John Allen Chau Tries To Evangelize an Isolated Tribe and Dies Trying

I'm not the only one fascinated by this story. According to news reports, John Allen Chau, the American Christian missionary who was recently killed on North Sentinel Island in the Indian Ocean, by a small isolated tribe, that has no contact with the outside world was prepared to die. He knew the dangers but he went anyway. The tribe are obviously fearful of outsiders and unfortunately their fear led them to kill the 26 year old. But he knew that was a possibility. They've killed others before, they want to be left alone.
He was trying to bring the good news of Jesus Christ to a forbidden area of the world. He went against authorities by going there which is never a good or wise thing to do. The Indian Navy is responsible to make sure no one gets close to the island but he did get close with help from locals, from other islands.
Going to North Sentinel Island became an obsession for him. He wanted to preach but his zeal and lack of understanding of the threat he posed and the danger he was in, should have been identified by others. Many others have tried to get close to the tribe and turned back.
Fishermen brought him to the island and he tried several times to make contact, to give small gifts, but it wasn't going well, according to a letter he wrote and gave to the fisherman as he paddled back and forth, over days, in a kayak.
The warning came. He should have heeded it. Besides the yelling they did at him and the arrows they shot at him, he wrote, "an arrow went directly into my Bible which I was holding." That was a clear sign he should get out of there.
I don't know what to make of this story. It's sad for the fishermen who were arrested because they brought him there, its sad for the young missionary, and his family.
Yet his words to the isolated tribe intrigue me, he yelled to them, "My name is John, I love you and Jesus loves you." But they couldn't understand his words. They don't speak English.
In the Catholic Church our history is filled with martyrs and missionaries who gave their lives for the faith, for Jesus and the gospel.
And though at first, I thought John Chau must have been crazy to do what he did, I'm not so sure. His brave and selfless actions, although they seem extreme, have probably inspired others. But missionary schools should always discourage missionaries from attempting what he did.
May some good come from this.
NJA

USCCB Fall General Assembly Meeting 2018 and the National Advisory Council

I watched some of the televised fall conference of the U.S. Bishops meeting in Baltimore and was saddened that so much time had to deal with the sexual abuse crisis in the Church. The U.S. Bishop's National Advisory Council spoke about the issue of the sexual abuse crisis in a sincere and strong way. I thought the speakers were honest, firm and realistic. They said what needed to be said, it was the truth. As Fr. David Whitestone, chair of the Bishops' advisory council said, "The depth of anger, pain and disappointment expressed by members of the NAC cannot begin to be expressed adequately in words." Well that is exactly how most of the Catholic lay faithful and many priests feel as well.
The conference should be dealing with issues such as how to better serve the poor, outreach to the homeless, walking alongside the sick and marginalized, helping with prison reform, working for affordable housing in cities across the country and other issues that our Lord would want addressed. But instead so much time, energy and resources must be used to deal with the sexual abuse crisis, when so many other important issues need attention and time.
Very sad indeed. So far from what Jesus Christ wants for His Church.
Purification, sanctification, greater holiness.....let's see, because unless the Spirit leads, unless there is great purification, transparency and humility the Church will see older, devout Catholics die off, in time and no one to replace them in the pews. That's the reality of it.
Recently, a priest of the Diocese of Rockville Centre, in the town of Mineola was removed from ministry because of sexual abuse allegations. They have to be investigated. The parishioners were shocked. My friend who lives in the parish told me, that on a Facebook page from a mother's group in the town, people were leaving messages saying, "That's why I don't bring my children to Church."
The National Advisory Board seemed to realize the severity of the problem and I just hope the bishops take it as seriously as the NAC did.
NJA

Guns in the Hands of the Mentally Ill-Thousand Oaks Mass Shooting

We live in a scary world. Of course, other times in history were scary too, but in the great country of America, there are too many mentally ill people who are in possession of guns and most of them are owned legally. So really no where is safe.
It's quite the conundrum. How do you get guns out of the hands of the mentally ill, while allowing law abiding citizens to have legally owned guns? This is the dilemma.
Yesterday as I watched the horrific news of yet another senseless mass shooting in southern California, in Thousand Oaks and watched as a father broke down after learning his young adult son, Cody Coffman had been killed, I once again was in disbelief.
In this modern world of technology, there should be a way to keep track of the mentally ill who show violent tendencies and make sure they do not own guns or have access to them.  It seems so simple and yet at this time in history, there is no follow-up (or follow-ups) when a person is showing signs of mental illness and has been evaluated. (At least in this case there didn't seem to be.)
I don't get it. People are suffering, innocent people are dying at the hands of people who should not own guns. Fathers and mothers, relatives and friends are crying, losing innocent children and young adults in senseless gun violence, as the holiday season draws near.
It's scary, senseless and sickening.
NJA