Portland's Catholic Archbishop Hits Hard at Demonstrators

In words Thursday afternoon that left little room for misunderstanding, Roman Catholic Archbishop Alexander K. Sample of Portland, Oregon, denounced violent demonstrators who have dominated the news with often-violent action in the streets.

"What we are currently seeing in Portland – and even across our country – has nothing to do with securing justice or civil liberties," Semple said in a statement to Newsmax, recalling the Church's history of aligning itself with movements for civil rights, workers' rights, and pro-life initiative.

In an undisguised reference to the antifa movement, he charged the movement to "bring awareness to the continuing system of racism has now been hijacked for the purposes of violent demonstration in order to further a political and social ideology."

Sample went on to call on "the good people of the Archdiocese of Portland to pray for the conversion of heart of those who are perpetrating this violent unrest in this city many of us call home."

"Now is not a time cling to our political beliefs," he said. "But a time to cling to our faith in Christ, who alone can give us that peace that surpasses all understanding – a peace he himself says the world cannot give."

A native of Michigan, Sample was appointed bishop of Marquette, Michigan, by Pope Benedict, XVI in 2005 and thus became, at 45, the youngest bishop in the U.S. In 2013, Benedict named him archbishop of Portland.

John Gizzi is chief political columnist and White House correspondent for Newsmax. For more of his reports, Go Here Now.