Monthly Archives: July 2020

Lies and Violence

Lamb Logo Byzantine.jpgOur Lamb has conquered; Him let us follow.


“Violence can only be concealed by a lie, and the lie can only be maintained by violence. Any man who has once proclaimed violence as his method is inevitably forced to take the lie as his principle.”
-Alexander Solzehnitzhyn 


“Violence flourishes in lies, and needs lies. Truth is the power of peace. It is a fact, and no-one doubts it, that truth serves the cause of peace; it is also beyond discussion that non-truth in all its forms and at all levels (lies, partial or slanted information, sectarian propaganda, manipulation of the communications media, and so on) goes hand in hand with violence. Public opinion is often less sensitive to the various forms of non-truth that underlie violence and that create a fertile soil for it.


What should one say of the practice of combatting or silencing those who do not share the same views by labelling them as enemies, attributing to them hostile intentions and using skilful and constant propaganda to negatively brand them? What should one say about selective indignation, sly insinuations, the manipulation of information, the systematic discrediting of opponents – their persons, intentions and actions – blackmail and intimidation: these are forms of non-truth working to develop a climate of uncertainty aimed at forcing individuals, groups, governments, and even international organizations to keep silent in helplessness in the face of and in complicity with violence. All these attitudes are equally capable of favouring the murderous game of violence.


To promote truth as the power of peace means that we ourselves must make a constant effort not to use the weapons of falsehood, even for a good purpose. It is, however, truth communicated in the spirit of love that will release unsuspected light and energy and will give new opportunities for peace in the world.”

-John Paul II, December 8, 1979 

-Emmanuel Charles McCarthy, FAST FOOD AD 2020:Thirteenth Helping

You are invited

EPSON scanner image

Written by Rev. Emmanuel Charles McCarthy.

Friends,

July 16 is the 75th anniversary of the detonation of the first nuclear weapon in human history and 2020 is also the 30th year for the Day of Prayer for Forgiveness and Protection on July 15-16.  You are invited to participate remotely via Zoom (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/72313107071?pwd=T1E5MnhLYTdmWjZMSHdmT01QR3M1UT ) in this 24-hour event re-configured as a virtual vigil as an alternative to participating in person in New Mexico. 

Below are the Zoom link and code information and a .pdf of the program of events for the 24 hours. is attached. Also attached is the Statement of Purpose for this Vigil at Trinity Site

When you enter the Zoom your video and sound will be muted and remain so.  There will be no need to unmute either from your location for the duration.  Joining the zoom, leaving it, and rejoining it uses the same link and code found above and below.  We note that this is the first time this is being attempted and we anticipate there may be some technical glitches so we beg your patience.  Happily, there is no reason an interrupted or frozen connection can stop you from praying wherever you are!  Like at the desert site itself, it is not a marathon.  Come and go from the Zoom meeting as you prefer.  Zoom can be downloaded for laptops (PC and Mac) iPad, tablets, and smartphones.  Joining a meeting as a participant is free.  Click the link and follow the prompt to enter the password and you will be automatically admitted to the Zoom meeting.  Make sure the sound on your device is turned up. 

Topic: 24 Hour Prayer Vigil and Reflection at Trinity Site | Password GNV2020

Starting Time: Jul 15, 2020 05:30 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

Topic: 24 Hour Prayer Vigil and Reflection | Password GNV2020Time: Jul 15, 2020 05:30 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meetinghttps://us02web.zoom.us/j/72313107071?pwd=T1E5MnhLYTdmWjZMSHdmT01QR3M1UT09
Meeting ID: 723 1310 7071Password: GNV2020

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/72313107071?pwd=T1E5MnhLYTdmWjZMSHdmT01QR3M1UT09

Meeting ID: 723 1310 7071

Password: GNV2020

-Emmanuel Charles McCarthy

www.emmanuelcharlesmccarthy.org or www.centerforchristiannonviolence.org

Cancel Culture comes to Carmel

On Father’s Day, my longtime pastor Father Ted Rothrock gave a rousing homily reminding the viewing audience at home and the few of us still in the pews that Holy Communion is the point of church (meaning the Catholic Mass).  He also said we needed to preach this from the rooftops.  After Mass, I asked him in honor of his homily if we could have a Eucharistic Procession along the Monon Trail in downtown Carmel on July 4th.  The City had canceled the usual annual Celebration of Secession from the London Crown parade, so I assumed this was a good way to fill that vacuum.  He intended to take his annual July break to boat on Lake Michigan so passed the duty to his young pastoral associate.  The associate happily agreed to do so. 

I called Father Summerlin to start the planning, and we agreed 10am on July 4th worked best.  I started emailing all this lists and contacts I have in the Carmel Catholic Community.  The next day Father Summerlin asked for me to explore whether the City had any permitting requirements for this type of gathering.  I agreed to do so, though since this was small and was essentially a group of people walking together on a public trail, there probably wouldn’t be any permit requited.  I did not intend to block streets or the trail itself. 

My wife humorously asked whether Jesus asked Pilate for permission to enter Jerusalem on the donkey so long ago.  Since this was not about my views on government (I’m an anarchist in the tradition of Murray Rothbard) but about Jesus, I contacted the police department and parks department to determine whether we needed permission or were required to notify.  Both confirmed my original view. 

In the meantime, Father Ted penned his weekly bulletin article; this one would generate national headlines since he made some pointed remarks about the leaders of the BLM and Antifa movements.  In a church with only about 25% of its normal weekend attendance because of the fear of a virus (which is worse, a virus or Satan?), it is somewhat ironic that this one bulletin article of his finally hit such a nerve.  He has written many similar stemwinders over the years.  He is a breath of fresh air in an increasingly irrelevant and milquetoast Catholic Church.  Some people that didn’t like Father Ted’s article announced they were going to protest our church on Sunday.  Father Summerlin said the Eucharistic Procession was cancelled, in light of this, even though it was just a few parishioners gathering together and taking a walk with Jesus on a public trail. 

Our new administrator appointed by the Bishop invited the protestors onto church property. The church also blocked some people, including a Lutheran pastor, from “counter” protesting on church property. Therefore, so these two groups could get visibility, they both ended up largely protesting on the public easements, including a neighbor’s house across the street. They didn’t ask for permission of the city to do this!

In a side note, there were many more of us who prayed in front of the church most of the day around a beautiful St. Elizabeth Ann Seton statue commissioned by Father Ted than there were protestors. Some people walked out during the Bishop’s comments before Masses this weekend about the suspension; my family did not the night before because his message was so watered down either way that it was hard to get so emotional. We are a large parish and I have been asking Father Ted to get the Bishop here. Sad that this is what it took.

Unfortunately, my takeaway from this: John the Baptist said He must increase, I must decrease. The Church did decrease by not having a Eucharistic Procession, unrelated to anything except Jesus, and protestors increased onto church property to celebrate the scalp of Father Ted’s pastorships (this one and his next assignment, at the largest parish in the diocese). This is a site against militarism, but it does not encourage cowardice either by the Faithful or the Hierarchy. I pray that we listen to John the Baptist.