The Press Department of the Heralds of the Gospel published on August 28, 2019, an extensive report entitled "Persecution of the Catholic Church in Brazil?", in which the fallacious statements contained in a report entitled "The secrets of Heralds: what hide the walls of castles inhabited by ultraconservative Catholic group", published on August 23, 2019 by the news portal Metropolises.
See the overall response plan here.
IV. Conclusion
Combining this report with the complaints made before the Public Prosecutor ' – with some falsified accusations – and before the Department of Education, and other defamations made on social networks, we are clearly in the presence of an attempt to religious persecution, violation of the constitutional rights of freedom of religion, conscience and worship and perhaps an illicit association to delinquire, perpetrating crimes of injury, defamation and libelous denunciation, specifically typified by Brazilian law.
We know, however, that Jesus promised his followers, "If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you" (Jn 15:20). The Roman Empire, barbarian peoples, totalitarian, anticlerical and anti-religious governments are examples of those who have cast Christians into the beasts, bonfires, ostracism or the most Inhuman concentration camps.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us that "before the coming of Christ, the Church must undergo final proof, which will shake the faith of many believers. The persecution, which accompanies his pilgrimage on earth, will uncover the "mystery of wickedness", in the form of a religious imposture, which will bring men an apparent solution to their problems, at the expense of apostasy of truth" (CIC n. 675).
This evidence of religious intolerance is usually observed in conflict regions, in undemocratic or totalitarian regimes. This time, however, it occurs in the heart of the largest Catholic nation on the planet, and worse, through those who should be guardians of truth. And today with ease: because words, as they used to say, do not drain blood…
May no one be deluded: this attack strikes the Church head-on, this Mystical Body of Christ composed of countless faithful, for, according to pauline teaching: "If a member suffers, all members share their suffering" (1 Cor 12:26). There is no doubt: this is an authentic religious persecution in the Land of Santa Cruz. This is an offense not only against a portion of the Church, but against it in its entirety.
Says the popular saying that "quiet consciousness is the best pillow". The Heralds, in turn, remain left over and serene, for they have the legitimate right to do good, even if the enemies of the Church do not want to allow. They remain fearless, with the certainty of the divine promise: "In the world you will have tribulations, but have courage: I have overcome the world!" (Jn 16:33).
And we conclude by revealing the only secret of the Heralds, namely: doing good, no matter what it costs. The rest – already guaranteed by Jesus – will come by addition (Mt 6:33). In fact, our true abode is not hidden behind walls: it is open to all those who have a straight heart, that is, Paradise, where there will no longer "be death, no mourning, no cry, nor pain" – at last, nor religious intolerance – "for the ancient things are gone!" (Ap 21.4).
Meanwhile, in our fraternal mission, we plead:
"To your protection we turn, Holy Mother of God; do not despise our supplications in our needs; but always deliver us from all dangers, O glorious and Blessed Virgin."
Let us look at the weapons of light (Rom 13:12), in the certainty that the works of darkness will never prevail: sooner or later, the Sun of Truth will cross to the darkest clouds of modern "metropolises"…
São Paulo, August 28, 2019.
Gospel Heraldpress Department