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“Silence in the face of evil is evil itself” – Dietrich Bonhoeffer
The current silence of many pastors is deafening. In the face of the current evil attacks on our Christianity, our families, and our children, we hear mostly silence from these same pastors. I have questions. Why the silence? What evils are we facing and does it require an assertive response from the pulpit?
Aren’t our pastors the leaders we need to speak up against the evil attacks on human dignity, sanctity of marriage, and science (there are only two sexes)? Isn’t it a pastor’s job to encourage us to “turn over the tables” and to speak up to support moral issues by influencing elected officials?
“It is the job of Catholic laypeople to change the thinking of their political party and their political leaders with the tools of their Catholic faith. But it is the job of priests to give people those tools¯to form Catholic laypeople to think and act as disciples of Jesus Christ, in a manner guided by the teaching of the Church.” - Archbishop Charles Chaput (2008)
Why the silence?
The Johnson Amendment of 1954 created fear in churches of losing non-profit status. For these 70+ years it’s been misinterpreted and has therefore may have inhibited pastors from connecting the Bible readings and current politics. The IRS recently acknowledged, “Pastors can speak out about politics from the pulpit without fear of consequences”. Of course it’s inappropriate to endorse a specific candidate. But it’s appropriate, if not an obligation, for pastors to speak the truth about policies contrary to biblical teachings and moral principles?
The Johnson amendment is specific. Tax-exempt churches cannot endorse or oppose political candidates. This leaves a great deal of room for speaking about policy. Are pastors still fearful of government retribution? Why? Only one church lost its non-profit exemption violating the Johnson Amendment and that was because the Church published a full-page ad in two major newspapers opposing presidential candidate Bill Clinton. (Schmidt, 2017)
Doesn’t this flexibility and the IRS acknowledgement remove the barriers and set a path of action? Perhaps pastors fear offending some in the congregation. But didn’t Jesus bring controversial ideas causing division?
“Do you suppose that I came to bring peace on earth? I tell you, no, but rather division”. Luke 12:51-53
Surely pastors are not prioritizing weekly collection totals over truth.
The Evil
383 churches suffered attacks across 43 states in 2024 alone. The horrific shooting in Grand Blanc Michigan which ended four lives and injured at least eight was one of the worst and one of nine violent attacks on Churches in 2025. (O’Neil, 2025)
Pro-Life Vs. Pro-Choice
I was surprised to read that only one-in-ten Catholics say abortion should be illegal in all cases. We have been blessed with Pope Francis and Pope Leo who have both demonstrated strong leadership in support of the dignity of all human life. In Dignitas Infinita, Pope Francis makes clear that “every person possesses and infinite dignity, inalienably grounded in this or her very being…”
Pope Leo is just as emphatic. “God’s mercy calls us to protect every life,” he said, “especially those society overlooks — the child yet to be born and the elderly nearing their journey’s end — because each bears Christ’s face.”
In Connecticut, House Bill 7213 threatened to remove medical provider rights not to participate in an abortion (for reasons of faith or any other reason). It would have removed the emergency medical treatment for an infant born alive from a failed abortion.
It took strong opposition in a public hearing to defeat this evil. Would pastors speaking from the pulpit facilitate the defeat of such laws?
Gender Theory
Pope Francis was very clear about the evils of Gender Ideology: “… creation is prior to us and must be received as a gift.” “…gender theory…is extremely dangerous since it cancels differences in its claim to make everyone equal.”
Pope Leo has been equally emphatic. In a 2016 interview with a Peruvian newspaper, he strongly cautioned against gender ideology in school curricula because it created “genders that don’t exist”.
In Connecticut, Bill SJR 35 would have would have overridden protections for Catholic hospitals related to gender ideology treatments. The embrace of gender ideology creates two other types of attacks: gender affirming care and the practice of allowing men to compete in women’s sports. Presidents Obama and Biden started this by attempting to change the definition of sex to include gender identity. The biological fact, there are only two sexes, was turned upside down in Title IX.
There was nearly a threefold increase in Gender Dysphoria from 2017 to 2021. Gender Affirming care is used to treat Gender Dysphoria and it’s in contradiction to scientific research.
“There are no long-term studies demonstrating benefits nor studies evaluating risks associated with the medical and surgical interventions provided to these adolescents. There is no long-term evidence that mental health concerns are decreased or alleviated after ‘gender affirming therapy.’” -- American College of Pediatricians
Would families have been better prepared to resist the lies of gender theory if pastors spoke up? We have even seen a pattern of shootings and murder involving the transgender ideology. Charlie Kirk’s murderer was living with a transgender woman (male transitioning to female). The Colorado Springs, the Denver, Aberdeen and Nashville shooters were all associated with transgender ideology.
Pornography in Schools
Pope Francis has emphasized the diabolical impact of pornography use to the family and relationships. The devil enters here because of the ubiquitous nature of pornography today.
Pornography robs couples from experiencing God’s true gift of love. In Connecticut the House Bill 7014 and Senate Bill 1271 would have suppressed parental rights and usurped local boards of education from preventing the use of extreme content of schoolbooks (pornography) in school libraries.
Attack on Christianity
Cultural Marxism promotes division and conflict by separating people into two groups, the oppressed and oppressors. Christianity is the main obstacle for the Marxist’s agenda. Here is a quote from the person known as the Father of Marxism, Antonio Gramsci in 1935:
“Socialism is precisely the religion that must overwhelm Christianity…In the new order Socialism will triumph by first capturing the culture via infiltration of schools, universities, churches and the media by transforming the consciousness of society.” – Antonio Gramsci
In the case of gender ideology, the transgenders are the oppressed and those who oppose gender affirming the oppressors. Some states even label parents as oppressors and their children the oppressed. In California Child Protective Services can remove children from parents who refuse state recommended gender affirming care.
Wouldn’t parents feel emboldened to defend their children against gender ideology indoctrination if pastors spoke up about this evil from the pulpit?
Summary
Jesus asked the disciples, “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” That’s when Jesus replied, “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church.” – Matthew 16:18
The original Aramaic word for church was ecclesia (or ekklesia) which means an assembly or congregation of citizens. It’s not a building. It’s a collection of people. Jesus was referring to a congregation built upon his philosophy, teachings (the rock) and/or political positions and/or platform. Pastors have the greatest opportunity to calmly influence the “congregation” toward the faith while counteracting the evil attacks in the form of government policy. Will they do it?
Jesus asks us to be salt and light. Salt and light change the environment. In other words, we are called to influence the political platform to assure consistency with the Jesus’s teachings. When the political platform is evil it must be changed and each of us plays a role. We need strong leadership to guide us. Pastors can and must speak up to help each of us be “salt” (preserve what is good) and “light” (reveal the truth). It’s their job. Let us pray they begin today.
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