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The devil seems to be having a productive summer. The prayer warriors need to redouble our efforts. Of course, this world is not our world, which makes Heaven seem so much more wonderful. James 2-4 tells us, "Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. And let perseverance be perfect, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." We are building great spiritual muscles right now and we must continue to be vigilant. Here is what the locals had to say. Following passage of legislation to allow same-sex marriage in the state, the Catholic bishops of New York expressed concern "that both marriage and family will be undermined by this tragic presumption of government." In a statement, the heads of the state's eight Catholic dioceses said they were "deeply disappointed and troubled" at approval of a bill that will "alter radically and forever humanity's historic understanding of marriage." The state Senate passed the measure 33-29 in an evening vote June 24, and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat and a Catholic, signed it into law later that night. Unless it is delayed by legal challenges, it will take effect in late July. The bishops said the true definition of marriage as the union of one man and one woman "cannot change, though we realize that our beliefs about the nature of marriage will continue to be ridiculed, and that some will even now attempt to enact government sanctions against churches and religious organizations that preach these timeless truths." As Catholics, we know we are different. We know that God calls us to maintain His laws despite what the civil authorities legislate. At the end of times, all truth will be revealed and God's righteousness will reign. Kneel and pray today that our elected officials stop the assault on our moral beliefs.

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