, BASICALLY FROM THE 1950 THROUGH THE EARLY 2000s. THIS IS PART OF THE APOSTASY THAT YOU WANT TO SEE CHANGED. >> BECAUSE AS I SAID BEFORE, IT SEEMS LIKE THE ISSUE WITH THE SCANDALS IS THE SINGLE BIGGEST COMPLAINT WE GET FROM THE LAY PEOPLE WE ACROSS THE COUNTRY. I TRY TO KEEP THINGS IN SOME PERSPECTIVE, TRY TO APPROACH THE SUBJECT FROM THE STANDPOINT OF CHURCH HISTORY. FOR EXAMPLE I SAY THE SPIRITUAL DESCENDANTS OF JUDAS ARE ALIVE AND WELL AMONG US TODAY. THE LORD CHOSE 12 MEN TO BE HIS APOSTLES, ONE OF THEM WAS A NO GOOD, AND OUR LORD KNEW HE WAS NO GOOD AND CHOSE HIM ANYWAY. >> Father: HE SAYS IN JOHN 6, JUST A LITTLE OVER A YEAR INTO THE PUBLIC MINISTRY, THAT HE KNOWS THAT ONE OF YOU IS A DEVIL. HE SAYS THAT ABOUT JUDAS. >> BUT I THINK ABOUT THIS A LOT SINCE THE PUBLIC SCANDALS BROKE 20 YEARS AGO, OF ALL THE GOOD AND HOLY AND DEVOUT SAINTLY MAN IN OUR LORD COULD HAVE CHOSEN TO BE THE 12TH APOSTLE, WHY WOULD HE CHOOSE A TRAITOR LIKE JUDAS? IT'S NOT HARD TO FIGURE OUT, HE CHOSE US AS AN EVERLASTING REMINDER WE WILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH SCANDALS IN THE CHURCH. JUDAS USED FREE WILL TO BETRAY THE LORD IN THE LORD KNEW HE WOULD AND HE BETRAYED HIM ANYWAY. HE SAID SCANDALS INEVITABLY COME, BETTER FOR THAT MAN TO NEVER HAVE BEEN BORN, TO HAVE AROUND HIS NECK MAN TO SCANDALIZE ONE OF THESE LITTLE ONES WHO BELIEVE IN ME. >> Father: AND THE MILLSTONES HE WERE TALKING ABOUT WERE NOT HAND MILLSTONES. THE WORD USED IN PARTICULAR IS THE KIND OF LAUNCH, ANYWHERE FROM A HALFTONE TO A TON OF SOLID ROCK. YOU ARE NOT GOING TO SWIM VERY FAR WITH THAT YOUR NECK. >> BUT AGAIN I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT WE KEEP ALL THIS IN PERSPECTIVE FOR OUR PEOPLE. YES, ONE CASE OF SEXUAL ABUSE IS TOO MANY IN THE CHURCH. ONE BAD PRIEST IS TOO MANY. ONE BAD BISHOP IS TOO MANY. BUT KEEP IN MIND, OF THE ROUGHLY 50,000 PRIESTS IN THIS COUNTRY, 96% OF THEM HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THESE SCANDALS OR THE COVER UP SO THAT FOLLOWED FROM THEM. WE ARE NOT GOING TO HEAR THAT FROM THE SECULAR MEDIA. >> Father: NO. >> BECAUSE SCANDAL CELLS, FIDELITY DOESN'T SELL. THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE FAITHFUL, HARDWORKING PRIESTS, THE MASS MEDIA WOULD NOT GIVE THEM THE TIME OF DAY, DOESN'T EVEN KNOW THEY ARE ALIVE. >> Father: I THINK TOO IT WAS SOMETHING OF A WARNING. I WAS TALKING ABOUT THIS. ON THE RADIO TODAY SOMEBODY CALLED IN ON MY RADIO SHOW, AND THEY WANTED TO KNOW THE INFORMATION THAT IS AVAILABLE ABOUT THE MUCH WIDER SEX ABUSE OF CHILDREN SCANDAL THAT GOES ON IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WHERE AMONG CATHOLIC PRIESTS IT WAS 3 PERCENT DID ABUSE COME AT ABOUT 1% WERE INVOLVED IN COVERING IT UP. WHEREAS IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, IT'S 9.4% BACK IN THE '90s AND IT HAS GONE EVEN HIGHER PERCENTAGE TODAY. AND THAT IS NOT DEALT WITH IT VERY MUCH. IN SOME CASES THEY GET PUBLIC ABOUT MOST, IT'S NOT SOUGHT OUT. AND I THINK IN PART THIS IS A FAILURE TO ADDRESS A WIDESPREAD ISSUE IN OUR SOCIETY. THIS IS NOT JUST AN ISSUE OF THE CLERGY. IT'S A VERY WIDESPREAD PROBLEM, AND OTHER PARTS OF SOCIETY HAVE IT MORE WIDELY MAN THE CLERGY. IT IS A HORRIBLE REALITY, AND IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AT EVERY STAGE, BECAUSE ABUSE OF CHILDREN BY TEACHERS IS AS BAD AN EFFECT ON THE KIDS AS IF IT IS BY CLERGY. WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES. ALSO AMONG DOCTORS, PSYCHOLOGISTS, AND OTHERS. ALL OF THEM, IT IS A PROBLEM. BUT IT'S USED AS A WAY TO KEEP THE CHURCH FROM SPEAKING UP TOO MUCH. I THINK THAT IS ONE WHERE THEY DON'T HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. CERTAIN PROFESSIONS. SPEAKER IT IS A SEX SATURATED CULTURE WE LIVE IN TODAY AND I BELIEVE THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY PORNOGRAPHY HAS BECOME, SPIRITUALLY SPEAKING, AMERICA'S MOST DEADLY ADDICTION. I CALL ADDICTION TO INTERNET PORN METHAMPHETAMINE OF THE SOUL BE AT THE DOUBLES MOST DEADLY WEAPON RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THIS IS THE CASE, IT REALLY TAKES A HEROIC EFFORT, ESPECIALLY I THINK THE MEN TO PUT THE VIRTUE OF CHASTITY INTO PRACTICE. AGAIN, THE HERO IS HEROIC AND THE SPIRIT IS WILLING AND THE FLESH IS WEAK. >> Father: AND THE OTHER THING THAT WE HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND IS THAT IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT ONE CHASTE AT OTHER PEOPLE, THAT YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO SEE. IT'S ALSO SOMETHING THAT ENTAILS HUMAN TRAFFICKING. A LOT OF THE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE PORNOGRAPHY ARE THEMSELVES SEXUAL SLAVES WHO ARE DRUGGED AND UNFREE TO GET OUT OF THIS PORNOGRAPHY. THIS IS A VERY REAL ISSUE. YOU ARE PARTICIPATING IN HUMAN SLAVERY IS MUCH AS IF YOU WERE BUYING COTTON IN THE 1850s. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS JUST A HORRENDOUS, WIDESPREAD, AND ALSO VERY MUCH INVOLVED IN THE DRUG TRADE THAT WAS PART OF THE SAME CARTELS. >> I HAVE A BROTHER PRIEST WHO IS A LAWYER AND HE WAS WORKING AT THE MARRIAGE TRIBUNAL AND I REMEMBER HIM COMING HOME FROM WORK AT THE END OF A REALLY ROTTEN DAY. I MEAN A PARTICULARLY EXASPERATING DAY, DEPRESSED. AND AT SUPPER WE ARE SITTING THERE AND HE IS TELLING HIS BROTHER PRIEST WHAT KIND OF A DAY HE HAD AND I WILL NEVER FORGET HIM SAYING THIS, YOU WOULD NOT BELIEVE HOW MANY MARRIAGES ARE BEING BROKEN UP BECAUSE OF ADDICTION TO INTERNET PORN. >> Father: YEAH. SPEAK OF THE STATISTIC IS LIKE 50% NOW OF DIVORCES ARE ABOUT SOME ISSUE WITH PORNOGRAPHY. SO IT REALLY IS PANDEMIC AT THIS POINT. >> Father: WE HAVE A COLLAR COMING IN. THOMAS? >> HI, FATHER. >> Caller: HELLO. WHERE ARE YOU COMING? >> Caller: NEW JERSEY. >> Father: WHAT ARE YOU CALLING ABOUT? >> THANK YOU, FATHERS, FOR YOU ARE DOING. SCANDALS IN THE CHURCH, HARD FOR A LOT OF CATHOLICS TO ACCEPT THAT AND I THINK THE SECOND BIGGEST THING IS I TRIED TO EVANGELIZE MYSELF IS WE START TALKING TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE GOTTEN AWAY FROM THEIR PARISHES AND IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT THE MONEY SITUATION. I LEFT THIS PARISH BECAUSE I WAS SUPPOSED TO GIVE X AMOUNT AND I COULDN'T, SO I LEFT. THEN YOU SEE THE VATICAN WORTH $2.3 BILLION OR WHATEVER IS GOING ON. HOW DO YOU COMBAT SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND IS THERE ANYTHING LIKE THAT IN YOUR BOOK? JUST SOME SUGGESTIONS WE CAN TELL OTHER PEOPLE, I GUESS. >> Father: SO HERE WE HAVE VARIOUS REPORTS ABOUT FINANCIAL ISSUES. TO DEAL WITH THE FIRST ONE, IN PARISHES COME IF THEY ASK YOU FOR A CERTAIN AMOUNT AND YOU CAN'T GIVE, DOES THAT MEAN YOU SHOULD LEAVE THE PARISH? >> OH, NO, NOT AT ALL. >> Father: DO YOU KNOW ANY PASTORS WHO SAY IF YOU CAN'T GIVE ENOUGH, YOU HAVE TO LEAVE? >> NO, NEVER. >> Father: I'VE NEVER HEARD THAT. >> IN REGARD TO THE CATHOLICS AND THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE LEFT THE CHURCH BECAUSE OF THE SCANDALS, I ALWAYS SAY THIS. YOU DON'T LEAVE JESUS FOR JUDAS AND YOU DON'T LEAVE PETER FOR JUDAS. SO YOU KEEP YOUR EYES FIXED ON JESUS CHRIST AND THE TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL IN THE FULLNESS OF TRUTH OF OUR CATHOLIC FAITH. >> Father: BUT THIS SECOND ISSUE IS IMPORTANT TOO, THAT THERE ARE THESE DIFFERENT REPORTS ABOUT FINANCIAL AMOUNTS OF MONEY THAT THE CHURCH HAS AND THINGS. HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH THAT? >> THERE'S AN OLD SAYING, A VERY CYNICAL OLD SAYING THAT I HATE TO EVEN REPEAT THAT THE CHURCH OPERATES ON TWO THINGS, GRACE AND MONEY AND NOT NECESSARILY IN THAT ORDER. BUT I THINK IT IS VERY CLEAR THAT A LOT OF DIOCESES HAVE REALLY BEEN CRIPPLED FINANCIALLY BY THE LEGAL DAMAGES STEMMING FROM THE SCANDALS AS WELL. MAYBE GOD IS GOING TO BRING US BACK TO THE CHURCH'S ORIGINAL POVERTY, MAYBE THAT WILL BE A GOOD THING, WHO KNOWS. >> Father: ONE OF THE THINGS TOO, CHECK INTO THIS, BUT I REMEMBER THIS WAS THE CASE FOR SOME YEARS PASSED AND IS STILL THE CASE THAT HARVARD UNIVERSITY HAS A LARGER ENDOWMENT THAN THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT THE VATICAN HAS. THERE'S A LOT OF MONEY IN THE VATICAN AND THE VATICAN IS OVERALL DOING A LOT OF CHARITABLE WORK AROUND THE WORLD THAT COSTS MONEY, AND FOR THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE USE OF THAT MONEY, EVEN SECULAR ORGANIZATIONS RECOMMEND THAT WHEN YOU GIVE MONEY TO THE CHURCH, THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT GETS TO THE PEOPLE YOU INTEND TO RECEIVE IT. THE CHURCH HAS A MUCH BETTER RECORD OF GETTING AID TO FOLKS WHO NEED THE AID. SO THAT IS ANOTHER THING. BUT THERE ARE SOME SCANDALS, USUALLY INVOLVING INDIVIDUALS, WHO SOMEHOW GOT MONEY, AND I DON'T KNOW ALL THE DIFFERENT SITUATIONS. THERE NEEDS TO BE A LOT MORE CAREFUL AND OPEN TO LOOKING THE MONEY SITUATION, BECAUSE WE HAD THAT BIG SCANDAL OF BUILDINGS BEING BOUGHT, I DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY GOT THAT FROM, AND I DON'T THINK IT WAS FROM THE COLLECTIONS. THIS CAME FROM ANOTHER SOURCE, AND THAT NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. SO I AM IN FAVOR, STRONGLY IN FAVOR OF INVESTIGATING THAT AND WHEN WE SEE THESE KINDS OF THINGS WE SHOULD MAKE THAT DEMAND, THAT THE BOOKS ARE OPENED AND RESEARCHED, BECAUSE IT'S NOT RIGHT, AND WHERE IS THIS MONEY COMING FROM TO BUY PROPERTY IN LONDON AND OTHER PLACES? FIND THAT OUT. I THINK THE CARDINAL FROM AUSTRALIA WAS ON TO SOME OF THIS STUFF, SO THIS IS AN IMPORTANT THING TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT. SO TELL PEOPLE, I DON'T KNOW WHY IT IS BUT LET'S SEE IF WE CAN PUSH FOR GOOD INVESTIGATION TO GET OUT THE TRUTH SO THAT THERE IS NO MISMANAGEMENT. >> WHEN IT COMES TO THE PARISHES I THINK SOME PEOPLE MISTAKENLY ASSUME THAT THE AVERAGE PARISH IS ROLLING IN DOUGH FINANCIALLY, BUT I KNOW FOR A FACT SOME OF THE PASTORS I'VE SPOKEN TO ESPECIALLY AFTER THE COVID LOCKDOWN, THAT MESS ATTENDANCES HAS BEEN DOWN 25% TO 30%. A LOT OF THESE PARISHES HAVE TAKEN A BEATING FINANCIALLY. SO DON'T ASSUME THEY ARE ALL RICH, IT IS A MISTAKE. >> Father: NO, AT THE PARISH LEVEL THAT IS NOT THE CASE. IN MANY OF THE DIOCESE, THAT IS NOT THE CASE. SOME DIOCESES ARE REALLY FINANCIALLY HURTING BECAUSE THEY ARE SMALL. LIKE A LOT OF MISSIONARY DIOCESE HERE IN THE SOUTH AND IN THE WEST, NOT ROLLING IN MONEY, SO YOU HAVE TO MAKE THOSE DISTINCTIONS ABOUT WHO HAS MONEY AND WHAT'S GOING ON WITH IT. OVERALL, OVERALL. THE MONEY DONATED FOR THE CHARITIES THAT THE CHURCH DOES GETS TO THE FOLKS COME UP WITH A VERY LOW OVERHEAD. THAT'S BEEN OUR HISTORY. ANY LAST WORDS, JUST A COUPLE OF MINUTES LEFT. ANY LAST WORDS AND TERMS OF, I KNOW THAT YOU RECOMMEND GET BACK TO PRAYER AND THIS IS A GOOD MESSAGE FOR LENT. USE THE ROSARY, PARISHES WILL BE STARTING STATIONS OF THE CROSS, GET OVER TO THOSE AND WALK IN THE WITH JESUS. THOSE WILL BE SOME OF THE KINDS OF PRAYERFUL THINGS WE CAN DO AS WELL AS DEALING WITH UNDERSTANDING WHERE THE SCANDALS ARE, WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THEM, AND WHAT DO WE DO TO GET MOVING ON UNDERSTANDING THE FAITH. ANYTHING ELSE? >> WRITING THE BOOK, ONE OF THE DIFFICULTIES INVOLVED FOR ME IS THIS, AND YOU'VE KNOWN ME FOR MANY YEARS AND YOU KNOW THAT I CAN TEND TO BE SOMEWHAT OF A PESSIMIST AT TIMES, SO IN WRITING THE BOOK OF COURSE WE WANT TO PRESENT OUR PEOPLE WITH A CLEAR PICTURE OF WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE WORLD AND IN THE CHURCH, WHAT THE CHALLENGES ARE, WHAT THE REALITY O THE SITUATION THAT WE ARE IN REALLY IS HOW WE GOT WHERE WE ARE AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO NOW. BUT I DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO BECOME DISCOURAGED OR DEPRESSED BY THE SITUATION IN THE CHURCH AND THE WORLD. I WANT TO GIVE PEOPLE HOPE, AS I SAY. IF WE ARE GOING TO STAND FIRM WITH THE FAITH, WE'VE GOT TO CLING TENACIOUSLY TO THE VIRTUE OF HOPE. HOPE. >> Father: I THINK POPE BENEDICT HAD WRITTEN, CYCLICAL AND HOPE YOU ARE SAVED, QUOTING FROM ST. PAUL AND ROMANS 8, BY HOPING YOU ARE SAVED, AND I THINK THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT ELEMENT IN OUR WORLD. TOO MANY PEOPLE ARE COMMITTING SUICIDE BECAUSE THEY GIVE UP. WE NEED THAT HOPE THAT COMES FROM CHRIST. >> THE LAST CHAPTER OF MY BOOK IS CALLED CONFIDENCE IN GOD. WE TRUST IN GOD, THE MYSTERIOUS WORKINGS OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE IN OUR LIVES. GOD IS THE VICTOR IN ALL THIS. >> Father: AND THAT IS HOW WE END THE CHAPLET BY MERCY. JESUS, I TRUST YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING WITH US, FOR WRITING THAT BOOK. JOIN ME IN BLESSING EVERYBODY, MAY MIGHTY GOD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU, CAUSE HIS FACE TO SHINE UPON YOU. THE FATHER, THE SON, THE HOLY SPIRIT. WE CAN BRING FATHER BILL AND ALL THE OTHER GUESTS WE HAVE AND ALL THE OTHER PROGRAMS BECAUSE THE NETWORK IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY YOU, SO PLEASE KEEP US IN BETWEEN YOUR GAS BILL, ELECTRIC BILL AND CABLE BILL AND WE WILL PAY ALL OF OUR BILLS TOO. THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS. [THEME MUSIC]
