8.117. I don’t like the term ‘Church Militant.’ Isn’t that what led to the Crusades? I’m honestly ashamed of that part of Church history.
This mindset reflects how Vatican II’s false ecumenism, combined with modern liberal education, has led Catholics to feel shame about the very identity of the Church—as if militancy means violence, hatred, or extremism. In truth, the Church Militant refers to the spiritual warfare that all Catholics are called to engage in: fighting sin, error, the flesh, the world, and the devil.
The Crusades, properly understood, were just wars called to defend Christendom—not something to be ashamed of, but to revere, as previous popes and saints did.
The term “Church Militant” has nothing to do with unjust violence—it refers to the spiritual battle every Catholic is called to fight. We are the Church Militant because we are still on earth, still in combat against sin, error, temptation, and the devil. The saints in Heaven are the Church Triumphant; the souls in Purgatory are the Church Suffering.
The Crusades, far from being shameful, were a heroic and just response to centuries of Muslim aggression, desecration of Christian sites, and persecution of pilgrims. That modern Catholics feel “ashamed” of them is a result of post-Enlightenment propaganda and Vatican II cowardice, not historical truth.
A Catholic who recoils at the word “militant” is often one who has already surrendered in the spiritual war.
| Category | Traditional Catholic View | Modern / Vatican II Mentality | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Church Militant | The Church on earth fighting for truth against error and sin | Seen as “harsh,” outdated, or aggressive | This is the classic theology of the Mystical Body (cf. Pius XII) |
| Crusades | Just wars to defend Christendom and liberate the Holy Land | Viewed as violent, colonialist, or shameful | The Crusades were called by the popes and blessed by saints |
| Spiritual Warfare | Daily battle against temptation, heresy, worldliness | Downplayed; faith becomes a personal feeling | St. Paul said: “Put on the armor of God…” (Eph. 6:11–17) |
| Saints | Fought error boldly; suffered persecution or died in battle | Modern “saints” seen as merely nice or socially active | True saints are soldiers for Christ, not pacifists of pluralism |
| Christian Identity | Public, bold, countercultural, militant | Private, soft, inclusive, ashamed of the past | Shame about the Church’s militancy is shame about Christ’s kingship |
| Fruits | Martyrs, conversions, holy warriors, missionary zeal | Apostasy, fear of truth, collapse of public faith | “By their fruits you shall know them” (Matt. 7:16) |
Summary:
The term Church Militant does not mean violence—it means spiritual warfare, doctrinal clarity, and public witness. We are not pacifists—we are soldiers of Christ. The enemy is not just in the world, but in our own fallen nature—and we are called to fight, suffer, and win the crown (cf. 2 Tim. 4:7–8).
As for the Crusades: they were a just and holy response to evil. That you feel “ashamed” of them means you’ve been formed by the world’s anti-Catholic narrative, not by the truth.
The true Church teaches:
“The Church on earth is militant against the enemies of God: the world, the flesh, and the devil.”
Christ is not ashamed to call Himself a King and Conqueror. Why should we be ashamed to be His soldiers?