“With love for mankind and hatred for sins.” — St. Augustine of Hippo.
The tragic and senseless murder of Charlie Kirk shocked those of us with moral integrity. Charlie was not only an outstanding debater but also a modern hero for proclaiming the Gospel in a society that is becoming increasingly post-Christian. He joins a long line of martyrs for the Christian faith.
I learned of Charlie’s murder while vacationing with my wife. The news hit me especially hard. Like many, I admired his intellect, his poise, his convictions. I had hoped to meet him, to discuss my upcoming book THE FALLEN, inspired by “Washington’s War on Christianity.”
To those who claim he was a source of hate: I believe you may be misinformed by soundbites taken out of context, or you view the Bible itself as hate speech. I encourage you to watch Charlie’s speeches, interviews, and videos in full, within their proper context. Indeed, he addressed issues by pointing to Holy Scripture (i.e., the Bible) and our Nation’s founding documents. These texts may offend some—because they challenge personal decisions that oppose the blueprint of salvation history.
So, how do we discuss divisive and difficult topics? The honest answer is: I don’t fully know. But I believe we must first approach societal and cultural issues with God’s grace (which we must pray for) and with mercy. The modern slogan “Love the sinner, hate the sin” is often attributed to Augustine (or, mistakenly, to Gandhi), but it is actually a paraphrase of Augustine’s Latin text cited above.
The Bible provides numerous examples of handling division, exemplified by showing mercy to individuals while condemning wrongful actions.
John 8:10-11: When a woman caught in adultery was brought before Jesus, he prevented her stoning out of compassion, but still commanded her, “Go now and leave your life of sin.”
Romans 5:8: “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” This emphasizes God’s love for humanity even amid its sin.
Jude 1:22-23: Believers are urged to “be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.” Here compassion for people is commanded, but sin itself is not embraced.
I speak to you as a Christian, a Catholic — and a sinner. My goal is to defend our religious freedoms and the Christian-Judeo values upon which our Republic was founded. Central to this mission is protecting traditional family values and our children. In THE FALLEN, I focus primarily on how policy actions by the federal government — under the Obama and Biden administrations — have undermined those Christian values.
In the coming days, we will examine the Biden Administration’s role in what many call the “transgender contagion.” The extent of its efforts to use federal power to promote, indoctrinate, and normalize gender ideology — and the resulting confusion — cannot be overstated. While several European countries have reversed gender-modification policies after studies showed no clear, consistent mental health benefits for adolescents, President Biden has doubled down. Instead of proceeding cautiously, the administration has fueled a movement that has harmed future generations and worsened existing cultural and social divisions.
In honoring Charlie Kirk’s legacy, we must continue peaceful discussion, debate, and deepen our understanding of societal issues if we are to preserve the religious freedoms crafted by our Founding Fathers. If the tragic events at Utah Valley University teach us anything, it is that open conversation will not be easy — and it won’t be popular.
References:
Letter 211 of St. Augustine, written around A.D. 423/424, Migne, Patrologia Latina, Vol. 33.
McPherson, S., & Freedman, D. E. (2024). Psychological Outcomes of 12-15-Year-Olds with Gender Dysphoria Receiving Pubertal Suppression in the UK: Assessing Reliable and Clinically Significant Change. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy.
Thompson, L., et al. (2023). A PRISMA systematic review of adolescent gender care: risks, benefits, mental health outcomes.
Bränström, R., & Pachankis, J. (2019). Reduction in Mental Health Treatment Utilization Among Transgender Individuals After Gender-Affirming Surgeries: A Total Population Study. American Journal of Psychiatry, 177(8), 727-734.
