You have heard the term “existential threat” many times over the last few years. Well folks that time is coming in November 2024.

There has been an assault on groups, norms, laws and freedoms we have taken for granted for decades.

The Christian Right has slowly been eroding these freedoms and pushing their agenda on the majority of Americans much like the Taliban has in their countries.

They have a right to their beliefs and to live life as they see fit but they want the rest of us to go along with it, again much like the Taliban.

Women will not have as many rights, minorities are being disenfranchised by gerrymandering. The poor are being ground into dust by assistance that has been downgraded or eliminated altogether.

Mean spirited denial of Federal assistance in Medicare, Medicaid, School lunches, Food stamps, etc. is mind-boggling. Florida, are you listening?

Attacks on people that do not fit their beliefs are increasing, Jews, Asians, LGBTQ+, African-Americans, You don’t fit their idea of “normal” you are a target.

LGBTQ+ groups are being marginalized by laws created to ensure they do not get proper healthcare.

Roe V Wade was overturned by Supreme Court Justices that vowed to protect it during their nominations.

Affirmative Action is being watered down because the “whiteys” are crying that it’s not fair to them.

If you think racism is not real try living in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Texas and even Minnesota, George Floyd anyone?

It is obvious to anyone watching that there are Justices that are siding with the Ultra-conservatives, the Religious Right and frightenly with the White Supremacists which of course include the Stop the Steal gang.

Sure, it will take a generation to go out and vote to slowly remove these little by little but November 2024 will be critical.

There is some hope, voters in conservative Kansas and Ohio overwhelmingly voted to protect abortion rights. Much to the shock and dismay of the GOP who started backtracking right away when they started to read the tea leaves.

Speaking of abortion, ask yourself why the Catholic Church wont baptize an unborn fetus?

As stated in the rite for Pastoral Care of the Sick, “sacraments are celebrated for the living, not the dead… the dead are effectively helped by the prayers of the living” (Pastoral Care of the Sick, para. 224). This means that a person who has died is not capable of receiving the sacrament of baptism.

This can be the greatest country in the world but we have taken steps backward and we need to wake up.

God bless America.