Catholics Praying for Religious Freedom is Backwards Thinking

by David L. Gray

I have never felt comfortable about praying for religious freedom. In fact, I have always felt downright uneasy about it in my spirit; as if I were not praying in a way that agreed with the Holy Spirit that lives within me. For this reason, I have to confess that I am not in solidarity with many Catholics, including Pope Francis and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, in regards to praying for our delivery from religious persecution and for government established rights to practice our faith.

The Precepts of Discipleship

Being that Jesus said, “Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Mt. 5:10), does it then, therefore, follow that if we pray not to be persecuted that we are asking for the kingdom of heaven not to be ours?
Being that Jesus said, “Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you [falsely] because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Mt. 5:11), does it then, therefore, follow that if we pray to be excused from insults and persecution that we are asking not be rewarded in heaven?
One of my all-time favorite quotes comes from Tertullian in 197 C.E. Concerning a persecution yet unknown to modern Catholics in the United States, he wrote,

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 David L. Gray is a Catholic author, radio host, and founder of DavidLGray.INFO Inc., where he blogs at regularly; giving his fresh Catholic perspective on all things relevant and interesting. DavidLGray.INFO Inc. is a ministry that is consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. "My calling from God is to the John the Baptist Ministry; meaning that I’m here to live in truth, through word and action, and point people to Christ Jesus through the lenses of the Catholic Church." David is a part-time Disneyland dad and full-time father to three beautiful daughters, an ecstatic 2006 Catholic convert, an indifferent 1997 graduate of Central State University, a proud 2002 dropout of Antioch McGregor Graduate School, and a mild mannered graduate student at Franciscan University of Steubenville; working towards a Master of Arts Degree in Theology and Christian Ministry.