Advancing Christian Faith and Values,
Defending Religious Liberty for All,
Supporting Civility and the Common Good
through Preaching, Teaching, Writing, Activism and Reasoned Conversations

www.donaldshoemakerministries.com

75 Years Since “D-Day” – June 6, 1944

“The eyes of the world are upon you.
The hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere go with you.”
– General Eisenhower’s “Order of the Day” for allied troops as 160,000 crossed the English Channel to Normandy.

“Almighty God: Our sons, pride of our Nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity. Lead them straight and true; give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness in their faith.”
– President Roosevelt’s radio prayer on D-Day

God and History don’t provide the alternatives—the “What if’s.”

What if the Allies had failed in the D-Day invasion?

General Dwight Eisenhower, Supreme Allied Commander and planner of Operation Overlord (the D-Day invasion), had penned a message of defeat the night before (his “backup” message):

“Our landings in the Cherbourg-Havre area have failed to gain a satisfactory foothold and I have withdrawn the troops. My decision to attack at this time and place was based upon the best information available. The troops, the air and the Navy did all that Bravery and devotion to duty could do. If any blame or fault attaches to the attempt it is mine alone.”

He did not have to issue it. The landing was successful in spite of all the adversity and sacrifice, and by July 11 the allies were in full control of the northern coast of France and ready to move through France with the goal of invading and defeating Germany. Germany surrendered on May 8, 1945.

What if Adolf Hitler had been shot by Private Henry Tandey, a British solder who allegedly encountered him in France on September 28, 1918? Instead, Tandey let this unknown, wounded German soldier escape.

What if Adolf Hitler had been killed during the Beer Hall Putsch in Munich on November 8-9, 1923, or given a long prison sentence?

Hitler led 2000 Nazi supporters in an attempt to gain control of Munich. From there they hoped to generate an insurrection in Germany against the Weimar Republic.

The “putsch” failed. Sixteen Nazis were killed. Hitler was arrested, tried for treason and imprisoned. The putsch and trial brought his name to prominence in Germany and much of the world. While in prison he wrote Mein Kampf (“My Struggle”), with its anti-Semitism, political ideology and future goals. Just nine months into his 2-year sentence he was deemed to be no longer a threat and released. [See next page]

– The New York Times, December 21, 1924

Bible Insight – God’s Providence when Evil is Done

When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him.” So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this command before he died: ‘Say to Joseph, “Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.”’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. – Genesis 50:15-20 ESV

God’s Providence is his activity that accomplishes his will in the world. God can use evil motives and acts to accomplish his will, but without thereby becoming the author of evil or erasing our free will. In working his providential will, God mostly works “behind the scenes” of life. While this brings much mystery, I find it a very important and comforting doctrine.

Leading to the story above, Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers, who lied to their father about what happened, even convincing him Joseph was dead. Joseph endured unjust imprisonment in Egypt but ultimately became the ruler of the land, second only to Pharaoh himself, in order to save the people from famine (read Genesis 37, 39-41 for this story, another instance of the happy truth that God works through dysfunctional people and families).

When severe famine hit the region, Joseph’s brothers had to come to Egypt to buy food. Joseph recognized them and there began the long and necessary process of repentance from sin and reconciliation (Genesis 42-45). And Joseph was also reunited with his father Jacob!

When Joseph’s father died the brothers were sure Joseph would now seek his revenge. That’s the quick background to the verses above. But Joseph did not seek revenge. True reconciliation had occurred. More than that, God had accomplished his providential will through all the evil Joseph had experienced. The string of bad events had brought Joseph to lead a country and preserve it in a time of terrible famine.

“You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.” We may need to say this many times throughout life. Is meaning to be found in the evil of Hitler?

First Amendment Vigilance – California’s SB-360 Better but Not Good Enough

“I consider the government of the United States as interdicted by the Constitution from intermeddling with religious institutions, their doctrines, discipline, or exercises.”
– Thomas Jefferson to Samuel Miller, 1808

California’s Senate Bill 360, which would have made clergy into “Mandatory Reporters” if a confession was made during a “penitential communication” has been significantly modified!

SB 360 now continues to preserve the “clergy-penitent privilege.”
But the bill has details that still make it unacceptable!

In last month’s newsletter I wrote in detail against SB-360. Please review that. I think the best way to explain what this bill would now express is to give you the actual reading of the bill (as of May 20). BOLD is my emphasis.

[The mandatory reporting requirement for clergy to report suspected child abuse]
…does not apply to knowledge or reasonable suspicion of child abuse or neglect obtained by a clergy member during a penitential communication. For the purposes of this subdivision, “penitential communication” means a communication that meets all of the following requirements:

(A) Is communicated orally.
(B) Is made privately to a clergy member.
(C) Is intended by the communicant to be an act of contrition or a matter of conscience.
(D) Is intended by both parties to be confidential at the time the communication was made.
(E) Is made in the manner and context that places the clergy member specifically and strictly under a level of confidentiality that is considered inviolate by church doctrine.

(2) For purposes of this subdivision, “penitential communication” does not include any of the following activities, unless such activities take place as part of a penitential communication as defined in paragraph (1):

(A) Providing spiritual direction.
(B) Religious counseling.
(C) Individual or group therapy.
(D) Activity related to human resources or personnel management.
(E) Clergy assignment work.
(F) Communications between clergy, laity, or other members of the faith that occur outside of a penitential context.
(G) Activity relating to church administration or management.

(3) A written communication shall not qualify as a penitential communication.

(4) This subdivision shall not be construed to modify or limit the duty of a clergy member to report known or suspected child abuse or neglect when a clergy member receives information about abuse or neglect from any source other than a penitential communication. A clergy member is required to report any information obtained outside of a penitential communication even if the clergy member has also received information relating to abuse or neglect regarding the same person or incident during a penitential communication.

(5) The exception described in paragraph (1) does not apply to either of the following:
(A) A penitential communication between a clergy member and another person that is employed at the same site or facility as the clergy member. (B) A penitential communication between a clergy member and another clergy member.

On May 15, Catholic Archbishop José Gomez of Los Angeles said, “Hearings on the bill have not presented a single case—in California or elsewhere—where this kind of crime could have been prevented if a priest had disclosed information he had heard in confession. SB 360 claims to solve a crisis that does not exist.”

I concur with the concern expressed by Bishop Robert Barron [BOLD mine]:
“For some time now, the public institutions of the Church have been under attack from the secular state. The government has been seeking to determine what is taught and practiced in Catholic schools and what is carried out in Catholic hospitals, even when these practices run counter to the Church’s formal doctrine. But with SB 360, the secular authorities are reaching into the inner life of the Church, into its sacramental practice and discipline.”

“The Devil in the details” is found in (5)(1)(A) and (B). The “Seal of Confidentiality” would not be protected if the confessor works at the same site or facility as the clergy member hearing the confession, or if the confessor is a clergy member. These qualifications amount to governmental overreach—meddling into religious exercises and what, for Catholics, is a sacrament.

Ultimately this is not a “Catholic issue.” It is a religious freedom issue.

“Absolutists” – Eight Forces in Today’s Culture that Don’t Want to Give an Inch

There are at least eight pressure groups at work in America that will not yield an inch in pursuit of their causes. It’s “their way or the highway.” Worse, these groups are TRANSFORMATIONISTS—they want to shape our society so it conforms to their goals, by compulsion if necessary.
And this should concern us all.

1. ENVIRONMENTAL EXTREMISTS who have made their cause a religion (to be distinguished from those who seek to care for God’s creation). There is no room for compromise between their goals and how others in the community wish to live or eat or develop their property or use their resources. Talk about imposing your own morality on others!

2. PRO-LIFERS who say any compromise at all shows a desire to have “just a little bit of abortion.” They don’t believe “half a cake is better than none.” Better no cake at all, which is what they will get.

3. PRO-CHOICERS who fight any restrictions on third trimester abortions or laws that protect the life of an infant that survives an abortion.

4. LGBT ACTIVISTS who would destroy a Christian’s business, for example a cake decorating business even though the owner serves gays but won’t use his artistic (free speech) talent to make a cake for a same-sex wedding because it would violate his religion-formed conscience. These activists neither recognize nor tolerate any tension between LGBT rights (put into statutory law) and religious freedom rights (also put in statutory law but, even more, enshrined in the Constitution).

5. RADICAL SECULARISTS who think that no religious organization (other than a “place of worship” that hires a minister) should have any say in the moral values, ethical conduct, or theological convictions of those who work for the religious organizations (such as parochial school teachers who instill teaching and values into children whose parents pay for a religious education). They talk about “freedom of worship” but not “freedom of religion.” They talk about “freedom to believe” but not “free exercise of religion.”

6. ANIMAL RIGHTS ZEALOTS who claim the Bible gives harmful justification for human domination of animals and who deny that killing humans is any different ethically from killing chickens.

7. “CHRISTIAN AMERICA” ENTHUSIASTS who believe God wants Christians to rule America and implement biblical law. They may even claim that the First Amendment’s protection of religious freedom only applies to Christians.

8. LEFTISTS and SOCIALISTS who would coerce redistribution of wealth, expend massive resources not their own in accordance with their ideology, do all they can to limit the free speech (and other First Amendment rights) of others, and otherwise control the lives of citizens in order to achieve their vision for a millennialist utopia.

Don’s Upcoming Ministries

May 28 & 31, 2019 – Speak to women’s Bible study groups at Grace Community Church of Seal Beach on the Book of Ezra.

July 23-25 – Attend ACCESS Conference of the Charis Fellowship. Present Resolutions for adoption by delegates at the Business Session of the Conference.

July 28, 2019 – Speak in morning worship services at Grace Community Church of Seal Beach.

Don’s message of April 14: “The Triumphs and Failures of Israel’s Greatest King” (1 Kings 1-11) can be heard at www.gracesealbeach.org under “Resources”.

My Website: www.donaldshoemakerministries.com
Temporary contact: shoemaker@gracesealbeach.org

APPENDIX: Text of Radio Address & Prayer by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on D-Day, June 6, 1944

“My fellow Americans: Last night, when I spoke with you about the fall of Rome, I knew at that moment that troops of the United States and our allies were crossing the Channel in another and greater operation. It has come to pass with success thus far.

And so, in this poignant hour, I ask you to join with me in prayer:

Almighty God: Our sons, pride of our Nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity.

Lead them straight and true; give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness in their faith.

They will need Thy blessings. Their road will be long and hard. For the enemy is strong. He may hurl back our forces. Success may not come with rushing speed, but we shall return again and again; and we know that by Thy grace, and by the righteousness of our cause, our sons will triumph.

They will be sore tried, by night and by day, without rest-until the victory is won. The darkness will be rent by noise and flame. Men’s souls will be shaken with the violences of war.

For these men are lately drawn from the ways of peace. They fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight to end conquest. They fight to liberate. They fight to let justice arise, and tolerance and good will among all Thy people. They yearn but for the end of battle, for their return to the haven of home.

Some will never return. Embrace these, Father, and receive them, Thy heroic servants, into Thy kingdom.

And for us at home — fathers, mothers, children, wives, sisters, and brothers of brave men overseas — whose thoughts and prayers are ever with them–help us, Almighty God, to rededicate ourselves in renewed faith in Thee in this hour of great sacrifice.

Many people have urged that I call the Nation into a single day of special prayer. But because the road is long and the desire is great, I ask that our people devote themselves in a continuance of prayer. As we rise to each new day, and again when each day is spent, let words of prayer be on our lips, invoking Thy help to our efforts.

Give us strength, too — strength in our daily tasks, to redouble the contributions we make in the physical and the material support of our armed forces.

And let our hearts be stout, to wait out the long travail, to bear sorrows that may come, to impart our courage unto our sons wheresoever they may be.

And, O Lord, give us Faith. Give us Faith in Thee; Faith in our sons; Faith in each other; Faith in our united crusade. Let not the keenness of our spirit ever be dulled. Let not the impacts of temporary events, of temporal matters of but fleeting moment let not these deter us in our unconquerable purpose.

With Thy blessing, we shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy. Help us to conquer the apostles of greed and racial arrogancies. Lead us to the saving of our country, and with our sister Nations into a world unity that will spell a sure peace a peace invulnerable to the schemings of unworthy men. And a peace that will let all of men live in freedom, reaping the just rewards of their honest toil.

Thy will be done, Almighty God. Amen.”