In September 2014, former National Review writer Kevin Williamson participated in a panel discussion at the Heritage Foundation alongside other conservative and libertarian thinkers. His fellow panelists offered interesting perspectives, but Williamson spoke most prophetically about the topic for the event, titled, “Where is liberalism going?”

He began with an observation that has become obvious since then: The term “liberalism” no longer aptly described classical Democrats like JFK and Daniel Patrick Moynihan. Worse, the movement had become intellectually bankrupt and was eagerly moving toward authoritarianism at a pace even Williamson may not have foreseen. This is particularly evident regarding the modern left’s animosity toward people of faith, especially Catholics and evangelical Christians. The rot is so pervasive that it infects federal agencies.

A leaked FBI memo revealed that it infiltrated “radical-traditionalist” Catholic parishes to investigate suspected white supremacy. When the memo was made public, the FBI rescinded the report. House GOP members obtained another memo indicating similar fishing expeditions had occurred in multiple field offices nationwide.

Pro-abortion activists in federal agencies have sought revenge against pro-life Christians because they’re a large Republican voting bloc responsible for electing Donald Trump in 2016. He appointed three justices to the Supreme Court, and in 2022, the court handed down the Dobbs decision that overturned Roe v. Wade. This sent leftists inside and outside of government over the edge.

The Biden administration weaponized the FACE Act, a measure President Clinton signed into law in 1994 making it unlawful to block entry into abortion clinics. Until recently, it was rarely enforced, about 100 times in 30 years, because most pro-life protesters have peacefully prayed on sidewalks and offered counsel to expecting mothers. The Biden DOJ and FBI have overzealously enforced it to wallop pro-life Christians.

Tellingly, the feds ignore that the FACE Act also protects places of worship and pregnancy resource centers but have shown almost no interest in pursuing justice after these places are attacked. There were 436 hostile acts against churches in 2023, more than double the number reported in 2022 since Roe was overturned. The hostile actions reported include vandalism, arson attacks or attempts, gun-related incidents, bomb threats, and other incidents.

The DOJ indicted several Christian pro-life demonstrators for praying near abortion centers, seeking maximum sentences and fines of up to $260,000. Yet, when a pro-abortion extremist firebombed a pregnancy center, he was sentenced to only 7.5 years. Hundreds of other pro-abortion and anti-Christian violent incidents remain unprosecuted.

The most disgusting abuse of the FACE Act happened to Eva Edl, an 89-year-old survivor of a communist concentration camp in Yugoslavia after World War II. As Texas GOP Congressman Wesley Hunt aptly put it, “In Biden’s America, you can escape a communist concentration camp and then come to America and be arrested for praying.”

Such actions starkly contradict Michelle Obama’s message in her speech at the 2016 Democratic National Convention where she unconvincingly intoned, “When they go low, we go high.” Less than a decade later, Donkey Party policy and the overall mood on the left is that political heretics must pay. There is no room for dissidents in this political religion. The unfaithful won’t be converted. They will be punished.

Rather than bask in giddy triumphalism for having captured so many institutions throughout the years, Democrats with power treat non-conforming citizens like serfs, felons, or threats to Democracy. Still, Democrats somehow wonder why they lost the election so badly.

FiveThirtyEight’s Nate Silver spoke truth when explaining responses from Republicans and Democrats to his election predictions. He noted that most Republicans are happy if you agree with them about some things, but most Democrats become angry if you disagree with them about anything.

The Family Research Council released a report indicating that criminal attacks on churches increased by 800% between 2018 and 2023. It’s natural to wonder how evil could harden so many hearts to the enduring, transformative, resplendent truth of God’s love.

Yet, there is hope for America. Bible sales are up 22% in the U.S. this year compared to last year. People need hope, and they are looking to scripture to find it. When they do, they will know a love unlike any other. No criminals or corrupt government agencies can stop it.