Ricochet is the best place on the internet to discuss the issues of the day, either through commenting on posts or writing your own for our active and dynamic community in a fully moderated environment. In addition, the Ricochet Audio Network offers over 50 original podcasts with new episodes released every day.
Just Call It a ‘Peaceful Protest’
Governor Newsom has banned church services in the state of California. But protests are allowed. Of course, that’s unconstitutional but it will take a while to get through the courts. And getting arrested will ruin anyone’s day.
In the meantime, Pastor John MacArthur has solved the problem by holding Sunday services in church and calling them … “peaceful protests.”
This is especially interesting, I think, as the left has always employed… oh, let’s call it… the tactical misinterpretation of language. Similar to Orwell’s Newspeak. And this is a fine example of, both, calling them on it, and applying that tool in the other direction.
Published in General
I need to suggest this approach to my pastor. Being Catholic though I think the Archbishop being oh so politically correct probably won’t go for it.
My parish does have drive in Sunday morning services where people listen in their cars in the parking lot kinda like a drive in theatre.
On another note, the former Cardinal Roger Mahoney, now in residence at my parish and disciplined out of office for an inappropriate response to the pedophile scandals, gave us a sermon via the internet, although being a known Lefty/Liberal told us yesterday in line with yesterday’s gospel :
“Be not Afraid, the pandemic will end. All these viruses sooner or later peter out. God will care for us and so we should be a people of hope and should not fear”
I don’t think that message was approved by our Governor or Mayor. Their message is ” be terribly afraid; the CoronaVirus will kill us all unless we lockdown everything”.
One could argue that attending church has always been a peaceful protest against secular materialism.
I love this! It is precisely that, a peaceful protest, and I certainly stand behind him and any other pastor who makes that statement!
It is also evidence that the American center right are starting to master an Alinsky tactic.. making your adversaries live up to their own rules. Religious service = peaceful protest? Check! 🤔
“We are protesting our fallen, sinful nature and humbly beseeching God for His forgiveness and our salvation … so, Officer … with all due respect … take a hike.”
My Catholic parish, also in LA, has al fresco Masses. We have to sign up before hand & go through a health screening. An interesting side-effect was the decision not to have singing so as not to bother the neighbors. Mass runs 40-45 minutes instead of 60+ minutes. And our pastor’s sermon this week was focused on “Be not afraid.”
Am a non-religious person and have been saying this for weeks. “Hey, I’m just peacefully protesting.” Should be the reply to everything.
Also, hello neighbor! One of the last Menlo natives (SCU ’91, Menlo-Atherton ’87, La Entrada ’83) who has been eyeing out-of-state houses for a long time.
I appreciate the thought but at 42, I am one of the youngest congregants at my church so I wont be recommending this idea.
Our average age is 65 I think.
Did you hear about Nevada though? They closed the churches and opened up the casinos. So the churches rented space in the casinos and are now back open as convention spaces.
Bodegas? Bad! Bordellos? No problem as long as you wear a mask!
Friends were in a major Vegas property soon after they reopened in June. Packed to the gills on the weekend. But the Christian-hating bigot John Roberts (using the false cover of his Article III judicial robe) joined with the radical left wing of the “court” in falsely ruling that the leftist Democrat Democrat governor of Nevada behaved constitutionally in opening casinos to “50 percent capacity” while directly violating the First Amendment by asserting executive authority to restrict (pass a “law”) the free exercise of religion.
Best use of a police chaplain for 2020!