"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you..." (Mt. 5:43-44)

In this age of constant strife, it is very difficult to love our enemies, but we've got to try to do so. I was watching a report on television, the other day, about the U.S. Marines in Camp Leatherneck, in Afghanistan's Helmand Province. What was shown there was an effort to get along with the local population, that is to say, the mission of those Marines is to protect the local people from our and their enemies, and to really make the effort to get the local people to trust us. That's a great beginning to love your enemies, and to make peace.

For the troops, it is much more difficult to win the trust of the local people because then those wishing to harm our people, will be harder to spot. They could be in amongst people they already trust. In any case, I salute those who are in harms' way, so far away from home, and my prayers are with them. I hope, you will pray for them also!

We have another enemy, however, and that is the moral decay in the world, and particularly in the United States. Television shows all seem to gravitate to sex, and the example it gives our young people is just not correct. There is almost nothing on TV worth watching anymore. To tell you the truth - it makes me sick!

Movies, are affected too. A recent remake of the film "Sparticus," one headline said: ...."a slave to shock value, nudity, graphic violence." (USA Today, 1/22/2010)

That is one example of many, many movies which have become very explicit and graphic, more so than I can put up with. I no longer go to the movies.

The worst part of all this, is that especially young people but also older people, begin to think that because "sex is all over the place" it must be alright as a normal, everyday matter. Our government isn't helping this issue either. Whereas the primary education and upbringing is the parents' responsibility, our government, from the President on down, seems involved to make primary education of our kids a "public issue."

Recent headline: "Washington (Reuters) - President Barack Obama on Friday lifted restrictions on U.S. government funding for groups that provide abortion services or counseling abroad, reversing a policy of his Republican predecessor George W. Bush, a spokesman said." (1/23/2010)

The Roman Catholic stand regarding sex is well known. See Catechism of the Catholic Church #2331 through #2359 and onwards. That current morality or lack thereof is opposite the teaching of the Church is not surprising. This has been going on for years, and for years our children and youths, and many adults are being corrupted by those who have forgotten about God and His wishes for all of us. 

I don't know how to fix it, except to ask all to pray, to pray for the foregiveness of those who have been led astray by the ongoing hedonism in the media and elsewhere. Still, we have to love our enemies. That's difficult. We love them, but we do not like what they are doing. May God have mercy on their souls.

May you find peace and joy in your daily life.

Fred S. Schaeffer, SFO
February 10, 2010