CHESTERFIELD — The man who tried to start “The Legion of the Sancta Lana” at Ascension Catholic Church said he regrets describing the group as a militia.
John Ray of Chesterfield met last month with Monsignor Patrick Hambrough, who gave permission to publish a full-page notice in the church bulletin to introduce the idea. Hambrough said Sunday that he did not fully review the notice that called “all young men back to the Church to form a militia” to protect the “Holy Eucharist, our congregation, our clergy and the church grounds from violent and non-violent attacks.”
Ray said Tuesday he was responding to the declining number of Catholics and the “All Things New” reorganization of the Archdiocese of 50ȻƵ last year that closed or merged 50 out of 178 parishes.
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“Seeing the closure of Catholic churches and the dwindling congregations across 50ȻƵ, it was my intention to create an organization for young men to push themselves mentally, physically, and spiritually through the practice of discipline, study, and fitness modeled after the military,” Ray said in a statement provided to the Post-Dispatch. “The use of the term ‘militia’ is regrettable and does not accurately represent the intention of the organization. However, the current state of the Church in The West is equally regrettable and I’m sure we can all agree that we are in desperate times.”
Ray’s announcement and online application for the militia also included references to “combat training,” “platoons,” “military operations,” “hand-to-hand combat” and a sketch of the “bright white uniforms” legionnaires would wear.
The application, which has been taken down, said legionnaires would not serve as armed guards outside the church but “could be called upon by the Pastor of the Parish to take up arms defensively” if the congregation were threatened.
Ray did not immediately respond to follow-up questions about the plan. In his statement, he asked supporters and critics of the Sancta Lana to “pray for the future of our Church.”
“To those young men who do not practice the One True Faith and can find no fertile soil to plant that mustard seed, brothers, be courageous and COME HOME. I will never stop praying for you,” said Ray, who signed his statement as “A ‘Radical’ Sinner.”
Ray is assistant director of marketing and recruitment at INTO 50ȻƵ University, a department supporting international students. According to an , the 50ȻƵ native graduated from the University of Missouri with a degree in International Studies and has a master’s degree in Defense and Strategic Studies from the University of Texas. Ray studied abroad in Russia and taught English in China and also worked in the United Arab Emirates.
Representatives at SLU did not respond to a request for comment.