Congratulations Gary!

Has there ever been a better time to be a Catholic?

Yeah, I wonder how you say something like that, especially after the last few months. Msgr. William J. Lynn and my former high school bandmate Rev. Jim Brennan fight for their freedom in Philadelphia court, remnants of a priest pedophile scandal Catholics long wished behind them. Daily headlines tell of protests over the Obama administration's health and human services mandate (including ones this week in Naples and Sarasota), over rights of homosexuals to marry (and redefine Christ's definition of that sacrament),  to apparently place nuns (and, by extension, women) under their procedural thumbs and make them just change their ways. Not to mention Sister Margaret Farley's "Just Love," a six year old book criticized by the Catholic Church for contradicting its teaching on human sexuality, only to top the salacious "50 Shades of Gray" series of Amazon.com.

But notable Catholic media personalities can speak out, no? Well, no: Father Thomas Williams, CBS-TV commentator and the most public face of the beleaguered Legion of Christ order, was removed from ministry overconfirmation he fathered a child. Even the month's good news, the release of the all-star, swashbuckling religious adventure "For Greater Glory," was tempered with odd reviews negatively emphasizing the film's Catholic slant (never mind Catholics made it, starred in it, and portrayed those who died in the Cristeros fighting with the Mexican government.) Do we have to hand New York Times Catholic bashers Maureen Dowd and Frank Rich more targets?

And yes, this is a great time to be Catholic and fly against popular culture, to repeat G.K. Chesterton:: "I am quite ready to respect another man's faith; but it is too much to ask I respect his doubt, his wordly hesitations and fictions, his political bargain and make-believe." It's a great time to stand outside time, praise a Church of sacraments and not simply social service; support priests, sisters and bishops not just for what they do every day but what they preach with and without words.

This is what is meant by "first principles" the bishops speak of and of which Chesterton again said, " “The act of defending any of the cardinal virtues has today all the exhilaration of a vice." If you arm yourself with knowledge and faith (not with arrogance), you can protect the Church intellectually the way so many martyrs did with their lives and futures- in Mexico and worldwide, even to Margeaux Graham, the young lady who recently gave up American Legion camp honors so not to miss Mass (even though they condescending told her, "God will understand." Your life may not be threatened (but heck, may come to that someday at this rate). But it could be your friendships, your career progress, veneer of hipness, longing to be in what CS Lewis called "the inner ring...(where) we four or five all huddled around this stove -- are the people who know." (Look up or read his entire essay,"The Inner Ring." It could stand for how an Order based on charity and fraternity should and should not be run.

 That said, I'm glad to pass good news on that should have happened long ago.

Gary Hubert has long been about the Knights and our Order It was a matter of time before he took a leadership role. He has served nearly every position including a term and a half as Grand Knight. He brought Ron Bill and I to fourth degree (and is still trying to get me into color guard)! It extends beyond meetings he attends and fund and spirit-raising events he participates in. Gary lives and breathes what the Knights stand for: patriotism for our military (he is a Desert Storm veteran), fraternity of working with a close group of men dedicated to common purpose, with the women they love supporting their work.

I got Gary's call Thursday night and knew he was not his laid-back self. He was excited, having received word of the promotion to district deputy from John Fazackererley,  aide to state secretary Christopher Kernan. Most telling in John's email was Gary's getting the post after being "highly recommended to us for the position by other DD’s in the area." This no doubt included fine men who've served in this role: Richard Cain,  Ed Smith, Ray Sucik instantly come to mind.  Little things we do get noticed.

Gary will be Deputy for a new district of four parish councils including ours, St. Columkille, All Saints, and Blessed Pope John. He has a tall order if you read the handbook and Reference guide Gary no doubt memorized:

" The district deputy is the representative of the supreme knight and the state deputy and is responsible for the supervision, growth, expansion, general care and well-being of the councils assigned to his district. (Section 62, “Charter, Constitution and Laws of the Order”). He is the key to the success of the Order. His responsibilities include ensuring that his councils follow the Order’s laws and rules, promoting effective membership recruitment and retention programs, identifying and developing new council locations, assisting councils in conducting relevant service programs, and monitoring the general financial and social health of the councils in his district."

In other words, you must love it to keep it, maintain it, and grow it. Gary has, and will.