Religious Freedom Week started on the Feast of St. Thomas More, June 22, and extends to the Solemnity of SS. Peter and Paul, June 29. It is a good time for us to take to prayer, with devotions, attending Masses and making sacrifices to aid the cause of religious liberty in our land. The United States Catholic Conference of Bishops brings to our attention some important issues.

You may have heard of a very promising decision from the Supreme Court recently regarding religious liberty. The Court ruled unanimously by a decision in favor of Catholic Charities in Philadelphia. The city had prohibited the Archdiocese from placing children in adopted homes because the church can’t morally place a child in a home without a mother and father. Nevertheless, we must be aware that the only reason that the customarily left leaning judges of the court agreed to this was because the scope of the decision was defined so narrowly to the particulars of the case so as not to be applied more broadly nation-wide. Therefore, what is needed is The Child Welfare Provider Inclusion Act. (Contact your U.S. Senators and Representative today and ask them to co-sponsor and support the federal Child Welfare Provider Inclusion Act.)

Another looming threat to religious liberty is the Equality Act. It is a bill that has passed the House of Representatives and will be presented to the Senate this summer. “The Equality Act purports to protect people experiencing same-sex attraction or gender dysphoria from discrimination in these and other areas. But at the core of the Equality Act is the codification of the new ideology of “gender” in federal law, dismissing sexual difference and falsely presenting “gender” as only a social construct.” (https://www.usccb.org/committees/religious-liberty/religious-freedom-week) “(It) is the most comprehensive assault on religious liberty, the right to life, and privacy rights ever packaged into one bill. Catholic hospitals would no longer be allowed to govern as Catholic facilities, threatening healthcare for everyone, especially the poor.” Bill Donohue, The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equality_Act_(United_States)

Opposition to the Equality Act needs the positive enforcement of the Conscience Protection Act. In recent years, “activists have sought to undermine the Church’s mission by forcing Catholic hospitals to perform procedures that destroy human life and undermine human flourishing, such as sterilization, gender reassignment surgery, and even abortion.” (USCCB, ibid.) The Conscience Protection Act would address deficiencies that block effective enforcement of existing laws, most notably by establishing a private right of action allowing victims of discrimination to defend their own rights in court. (Contact your elected officials in Congress and urge them to support the Conscience Protection Act!)

Our cherished freedom of speech is becoming strained. “Just this year, a book on problems with gender ideology by a prominent commentator was removed from Amazon. A Catholic news outlet had its Twitter account suspended for noting that a government official who claims to be a transgender woman is a biological male.” We need to speak up while we can. (USCCB, ibid.) Church Vandalism – “Recent years have seen a number of high-profile attacks on houses of worship. Beginning in May of 2020, there was a wave of attacks on Catholic churches and statues. Vandals entered churches and desecrated sanctuaries. A man in Florida even attempted to set a church on fire with people inside. There have been at least 61 attacks so far, and that number continues to grow.” (USCCB, ibid.)

Let’s be perfectly clear, this fits an historical pattern of persecution: from ancient Rome, the Iconoclasts of 8th & 9th centuries, Reformation England, the French Revolution, Soviet Russia, the Cristeros War in Mexico, and the Spanish Civil War. Such persecution always starts with the symbols of our faith, then progresses to the places of our faith, the churches, and then finally, the faithful. As far as the faithful are concerned, the clergy take the heat first. E.g., Thomas More heard of Bishop John Fisher’s execution from his jail cell.

Until we take to catacombs, let’s celebrate our freedom. Middleburg is returning to their annual fireworks display. I invite all of you to join me at our church’s front steps for one of the best views of the display without the hassle of traffic, parking or fees. The Knights of Columbus have agreed to grill hamburgers and hot dogs for us. Feel free to bring a side and beverage. Fireworks are scheduled at 9:15 PM. We’ll start gathering at 7:00 PM.

Christ’s Peace,

Fr. Murphy

We changed our Mass time for SKD just in time to avoid some serious heat. 9:00 AM might be a little early for some, but I think that we’ll be grateful as summer gets into full swing.

The big reveal last Sunday at SKD was that we have the green light from the Diocese to begin the church building project. With the approval of Bishop Burbidge, the Diocese and building committee developed a plan that has the potential to have a groundbreaking as early as Dec 1, 2021, depending on final county approval. Since our meeting, the Diocese has assigned a project manager focused on driving to completion the necessary architecture, design and engineering packages. Site preparation for our property on Waterfall Road will be extensive, but we are looking forward to getting the process underway.

The generosity of our parishioners is what has made this possible. Although a church building is now in sight with potential groundbreaking at year’s end, there is still work to be done. In the next 18 months, we will need to raise the remaining $600,000 needed to complete the entire building process. Details about how we plan to accomplish this goal is to follow soon. In the meantime, click to our SKD webpage and consider:

• Extending your Capital Campaign donation for a few months
• Contributing to the Building Fund
• Making plans to participate in our upcoming SKD Golf Tournament on August, 9, 2021.

Calling all rising fourth grade boys and older at SSM parish. Let’s meet after 10:00 AM Mass this Sunday, June 13, and talk about serving Mass. I’d love to train you for an hour, but if you can’t stay, leave your name and number and we’ll find time later on. If you’ve made First Holy Communion and have an older brother who serves, we can find a place for you too in our altar boy ranks.

Christ’s Peace

Fr. Murphy

I can’t believe that Easter just ended. It’s not even June and we’ve concluded the Easter Season. But then again, where did the past 25 years that I’ve spent as a priest go?

Last Sunday we successfully launched at SKD what seems like a season’s worth of anniversary celebrations. I anticipate a pleasant gathering of appreciation at SSM this Saturday and Sunday after each Mass. So many of you have expressed your gratitude prior and during this week. Thank you! Additionally, I know that the staff and volunteers have put in some extra effort to make this time special for me. Mission accomplished.

I don’t deserve it all. May be some of it, but really, where would I be without you to serve? I’d look pretty silly wearing my beretta live-streaming an empty church. It is a joy to be appreciated and feel needed. I hope to continue to be of service.

A lot has happened in 25 years. Recently in reading a book by Jacque Phillipe, published in 2002 on spirituality, the author makes references to people not wanting to accept God’s will. He uses examples such as parents who imagine what a great freedom it will be to be able to determine the sex of their child or the child’s eye color. Doesn’t that seem
quaint? Little did he know that in less than 20 years, the parents themselves could determine their own sex, and additionally have a whole palette of genders from which to choose.

I started my first assignment in 1996. I had much to learn about being a priest. Rome was great preparation in many ways, regardless, there was a learning curve in trying to catch up with the latest and greatest in the US. Like, why were there so many commercials saying, “www … .com”? I don’t know how long it took, but I remember
learning that when people asked if I had a computer, they meant, did I have e-mail or did I go online? I was ordained with a computer that had never talked to another computer. I even had a Blockbuster card and a pager. Despite having to take extra time to be kind and rewind and hunt down the nearest landline to return my page, things did get accomplished.

Some very kind and appreciative parishioners were trying to quantify my accomplishments. They came up with 9,125 Masses said. Not to brag, but it is probably more or less, 11,542. I don’t know how many funerals, but I do know that I’ve officiated 194 weddings, and baptized and or confirmed 1,994 souls. If you find yourself among the wedded or initiated-into-faith numbers, please, know that in addition to the prayers that I offer for all of my parishioners, I say some added intentions for you. Thanks for giving me something to do with the life God gave me. In the sage words of a classic rocker from way back in the twentieth century, “Life’s been good to me so far.”

Christ’s Peace,

Fr. Murphy