Resistance Groups on the Move

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DETROIT (ChurchMilitant.com) - Church Militant Resistance groups across the country are getting fired up and are undertaking a variety of activities to draw attention to issues of importance to faithful Catholics.

Joseph Gallagher, who has been managing the network of Resistance groups for the last 10 months, has been watching the organization come into its own, especially in recent months.

He explains:

When the Wuhan virus first appeared, American bishops collapsed and complied with mandates to shut down the Mass. That, plus the continuing attacks on President Trump and the violence in our cities have brought people to their feet. They want to do something. They want action, not words. Action is the purpose of Resistance groups.

According to Gallagher, Resistance groups have formed in nearly every diocese in the country.

"Church Militant Resistance is the largest and most active grassroots — meaning, it is locally managed — Catholic organization in the United States. We have just reached the 5,000 member mark," he emphasizes.

Spiritual Weapon: Rosary Rallies

As the election draws closer, the activity of choice for Resistance groups is the Rosary rally. Writing from Los Angeles, Laura Chavez offers a reason why: "Public Rosary is more powerful than private."

Manhattan Resistance coordinator Marianne Dorado agrees with Chavez. "People know the Rosary. When we pray in public, people stop and pray with us. Even our enemies recognize the Rosary," she says.

Orange County Resistance members and other Catholics will be participating in a Rosary rally on Saturday when they line McArthur Boulevard for prayer. On Wednesday in Manhattan, Resistance members were in the garment district praying to Our Lady and commemorating Catholic victory over the Turks at the Battle of Lepanto in 1570.

Resistance members in California feel a particularly strong sense of responsibility to get the word out. "There are 10 million Catholics in California, and our bishop [José Gomez] has been silent," says Teresa Sando, who leads the group.

Sando says the group has been greatly encouraged by a group of Norbertine priests in the area. "They are on fire," Sando reports. "They are talking about whose houses they will go to when they have to go underground."

In Los Angeles, Resistance members want to counter some of the bad teaching Aux. Bp. Robert Barron promotes through his Word on Fire website. They want to confront the bishop but so far have been unable to get access to his event itinerary.

In the meantime, they are collaborating with another group to pray the Rosary weekly in front of the cathedral. The groups are united in wanting the archbishop to reopen churches for Mass.

In Cleveland, Resistance leader Joe Miller has his group focused on getting out the vote.

Earlier this year, the group brought Michael Voris to town for a special gathering.

"When we inquired about the possibility, Michael had one date available before the [primary] election, and it was only two weeks away; but we made it happen," Miller laughed.

Miller is also interested in forming a men's group. "We think a men's leadership group is needed. Men want that camaraderie. That's my next goal."

Following the lead of another Catholic organization, Credo of the Catholic Laity, St. Louis Resistance members participated in a telephone and email campaign that successfully persuaded the archdiocese to abandon a 3-part video conference to raise awareness about immigration and the election.

To join a Resistance group, contact Joseph Gallagher at joegallagher@churchmilitant.com.

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