Courage and Confidence

We're all aware that France used to be, and in many ways today, a bastion of the Church. The Church of France was the eldest daughter of the Church, she gave us many saints. She produced the most beautiful of cathedrals and basilicas such as Chartres and Notre Dame. Her men settled in North America to places like Quebec, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, and never to be forgotten St Pierre et Miquelon. Along with them they brought the faith they had confidence, they knew the truth and in these places the truth still remains.

There was a teacher I had in school who everyone trusted. He was firm, trustworthy, and he was the likes of which you thought he could see everything even when he had a substitute in for him. You couldn't hide anything, he was a good Catholic man and knew where to call the lie. I remember him telling us this about the Catholics of France: they may not go to Mass, they may not say a prayer, but might God forbid you ask them to convert to another religion, no. To be French is to be Catholic, and there's hardly any other way to think of it.

Now, while ''to be French is to be Catholic'' can be debated, it is undeniable that Catholicism is woven into French culture more than anything else.

But today, Europe is increasingly becoming secularised and I see that with my own two eyes. The European Union has no clue what they're at, as far as I'm concerned and I am not to be convinced otherwise. But with the secularisation, in France, it has brought to some people, a fierce hatred of the truth and of all things Catholic. Now, France is faced with a law as to whether adopt a legal form of ''same-sex marriage'', which we know is contrary to nature and a contradiction. An arrow in the side of what is nature.

Children = 1 Father + 1 Mother

Here is part of the article which can be found by clicking the photo above. It's from the World News Australia.

Unlike Saturday's rallies, which unfolded in a family-friendly atmosphere, Sunday's demonstration in the capital was marred by accusations that journalists covering the rally and topless counter-protesters dressed as nuns had been roughed up.
Thousands of people attended the rally, organised by the conservative(actually, just a CATHOLIC group. A truly Catholic one) Catholic group, Civitas, whose stated aim is to "re-Christianise" France.
French feminist writer and columnist Caroline Fourest said about a dozen topless activists from the Ukrainian-based women's movement Femen had shown up to the protest partially dressed as nuns and chanting "humorous" slogans.(How bloody tolerant. The same people afraid of hearing criticism, be intolerant towards out good nuns mocking them, and mocking God)

Here's a more thorough observation from the Toronto Star

PARIS—Holding aloft ancient flags and young children(families are the Stronghold), hundreds of thousands of people converged Sunday on the Eiffel Tower to protest the French president’s plan to legalize gay ''marriage'' and thus allow same-sex couples to adopt and conceive children.
The opposition to President Francois Hollande’s plan has underscored divisions among the secular-but-Catholic French,(like what my teacher said) especially more traditional rural areas versus urban(it's like this in many countries. Rural areas are often most conservative, compared to urban areas) enclaves. But while polls show the majority of French still support legalizing gay marriage, that backing gets more lukewarm when children come into play.
The protest march started at three points across Paris, filling boulevards throughout the city as demonstrators walked six kilometres to the grounds of France’s most recognizable monument. Paris police estimated the crowd at 340,000, making it one of the largest demonstrations in Paris since an education protest in 1984.(tell me that THAT wasn't significant now)
“This law is going to lead to a change of civilization that we don’t want,” said Philippe Javaloyes, a literature teacher who bused in with 300 people from Franche Comte. “We have nothing against different ways of living,(that's incorrect, but the next statement is what matters) but we think that a child must grow up with a mother and a father.”
Public opposition spearheaded by religious leaders has chipped away at the popularity of Hollande’s plan in recent months. About 52 per cent of French favour legalizing gay marriage, according to a survey released Sunday, down from as high as 65 per cent in August.

Today being the feast of the Holy Family, I think it's only appropriate that we pray to Our Lady and to St Joan of Arc to beg Our Lord on the French behalf. Rather, the world's.

It takes courage to protest evil, and it takes confidence in Our Lord that His will be done.