In this previous post, I reported that according to an exclusive report from Foxnews.com, the FBI and the Justice Department (DOJ) have been targeting “traditional” Catholics for investigations into whether they could be potential “domestic terrorists.” Specifically being targeted were the faithful that follow deeper Catholic traditions such as the Latin Rite Mass and other “subversive” things like praying the Rosary. The FBI was seeking to insert undercover agents or develop recruits from the inside in order to report on potentially “dangerous” activities.

Against this backdrop comes a new research report presented by the Family Research Council (FRC) detailing a “significant increase in acts of hostility” against Churches in the United States.

On March 27, 2023, three children and three adults were killed in a shooting at The Covenant School, a private Christian school and a ministry of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Nashville, Tennessee. The assailant shot through glass side doors to access areas throughout the building, including the church office and the children’s ministry. Covenant released a statement that said, “Our community is heartbroken. We are grieving tremendous loss and are in shock coming out of the terror that shattered our school and church.”1

Research conducted by Family Research Council (FRC) indicates that criminal acts against churches have been steadily on the rise for the past several years, and the first quarter of 2023 has continued the upward trend. The first three months of 2023 saw approximately three times the number of acts of hostility perpetrated against churches in the same timeframe last year.

This is rather disturbing, to say the least. One would HOPE that-rather than targeting CHURCH groups and labeling THEM as potential threats and terrorists-in a just and sane America, the FBI and other government agencies would be seeking to protect and DEFEND them. But alas, as anybody paying attention surely knows, this is far from the case. In fact, as we all know, current government policy and “leaders” instead provide cover for the evildoers and go after the good guys in this Bizzaro-World known as America 2023.

The report further notes that

“Criminal acts of vandalism and destruction of church property are symptomatic of a collapse in societal reverence and respect for houses of worship and religion—in this case, churches and Christianity.”

Sadly, this collapse of societal reverence and respect is now rampant throughout society and goes beyond the criminal element. As evidenced by the actions as outlined at the top of this post, it is a problem embedded within the government and its agencies whose job it is to defend such things as our freedom to worship. With stories like that of federal law enforcement targeting traditional Christians and labeling them as potentially dangerous, is it any wonder that the crazies have keyed in on that and decided that now would be a good time to act?

“Some people appear increasingly comfortable lashing out against church buildings, pointing to a larger societal problem of marginalizing core Christian beliefs, including those that touch on hot-button political issues related to human dignity and sexuality.” 

More and more, our very own government, aided and abetted by the mainstream media, portrays and characterizes certain groups as somehow being “victims” that are unfairly being “oppressed” by religions that seek to promote traditional families and natural gender determined at birth. This is especially prevalent in the government schools and in most college campuses nationwide. The message that religion is “bad” because of this is incessantly poured into the daily messaging received by a large number of people all across the country. Anyone who dares speak out and push back is also labeled as being bad.

“The anger and division that increasingly characterize American society are endangering churches and eroding religious freedom. When congregants feel targeted by members of their communities or church buildings bear the brunt of outrage over political events, the very ability to live out one’s faith safely is under attack. Violent or destructive incidents that interfere with an individual’s lawful free exercise of religion at their house of worship present a significant nationwide challenge.”

It seems as though the country is headed for dark times. A Nation founded in no small part on the freedom to exercise (or not) religion now finds itself losing that basic right. Oh sure- you can still go and worship. You can attend and worship your “maker.” Unfortunately, according to very real statistics, your chances of LITERALLY meeting Him are higher than ever. Where is this going to end?

The old battlefield saw goes, “Praise the Lord, and pass the ammunition!” Who would have ever thought that such sentiment would become necessary in America’s houses of worship?