September 23, 2022 began like another Friday. I used to be up first. Whereas my spouse and 7 kids slept upstairs, I used to be pacing the kitchen making breakfast and preparing for household day at our native homeschool co-op.
Instantly, simply earlier than 7:00 am, I heard loud banging on the entrance door time and again. The bell rang and the entire home was lit up with noise. The individual behind the door shouted, “Open up.” They didn't establish themselves – as I later realized, this was required by protocol.
They stored shouting, “Open!” At that second my spouse and youngsters had been terrified, pouring down the steps of their pajamas and clinging to one another.
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I approached the door with them behind me and requested, “Who’s that?”
“It's the FBI, open up.
I calmly opened the door—we don't have any weapons in my home, or I most likely would have tried to defend myself—and all of the sudden I used to be confronted with 5 federal brokers with lengthy weapons pointed at me and my seven kids.
I mentioned, “Please keep calm, I'll open the door.” Please be calm. I've obtained seven youngsters right here.” I opened the door and confirmed them my arms. After they got here at me with M16s pointed at me, I couldn't imagine the circus that was my entrance yard—lights in every single place, weapons, full ballistics, battering rams, and automobiles.
“What are you doing right here?” I requested.
“You understand why we're right here,” mentioned the person who was clearly in command.
I actually had no concept – I used to be notified just a few months in the past that I used to be being investigated. However my – and my attorneys' – makes an attempt to succeed in out to the FBI and the Division of Justice to peacefully are available for questioning have been met with full silence.
Then I noticed.
“You're right here as a result of I'm saving kids,” I replied. “You wouldn't be right here if the Trump administration was within the White Home.”
They didn’t reply, however continued to carry me and my household at gunpoint. My spouse – who has the guts of a lion – requested, “Do you have got a warrant for his arrest?”
They mentioned, “We'll take him with or with out permission.”
She replied, “You may't, that's kidnapping.”
However behind them had been ten unmarked and marked items, state troopers and federal police. It was clear that they had been taking me.
…
By God's grace I used to be acquitted. In lower than an hour of the jury's deliberations, I used to be a free man – in a position to return to my spouse, my kids, and naturally to the struggle for the lives of the unborn. Better of all, we despatched a message to the Division of Justice and the FBI: we is not going to again down within the face of maximum therapy and intimidation.
The approaching storm
So what does my story imply to you, the American Catholic voter who’s attempting to reside an trustworthy and simply life in our damaged however nonetheless lovely nation? To start with, I'm not a particular case. Many Catholic pro-lifers, docs, nurses, pharmacists, academics and professors right this moment face persecution for his or her religion. Catholics high the record in terms of teams perceived by the federal government as threats.
What occurred to me can occur to anybody. Hopefully, not everybody might be going through FBI brokers at their door. However ultimately somebody will and we’ve to consider them. That's why we couldn't settle for that plea deal.
However right here's what I realized.
We can not reside in worry. Not like Individuals. Not like Catholics.
We should be “all in”, we should not again down and we should not stroll away. The one technique to cease the tyrants who run the police state is to say, “No deal.”
And what if the worst occurs? What if you find yourself in a white cell like me?
Nicely, right here's the excellent news. For me, I skilled deep pleasure at that second. I known as upon all of the saints I had ever recognized—Saint Maximilian Kolbe, Saint Peter and Paul, the early martyrs, the archangels, and my guardian angel. That they had by no means felt so actual to me as they did in that cell. These six hours had been an intense interval of devotion and prayer on the foot of Calvary.
My phrase to anybody who has been frightened by my story up to now: I’ve by no means been so near Jesus on the foot of the cross. If I reached out I’d get a splinter on my arm.
You don’t obtain the grace of martyrdom – crimson or white – till the second of martyrdom. I skilled slightly white martyrdom, dying to myself and my freedom. Though we’re imprisoned, we declare our personal freedom. If we’re really free in our hearts via the cross of Christ, nothing can take that away from us.
We had been created for this time in American historical past, within the historical past of the Church. For such a time as this, the Catholics of this technology are being shaped. We’re known as to proclaim Christ and His fact whatever the value.
Do not forget that grace comes within the second. If we stay near our Lord in prayer and fasting, near the grace of the sacraments, we will ensure that God pours out an abundance of grace on us.
He fights for you.
Excerpt taken from For God, Nation, and Cause: How Catholics Can Save America chapter titled “Arrested by the FBI”.
Mark Houck is the founder and president of The King's Males, Inc. He’s an writer and motivational speaker who developed a service in 2004 to assist males turn out to be higher leaders, protectors and suppliers. A former All-American collegiate athlete and highschool soccer coach, Mark has used his private pursuit of excellence in sports activities to encourage and information 1000’s of individuals in North America and Europe. He holds a BA in Human Useful resource Administration from the Catholic College of America and an MA in Training from Holy Household College. He and his spouse Ryan-Marie reside in Pennsylvania with their seven kids.
