Caesar Alloquitur: The Bear is Stirring; Raise up Lion of Judah

 Persecution of Ukrainian Catholics in Russian Crimea

Warcraft - The Lion of the Alliance, King Varian Wrynn. Relevant because Lions, and because there was a time when the Alliance and Warcraft was still awesome and had potential. Now it's something of a disappointment. But more on point.

This is the second or third major Catholic news outlet to report persecution of Ukrainian Catholics in Crimea since the Russian Occupation. Previously, I was a staunch supporter of Putin's annexation of Crimea. My understanding of the whole situation has been simple, and to the point: Russia has as much a right to protect their assets as any other country, especially against a rogue government.

St. Bernard preaching the Second Crusade painted by Émile Signol.

But this is a different story now. I've always been wary of Putin. The man's not the religious conservative people want to play him up to be, not by a long-shot. He's an amoral opportunist, and he's garnered support only from bitter conservatives outside of Russia who are desperate for a leader to rally behind. I've refused to worship him as some Peter the Great/Savior of the Right like many have been doing.

Maybe the Russian government has nothing to do with the persecution of Catholics. Maybe it's just some overzealous Pro-Russians in the Ukraine. Maybe if only Stalin knew about all the people being hauled off to Siberia, something would be done about it (an old propaganda tool used by the Soviets when Stalin was in power, for those who don't get the reference).

I for one am sick of Russia deciding to invade the West every few hundred years for the same reasons: land that isn't useless and ports that aren't frozen. They can bloody well learn to overland trade or get over themselves, or maybe ditch some of that useless frozen wasteland for some land that is actually useful.

I don't really have love for any other country in the world right now, for various reasons. But I'll put it like this: I'm willing to throw in behind any country at this point that is willing to humble the Russians once and for all. It's time their westward invasions - after the fashion of the Mongols who ruled over them nearly a thousand years ago - were permanently put to a halt. It's time that the Moscow Patriarch - that belligerent schismatic who's opposed union with the One, True, Catholic, and Apostolic Church at every attempt to put it into effect - saw Moscow burn as he probably wishes we could see Rome burn by the hands of the Russians. It is time for Russia to be made to behave like a civilized nation and for its history of violent expansionist wars to be ended.

Before you all run down to your nearest recruiting office, I'd like to make it clear that I feel like against all odds, the Russians will win. Moscow will seize on these victories to declare the glory and strength of the Orthodox Faith against the Latins and the Westerners. That is, unless something miraculous occurs.

Russia will try and make this a religious war; make no mistake about that. They will do so to appeal to conservative groups in their opposing countries. They will do so to stir up the Russians to war. Do not underestimate them; what Russians lack in strategy or technology, they make up for in sheer ferocity and zeal for their causes. They will fight to the last man and any invasion of Russia would be near-suicidal without proper planning.

But what is this miraculous thing? Conversion. The world must get on its knees and turn back to the True Faith. I have foreseen that Russia may be perhaps a scourge to us, a faithless and sinful world. God would sooner, I think, let the Orthodox have a victory than the Secularists, given the state of things. But if the undercurrent of Authentic Catholicism can be grasped and let loose, then we might get something. Spurred on by victories over the Russians, we might just experience a religious revival.

The Conversion of Saul, a fresco by Michelangelo, 1542–45

However, such a thing is not an overnight phenomenon. It will also not be achieved by milquetoast Catholics afraid of their militant tradition or unwilling to commit fully to the Faith. It will also not be achieved by those Catholics who stand against the Church and its Holy Pontiff. I suspect this great conversion will not happen without many losses and great pain. I foresee that perhaps those countries who oppose Russia will be humiliated and defeated, initially if not permanently. Even if we all converted, I think we would first suffer a few terrible defeats, to test the sincerity and strength of our commitment.

Regardless, ultimately, nothing here matters but the salvation of souls. Which is why we must do all within our power to protect the Eastern Catholics who provide a witness against the Orthodox. Regardless of even that fact, they are our neighbors; brothers and sisters in the Faith, and as such it is our duty to support any effort that ends or involves their protection against their oppressors.

As I said before, I now support any and all attempt at pushing Russia out of Crimea. That is, unless Russia owns up to this and it ends up being the result of mob violence and not systematic - or permitted - persecution by the Russian government. The first few months of even the most benign occupation are never pretty, and it may remain that there are some kinks left to work out. But if there aren't, and Russia turns up being fully for conquest of Eastern Europe and the extermination of its Catholic populations, then you all know where I - where we - stand.