Contact: John Snyder, 202-239-8005, gundean@gmail.com

WASHINGTON, Aug. 26, 2014 /Christian Newswire/ -- "With Islamist terrorists murdering, plundering and raping in the middle east and threatening our homeland, Catholic Church officials must overcome their fear of private citizen firearms possession," John M. Snyder stated here today.

He added in this short video youtu.be/QgiFfM4DENA they should promote Catholic gun rights.

"Since Catholics bear the brunt of terrorist savagery, officials of the Vatican and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) should promote the individual right of Catholics to keep and bear arms," Snyder said.

"Terrorists of the Islamic State (IS) are on the march," Snyder stated. "They are murdering, even decapitating, Catholics throughout the Middle East. American officials warn against IS attacks in our homeland. Concerned people cannot tolerate clerical hoplophobia."

"His Holiness Pope Francis reportedly has appealed for military protection of people under attack from the Islamic caliphate," Snyder noted.

"This is a good first step," Snyder continued. "What's needed is Vatican abandonment of its support for treaty restrictions on international small arms trade. Terrorists could care less about such restrictions. People who need guns to defend themselves and their families would be thrown to the wolves by this treaty.

"Middle East leader Massud Barzani of Kurdistan has offered to provide arms for Christian volunteers, creating self-defense groups to resist IS, according to Fides, reports Catholic World News. It seems the Vatican could and should help out its own co-religionists."

Snyder said, "USCCB should terminate its disgraceful support for the criminalization of private handgun possession. Such criminalization would eliminate the ability of law-abiding citizens to defend themselves from criminals, including terrorists.

"Catholic clergy should abandon pacifism and see reality for what it is. People need guns for protection. As Christ Our Lord proclaimed, 'The man without a sword must sell his cloak and buy one,' according to Luke 22:36."

"Holy Michael the Archangel," petitions a traditional prayer, "defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do you, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the divine power, cast into hell Satan and all evil spirits who wander through the world seeking the ruin of souls."

"Amen," affirms Snyder, a practicing Catholic.

www.GunRightsPolicies.org.