Lincoln, Neb., Jul 1, 2013 / 23:07 pm
The recent threats against religious freedom are an opportunity for the faithful to grow closer to God through prayer, fasting and penance, said Bishop James C. Conley of Lincoln, Neb., in a recent column.
"When God's people start living like everyone else, there is trouble in store," he said in a June 27 article for the Southern Nebraska Register.
Throughout the Old Testament, he explained, we see that as the Israelites wandered from God, they were made captive by pagan nations.
"The Lord takes no pleasure in the oppression of his people. But he permits it, to call us back to faithfulness," he said.