Several months ago I wrote this piece for Unity Worldwide Ministries to distribute to the field, the global Unity movement. I waited and waited for a reply. Mind you, it was draft version 6. UWM decided they wanted to make a joint communication to the Unity movement with their sister organization, Unity World Headquarters. More waiting.

After finally inquiring where things were at – I had been told I’d hear a month ago – I finally got a message that the statement had been edited. I have no idea to what, as the author I was not privileged to see it. Apparently, it was too strident. Seriously? When did truth-telling become harsh? No sooner had I typed that previous sentence and I thought, duh! Of course truth-telling is harsh for conflict avoidant organizations that are afraid of pissing anyone off.

So here I am, at a crossroads again – shocker. Waiting for an organization I have served faithfully for so long to step up, to stand up for what is right. I stop waiting, right? I send out the message they were unwilling to. If my voice trembles when I speak the truth, let it tremble. Silence is a far greater violence. While soft-spoken words can open hearts – soft-pedaled truth will never bring healing or liberation.

Let me say it unequivocally and without hesitation: affirming the inherent worthiness and belovedness of all people is an expression of faith.

In Unity, we teach and practice to the best of our ability every life is a vital, a sacred thread in the great fabric of existence. Every life is worthy of safety, dignity, and belonging. Yet here we are, with a government that is eroding the bedrock of these values, as well as the values on which our country was founded.

Authoritarianism is not only a form of government—it is a spiritual crisis. It consolidates power without accountability, feeds on fear and division, erodes trust, and turns communities against themselves. It strips away rights, voices, and dignity—unless we collectively and courageously confront it.

In the United States today, this crisis is intensifying. We are witnessing not only raids and deportations without warrants, legal counsel, or due process, but also the normalization of illegal and unconstitutional actions at the highest levels of leadership. We see blatant defiance of court rulings. Attempts to rewrite the Constitution by fiat. Political prosecutions and pardons twisted into weapons of control. Attacks on journalists, educators, judges, and even citizens who dare to dissent.

Public education and universities are being defunded and censored. Science and journalism are dismissed or distorted. Courts are undermined. Diversity, equity, and inclusion programs are gutted. History itself is rewritten to serve power instead of truth. Military and police powers are expanded and privatized as we march toward martial law. The very foundation of democracy—the peaceful transfer of power, equal protection under law, the independence of courts and legislatures—is being openly and shamelessly eroded.

This is not freedom. This is not justice. This is not who we are called to be. If I don’t wrestle with my anger, I will not get to my broken heart… I can only choose how to respond to anger if I’m taking care of my broken‑heartedness.

Unity around the world stands on the unshakable truth that every being is an expression of the Divine. This truth calls us to resist separation and stand in solidarity. Compassion becomes our protest. Unity becomes our resistance. Spirit becomes our guide forward.

In these troubled times, we remember we are not alone. Love breathes in our midst and courages rises quietly, and sometimes loudly, in ordinary people. Communities continue to feed, shelter, and care for one another. Even in the shadow of fear, the light of Spirit does not go out. Our faith is not naïve – it is rooted in the lived truth that when we turn toward one another in compassion, healing begins, hope grows, and the seeds of justice take root.

Authoritarianism is rising at the doors of many countries, not just our own. Now more than ever, we are mandated—spiritually, morally, and collectively—to protect our freedoms, live our deepest values, and fiercely defend the vulnerable, with our voices AND our bodies.

We reject domination. We reject the unraveling of democracy. In Unity, we stand as a spiritual force of love, equity, and liberation. We are committed to building a world where all life can breathe, belong, and thrive.

Here we are—alive in this moment, with a sacred chance to respond. Not with despair or silence, but with clarity, courage, and compassion. The price of silence is always paid by the most vulnerable. I will not hand them the bill. We will awaken the deepest, truest parts of ourselves—our Divine Identity—for what this moment requires.

Together, we rise.

Faith in Action: Spiritual Responses to Authoritarianism

Looking for what you can do in your spiritual community? HERE’S A START for Individual Actions, Spiritual Communities, and Ministers & Spiritual Leaders.

By weaving all these elements together—spiritual depth, nonviolent strategy, legal support, and ritual—you create a living, liberative response to authoritarianism that embodies your highest spiritual values.

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