OFFICE OF THE PRESIDING BISHOP

Reformed Catholic Church

www.reformedcatholic.org

19 E. Eldridge Street

Manchester, CT 06040

562-708-7198

June 22nd, 2025

Dearly Beloved in Christ,

Grace and peace to you in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

As we write to you today, our hearts are heavy with the weight of global suffering. The world

watches in anguish as violence escalates in Ukraine, Iran, Gaza, the West Bank, and Israel.

But these are not the only places where pain and conflict prevail. We also grieve the turmoil in

Sudan, the violence in Mali, the suffering in Haiti, the unrest in Somalia, the tensions in the

Taiwan Strait and South China Sea, and the humanitarian crisis along the U.S.–Mexico

border. Lives are being lost, families displaced, and communities shattered. In such times, it

is natural to ask: Whose side is God on?

We, as leaders of the Reformed Catholic Church, speak with one voice to affirm a profound

and often uncomfortable truth: God does not take sides. God is not the champion of one

nation over another, nor the defender of one ideology against its rival. Rather, God is the

author of peace, the defender of the oppressed, and the healer of the brokenhearted.

In the book of Joshua, when the commander of the Lord’s army is asked, “Are you for us or

for our enemies?” the answer is neither (Joshua 5:13–14). God does not enter our conflicts to

validate our causes. Instead, God calls all people to align with the divine will—one that

transcends borders, politics, and pride.

Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, refused to be drawn into the factions of His time. He

healed Roman soldiers and welcomed Samaritans. He rebuked violence and taught love for

enemies. His realm is not of this world, and His mission was not to take sides, but to reconcile

all things to God.

As war rages and rhetoric hardens, we urge you, beloved, to resist the temptation to claim

God for your side. Instead, ask: Are we on God’s side? Are we peacemakers? Are we

advocates for justice, mercy, and truth?

We grieve with all of the people who suffer in Ukraine, Iran, Gaza, the West Bank, Israel,

Sudan, Mali, Haiti, Somalia, the Taiwan Strait, and along the U.S.–Mexico border. We pray for

the wounded, the grieving, the displaced, and the fearful. We call upon world leaders to seek

peace, not victory; reconciliation, not revenge.

Let us, as the Church, be an example of compassion a voice for justice and a sanctuary of

peace. Let us reject hatred and division and instead embody the love of Christ in our words,

our prayers, and our actions.

May the Holy Spirit guide us in these troubled times.

Sincerely in Christ’s enduring peace,

The Bishops and Board of Directors of the Reformed Catholic Church