The devil... wants you distracted

Lots of talk about the devil these days, and chatter about exorcism movies and so on. It's unsettled me a bit, not because I don't give the devil his due, but, well... I wasn't sure why.

Then Fr. Jerry Pokorsky commented, in this little email exchange* (that included my husband):

From my point of view, a big yawner. Any investment opportunities? Sounds like a great growth stock. Steve Rossetti and the rest will certainly cash in on this one.

The Archdiocese of Boston [and mine, of Worcester] is responding to the Satanic Temple’s “SatanCon” event in Boston with scheduled eucharistic adoration, Catholic devotions, and “intense prayer.”

Here's what would not be "a yawner," he goes on to say: just imagine if you woke up to this news flash:

The American bishops are responding to Biden's promotion of abortion, gay grooming (à la Fr. James Martin, SJ), and genital mutilation (including at many hospitals, including of course children's hospitals, staffed by Catholic personnel) throughout the US Government. They plan scheduled eucharistic adoration, Catholic devotions, and “intense prayer"  -- to give bishops the courage to excommunicate pro-abortion Catholic politicians and others complicit in these moral crimes. The USCCB is preparing a "Fortnight of Excommunication" program of prayer for the purpose.

Ah, right. 

Like many current events that cause a stir along with the immediate, coordinated changing out of avatars and draping of flags, these satan-adjacent activities are a distraction. Not because the devil doesn't exist and isn't out to snatch our souls, but because he does, and he is.