Who are the "Quiet Men" of the "Evil Empire?"

Ronald Reagan, RIP

Two headlines captured my attention this morning?

Russia Now Proclaims a "Belief in God to be Fundamental," while the US Embraces Paganism

Losing our Religion: America becoming 'pagan' as Christianity cedes to culture

It got me thinking about the "evil empire" Ronald Reagan described back in the 1980s.

Who represents the "evil empire" today? Does one nation fit Ronald Reagan's description of the "evil empire" or does it reside in the minds and hearts of those who "breathe together" the spirit of Lucifer. Who listens to and advances his siren song, "You can be like unto God?" 

Have you ever listened to Ronald Reagan's "evil empire" speech? Here's an excerpt with a video clip below it. In his day, the evil empire was the Soviet Union. Today, we need to look elsewhere:

``The greatest evil is not done now in those sordid `dens of crime' that Dickens loved to paint. It is not even done in concentration camps and labor camps. In those we see its final result. But it is conceived and ordered (moved, seconded, carried and minuted) in clear, carpeted, warmed, and well-lighted offices, by quiet men with white collars and cut fingernails and smooth-shaven cheeks who do not need to raise their voice.'' 

Who would you nominate for the list of "quiet men with white collars?" George Soros? Joe Biden? Bernie Sanders? Chuck Schumer? Nancy Pelosi? Cardinal Parolin? Fr. James Martin?

Or would you nominate Donald Trump, Cardinal Zen, and "rigid", orthodox Catholics?

What would you list among the "greatest evils?" Abortion, contraception, euthanasia? Persecution of Christians around the world? Idolatry?

Or would you wring your hands over "climate change," failure to recycle, and immigration restrictions?

We are living in challenging times. Our shared knowledge is shrinking and shifting from the masterpieces of western civilization and the Bible to the porn culture advanced by HBO and Netflix. How can we as Catholics fight against the evil empire today? The Baltimore Catechism tells us. "Know, love, and serve God." Love Him first with our whole hearts, minds, souls, and strength and then our neighbors as ourselves. We need to evangelize a culture sinking into paganism and nihilism. Life is worth living and we need to help our neighbors see it. "Make a friend, be a friend, bring a friend to Christ." That was the message of the dear priest who witnessed our marriage. We can be a blessing to the nones if we don't hide the light of our faith under a bushel. We are called to be missionaries to the pagan culture we live in. Let us not shrink from that duty!

Our Lady, Seat of Wisdom, pray for us.

St. Therese, patron of missionaries, pray for us.

Fr. Hugh Monmonier, pray for us