By Al Staggs

Originally published in A Pilgrim in Rome: Cries of Dissent

Those who claim

to speak for Christ these days

espouse views that are offensive,

immoral, unjust, just plain insane.

Those of us who disagree

with these voices of distortion

are forced to the sidelines,

advised to pretend that we agree

since we also call ourselves “Christian.”

Not so. Our very souls are defiled by these

greedy mouthpieces of conservative causes,

these nationalists,

these fascists disguised as fighters for freedom.

Christ is not part of this.

Cannot be.

And so we, those of us who disagree with the

dominant “Christian” culture,

are forced to yell louder and to speak in ways

that shock even our own sensibilities.

It is the only possible way to counter this

propaganda that passes for truth.

We must yell and we must offend

in order to be heard at all.