Bishop Greer Godsey<p>This Holy Week, I am reminded of the past of our Catholic faith. Pope Pius XII had an opportunity to speak up and speak out against the rise of the <a href="https://mastodon.myocci.social/tags/Nazi" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Nazi</span></a> regime, but he instead chose to remain silent. While he did strive to save the <a href="https://mastodon.myocci.social/tags/Jewish" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Jewish</span></a> population of Rome, millions died while he remained silent. </p><p>It is this memory that inspires me to speak out. We cannot allow the next Nazi regime to take full hold of our nation. We cannot allow people to be disappeared in the middle of the night. We must raise our voices, speak out against this evil, and stand firm in the face of injustice. </p><p>This battle will not be won with guns and bombs. It will only be won through the love of God shared with all humanity. It will only be won when we choose as a people to stand arm in arm, united, against this evil that darkens the hearts of mankind. </p><p>I plead with you today, harden not your hearts. Open your hearts to <a href="https://mastodon.myocci.social/tags/love" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>love</span></a> one another, even those you find hateful and <a href="https://mastodon.myocci.social/tags/evil" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>evil</span></a>. That love will overcome hate, bigotry, xenophobia, and racism. Stand up for the teachings of Jesus most aptly written about in Matthew chapter 25. </p><p>Do not allow this evil to continue to spread throughout our nation and our communities. I pray you will stand with me in this journey out of darkness and into the wonderful light of love!</p>