The threat of a "New Manichaeism" was broached in John Paul II’s 1994 Letter to Families. Anyone doubting the linkage that Paul VI made in Humanae Vitae between contraception, abortion, and the idolatrous abuse of sex both inside and outside of marriage should examine the attitudes resulting from the Albigensian and Catharist Heresies. One should furthermore reflect on the idolatrous "sacrifices" to Moloch (Leviticus 18:21) made as part of the Baal fertility cults in the Old Testament era. The world most definitely has its share of modern-day "’sacrifices’ to Moloch" and Catharist behavior, as manifested by abortion, contraception, sterilization, and the like . Whereas St. Anthony converted heretics at Toulouse, perhaps this "Saint of the Whole World" can intercede in sparking the whole world to renounce its heretically idolatrous ways, to the benefit of all the unborn, their mothers, fathers, and families in general, and above all, to the glory of our Heavenly Father and His gift of marriage and parenthood.

We need to have restored to us a true hierarchy of values nested firmly in those of the Divine Law. Only then will sexual idolatry (and all problems leading to or caused by it) cease. It will cease because idolatry in ALL its pernicious forms will cease. Only then will we find the love, justice and peace that is lacking (ie, "lost") both within ourselves, among each other, and within our relationship with God (Catechism of the Catholic Church, elements 2346-47; Genesis Ch 18-19; Isaiah 1:9-11; 3:9-11). Only then will we find a truly Franciscan restoration and stewardship of the environment [based on an "Authentic Human Ecology" (cf Centessimus Anus, element 38)]. Only then will we "find our way" toward unreservedly following, in Spirit and in Truth (cf John 4:21-24), the Shepherd as He leads us beside "Yanaguana."

Anthony’s championing of the poor, against those money lenders that would take advantage of their poverty in order to enslave or imprison them, reminds us of the need to implement a Merciful and Just (cf Psalm 85:11-14) economic system that respects the dignity and true value of each individual person and their right and duty to contribute their talents, as well as their right to prudent use of their private property (as espoused in the various Encyclicals on labor, capital and economic development that have been prolifically issued by all Popes since Leo XIII). The dignity of each person will not be elevated to full stature unless and until each person neither hides his or her "lamp," nor refuses to receive or acknowledge the "lamp" or gift of others. "Inasmuch as we reject a gift from the least of His Brethren, we reject it from Him" (cf Matthew 25:40; Mark 12:42-44). Too many people are cast off as being useless, which leads people (and institutions) to justify things like abortion, euthanasia, and age discrimination (among other types) in the workplace and society as a whole. Life is therefore cheapened because the True Value of the human person is cheapened.

In interceding for those already strongly sustained through the Faith in and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Saint Anthony can bring the clarity of understanding and speech necessary to dispel any doubt in or misunderstanding of the Eucharistic Mystery, and thus prevent (or at least forestall) the "Abomination of Desolation" (cf Daniel 9:26-27) that has occurred in the Sanctuaries of so many churches and in the private "sanctuaries" (cf 1 Corinthians 6:19) of so many people. Far from mere damage control, we should ask Saint Anthony to intercede in spreading and strengthening recourse to the sacraments of Penance/Reconciliation and the Eucharist.

We should ask his intercession in obtaining for all Clergy and Laity gifts of clarity of speech so that all ‘sheep that are not of this fold’ may be better evangelized and taught free of error (cf John 10:1-16) and that, should anyone (including Priests and Bishops) be in error w/r Doctrine or Morals, our Saint of the Whole World can intercede in bringing LOVING rebuke to them, albeit in a manner that brings them back to the fold [as happened when St. Anthony rebuked an Archbishop (Simon de Sully)]. We should ask for such intercession not only to quell much of the theological and moral confusion and cacaphony, rampant in the Church and world today, so as to maintain the existing "Fold," but also in order to expand the Fold (cf John Ch 10; Digitatus Humanae, element 1). Let the Tongue of St. Anthony intercede in sending the "Tongues of Fire" (Acts 2:3), in the Holy Spirit, necessary for evangelization and conversion.