Nashville administrator: pray for conversion of white nationalists

Last updated on: October 24, 2017 at 6:08 pm by CNA Daily News

Nashville administrator: pray for conversion of white nationalists 2017-10-24T18:08:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Nashville, Tenn., Oct 24, 2017 / 12:08 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- The administrator of the Diocese of Nashville has called on the local community to pray for the conversions of white nationalists who are organizing two rallies in Tennessee later this month.

“On behalf of the Catholic community of the Diocese of Nashville, I ask for your prayers that the hearts and minds of these individuals be changed through the loving presence of the Holy Spirit,” Father Mike Johnston said Oct. 20. Johnston is administrator of the diocese, which has been vacant since the June 3 death of Bishop David Choby.

“Their message is not one of peace and tolerance, but rather it is one that seeks to divide us and demean the dignity and respect of men, women and children who have survived intolerable conditions, trauma and extreme violence.”

The rally is being planned by the Nationalist Front, a loose coalition of several neo-Nazi, neo-confederate, or white nationalist organizations including the National Socialist Movement, the Traditionalist Workers Party, League of the South, White Lives Matter, Vanguard America, and others, The Tennessean reports.

Some of the groups were involved in the Aug. 12 “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, which featured strong tensions between rally attendees and counter-protesters over a Confederate monument.

That event turned deadly when one attendee drove into a crowd of counter-protesters.

Organizers have applied for permits in Shelbyville and Murfreesboro on Oct. 28. The Shelbyville rally is intended to oppose refugee resettlement, one organizer has said.

The neo-confederate League of the South held simultaneous demonstrations in both cities in October 2013.

Father Johnston defended the presence of refugees.

“Our neighbors, some who have come to us as refugees, only ask to live in peace,” he said. “Let us not allow the voice of hate to overshadow the message of Jesus Christ to love our neighbor as our self – may we keep God’s commandment at the forefront of everything we do.”

He cited “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,” a 20th century prayer which is often attributed to St. Francis of Assisi, declaring that this prayer “inspires us to use our voices to call for peace and demonstrate our love for our neighbor, no matter a person’s race, background, country of origin or faith tradition.”

“I lend my voice to the many speaking out in Middle Tennessee to decry the hatred and intolerance of certain groups against the most vulnerable among us,” Johnston said.

The upcoming events have also attracted critics and counter-demonstrators.

Critics of the rally include The Tennessee Anti-Racist Network and several other partners, who are organizing counter-protests. Groups off “antifa,” militant self-described antifascists who often cover their faces to remain anonymous, are also planning a response, The Tennessean reports.

Previous Post

October 24, 2017

Sistine Chapel Choir releases new album for Advent, Christmas

Next Post

October 24, 2017 Release of Santa Fe court records a step in countering abuse, archdiocese says

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

How many people were saved in Noah's Ark?

Select your answer to see how you score.

6 12 8 10