Last Thursday I listened to a magnificent senior address from a young woman graduating from Harvard University. In her address, she condemned “anti-Americanism” and, in a powerful and deliberate way, rebuked us for our silence as we watch our culture being corrupted by “wokeness”.  It was a powerful less than seven minute speech that truly challenged me. Have I been too silent as I watch so many of our Judeo-Christian principles being ignored and torn down?

    The next day, Friday, I opened the Westmore News to see the front page story boasting that finally, Port Chester High School is flying the “Pride” Flag with our American Flag. As I read that story, I thought of that young Harvard graduate who rebuked me for remaining “cringingly silent”, as we watch our American culture and society, built on Biblical principles, being torn down. I need to say something.

    It saddened me to read the Superintendent of Schools declare that this flag raising represented “history in the making for Port Chester High School” — when our graduation rate is 75%, well below state median. If that rate could rise to above 90%, then, I think, Port Chester would really have something to be proud of and boast about — education is what changes the history of families and of lives — not one’s sexual orientation.

    It saddened me to read a “revised” Pledge of Allegiance to a multi-color flag when I think of how many Americans of all races, religions, and orientations have sacrificed their lives for the Red, White and Blue. What is equally sad is how many of our young people can’t recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag or sing the National Anthem because they just don’t know it. I have a deep suspicion they are not even taught it anymore! I think Port Chester High School would really make history if everyone of its students could recite the pledge and sing our national anthem with pride and respect.

    “Inclusivity” is the in-word, these days, and we should be inclusive; no one should be side-lined in any way because of their race, creed, language, ethnicity or sexual orientation. Every human life is sacred and every human person should be respected for who he/she is. However, one thing is to include someone, another thing is to propose and hold-up someone’s life-style as normal and natural, even if, and especially if, that life-style goes against my conscience and religious beliefs.

    We hear a lot of talk today about democracy, both from the left and from the right. Perhaps both sides would do well to re-read and study the Farewell Address of our First President, George Washington. He considered religion and morality as necessary if the American experiment was to succeed. He wrote: “religion and morality are the greatest pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of people and citizens”. Perhaps if all our schools in Port Chester spent more time teaching these principles and values, we would have more to be proud about than the raising of a multi-colored flag and our Village would be a better, safer more respectful place to live.

    Our nation is built on Judeo-Christian values — these form the very foundation of who we are as Americans. From the first chapter of the Book of Genesis through the Book of Revelation, God’s Word continually makes it very clear: “God created mankind in His image, in the image of God created them: male and female,  He created them… that is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one body”.

    God’s Word is clear and not confusing: God created two sexes, male and female and marriage is between one man and one woman. For Catholics, Christians, Jews — this is the Biblical teaching. In our present culture it maybe uncomfortable to proclaim it, but we cannot change the Word of God to fit our cultural confusion. And as a faithful Catholic, Christian, Jew this is the life that, in conscience, I must uphold and propose to our young people — anything else does violence to our beliefs. From my perspective, this push and gross over-sexualization of our young people starting from kids as young as ages 3 and 4 is nothing less than another form of child abuse — and it is not a proud moment in our history, but shameful one. To say this does not mean that I exclude anyone from love, respect or friendship. It simply says that God’s Word takes preference in our lives and that we can do both: uphold God’s Word and love and respect others. It is not either/or ( as it is often presented) — it can be and is for many of us both/and.

    In the face of so many odd things happening in our country, none of us can continue to remain “cringingly silent” — we must make our voices heard. There is nothing to be proud of an educational 

program that teaches our young people sexual confusion and pushes a gender ideology that goes contrary to basic human common sense and God’s Word.

    God bless you!
    Fr. Pat