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Catholics for Catholics founder John Yep to speak in Coeur d’Alene on faith and politics
Talk will focus on role of Catholics in U.S. politics ahead of 250th anniversary
By Emma Maple | FāVS News Reporter
Main Points
The founder of a national group advocating for Catholic engagement in politics, and the friend of right-wing political activist and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, will give a public talk in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, on Thursday.
John Yep, who founded Catholics for Catholics in 2022, said he plans to speak on the “special moment in American history that this is, and the responsibility that people of faith have right now, on the eve of the 250th anniversary of the country.”
That responsibility is to engage in politics, Yep said, knowing that Christians must be “fully in the world and touch it and sanctify it.”
Christians need to reawaken and fight against the “obviously dark realities,” that are part of the often too-secular American culture, Yep added.
Yep calls for Christians to confront ‘dark realities’ in American culture
Those dark realities include the “scourge of abortion,” the development of in vitro fertilization, the Epstein files, the “waves of immigrants” entering the country and the “LGBT ideology that tries to influence our kids and ultimately hurt them,” Yep added.
The event will be held Thursday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Coeur d’Alene’s Lumen Hall, located at 618 E. Wallace Ave.
The event is public and will be a chance to engage with Yep in a series of questions and answers, he said.
Attendees can register in advance by reaching out to the local organization hosting the event, or can attend without pre-registering. The hall, which serves as a wedding venue, can hold about 150 guests.
Yep, who has a master’s in theology from Saint John’s Seminary and a master’s in philosophy from an Italian university according to his LinkedIn, said he founded Catholics for Catholics to “advocate for fellow Catholics in the public square.”
The group encourages “Catholic patriots” to fight for America, Yep said.
Yep described Catholic patriots as people who understand that God’s commandment to honor one’s father and mother is also a commandment to “honor the fatherland” of America.
“When you honor the fatherland and you try your best to make it a better place, you are honoring God,” Yep said.
In the few years since its inception, the national organization has grown large enough to attract big-name speakers like commentators and authors Candace Owens and Matt Walsh to a recent event.
Local group Communio CDA hosts event to build Catholic engagement
Yep was invited to speak in Idaho by Communio CDA, a group that connects Catholics in Coeur d’Alene and surrounding areas.
The organization was founded in 2023, shortly after Catholics for Catholics, and builds community through events like Yep’s upcoming talk.
Communio founder Jason Chavez said both the local and national organization share a love for the Catholic faith, a love for the United States and a commitment to truth.
“John was invited here because he confronts challenging current issues that impact the church, based on teachings given to us by the church founded by Jesus Christ,” Chavez said.
The public statement for Yep’s talk by Communio CDA encourages people to be willing to hear different perspectives and opinions.
Chavez said the Communio’s goal is to empower the Catholic community in North Idaho with a sound understanding of the Church’s teachings.
“Through open discussion, people can better understand the truth of the Catholic faith; how to live it and defend it in today’s world,” Chavez said when asked about the event. “Through open discussion, we hope to strengthen conviction, provide clarity and encourage active civil engagement.”
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