We’re so used to men of the cloth condemning even legal gun ownership as a sin, so it is truly refreshing that a Catholic priest from Ann Arbor, MI is encouraging his flock to tool up. Rev. Edward Fride of the Christ the King Catholic Church sent a letter to his parishioners telling them they should seriously consider arming themselves and getting conceal carry permits.
In the letter Fr. Fride writes “We’re Not In Mayberry Anymore, Toto!” mixing the Andy Griffith Show and Wizard Of Oz references to let the people know they don’t live in an fantasy crime free wold and to open up their eyes.
It is very common for Christians to simply assume that they live in Mayberry, trusting that because they know the Lord Jesus, everything will always be fine and nothing bad can happen to them and their families. Those who have followed the Lord Jesus for more than 20 minutes, however, have often experienced first-hand that the reality of living in a fallen universe can be very different. How to balance faith, reality, prudence, and trust is one of those critical questions that we struggle with all our lives. Pretending we are in Mayberry, while we are clearly not, can have very negative consequences for ourselves and those we love, especially those we have a responsibility to protect. If we are not in Mayberry, is there a real threat?
And why should Fr. Fride’s flock take responsibility for their own protection? Well:
First, the amount of crime has substantially grown; second, due to budget cuts, there has been a significant reduction in the availability of an armed police response.
Fr. Fride writes that crime is moving from the big cities like Detroit to the suburbs as criminals look for softer targets. He points out that law enforcement officials admit that they can’t possibly protect everyone at all times and recommend citizens arm themselves for personal protection.
ZitatThe Christ the King Catholic Church offers concealed carry classes administered by local law enforcement officers and Fr. Fride encourages all of his parishioners to take part. I think it’s great that the head of a church is taking a realistic view of the world and the importance of self-defense. After all: “God made man, but Samuel Colt made them equal.”
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Tue Apr 21, 2015 7:00 am
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Catholic Priest Tells His Flock To Arm Themselves
