Moses called the Israelites "rebels." Miriam and Aaron had rebelled, and Miriam became a snow-white leper (Nm 12:9-10). Those who scouted the promised land rebelled, except for Joshua and Caleb. In punishment, the people wandered in the desert for forty years (Nm 14:34). Korah led a rebellion, and he and his followers were consumed by fire (Nm 16:35). Those involved in Dathan's and Abiram's rebellion were swallowed up in an earthquake (Nm 16:31-32). The Israelites rebelled again at the waters of Meribah (Nm 20:13). They showed little common sense and learned nothing from history.

The current generation of American Catholics in the U.S.A. may go down in history as another generation of rebellion. Many have rebelled against the Lord regarding sexual morality, especially the Church's condemnation of artificial birth control. We have become a leprous culture of death and wandered in a desert of confused and false teaching. Our families, children, marriages, and religious vocations have been consumed and swallowed up.

Let us repent of rebellion before we destroy ourselves completely. Lord, have mercy on us, who are rebels! Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner (Lk 18:13).

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Ralph J. Lawrence, February 13, 2001

Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, February 20, 2001