Answer:The statement "Is the Church in North America in a contest like that of the Maccabees?" is likely referring to the idea that the Church in North America is facing a similar situation as the Maccabees in ancient Israel.
The Maccabees were a group of Jewish warriors who fought to reclaim their religious and cultural identity from the Seleucid Empire in the 2nd century BCE. The Maccabees' struggle was a religious and cultural one, as they fought to preserve their traditional practices and beliefs in the face of the empire's attempts to suppress them.
This statement suggest that the Church in North America is facing a similar situation, where their traditional symbols, stories and practices are under threat and they are facing challenges to preserve their religious and cultural identity.
It's important to note that the comparison is not exact, and the situation of the church in North America may be different from that of the Maccabees. It is also important to consider the context in which the statement is being made, as well as the specific challenges that the Church in North America is facing in order to fully understand the meaning of the statement.
Step-by-step explanation: