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OFFICE OF THE PRESIDING BISHOP Reformed Catholic Church www.reformedcatholic.org |
19 E. Eldridge Street Manchester, CT 06040 562-708-7198 |
Dearly Beloved in Christ,
Grace and peace to you in the name
of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
As we write to you today, our hearts
are heavy with the weight of global suffering. The world watches in anguish as
violence escalates in Ukraine, Iran, Gaza, the West Bank, and Israel. But these
are not the only places where pain and conflict prevail. We also grieve the
turmoil in Sudan, the violence in Mali, the suffering in Haiti, the unrest in
Somalia, the tensions in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea, and the
humanitarian crisis along the U.S.–Mexico border. Lives are being lost,
families displaced, and communities shattered. In such times, it is natural to
ask: Whose side is God on?
We, as leaders of the Reformed
Catholic Church, speak with one voice to affirm a profound and often
uncomfortable truth: God does not take
sides. God is not the champion of one nation over another, nor the defender
of one ideology against its rival. Rather, God is the author of peace, the
defender of the oppressed, and the healer of the brokenhearted.
In the book of Joshua, when the
commander of the Lord’s army is asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?” the
answer is neither (Joshua 5:13–14). God does not enter our conflicts to
validate our causes. Instead, God calls all people to align with the divine
will—one that transcends borders, politics, and pride.
Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace,
refused to be drawn into the factions of His time. He healed Roman soldiers and
welcomed Samaritans. He rebuked violence and taught love for enemies. His realm
is not of this world, and His mission was not to take sides, but to reconcile
all things to God.
As war rages and rhetoric hardens,
we urge you, beloved, to resist the temptation to claim God for your side.
Instead, ask: Are we on God’s side? Are we peacemakers? Are we advocates for
justice, mercy, and truth?
We grieve with all of the people who
suffer in Ukraine, Iran, Gaza, the West Bank, Israel, Sudan, Mali, Haiti,
Somalia, the Taiwan Strait, and along the U.S.–Mexico border. We pray for the
wounded, the grieving, the displaced, and the fearful. We call upon world
leaders to seek peace, not victory; reconciliation, not revenge.
Let us, as the Church, be an example of compassion a voice for justice and a sanctuary of peace. Let us reject hatred and division and instead embody the love of Christ in our words, our prayers, and our actions.
May the Holy Spirit guide us in
these troubled times.
Sincerely in Christ’s enduring peace,
The Bishops and Board of Directors of the Reformed Catholic Church
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