Posted on 01/06/2013 7:31:03 PM PST by marshmallow
(Reuters) - Pope Benedict said on Sunday that Roman Catholic leaders must have the courage to stand up to attacks by "intolerant agnosticism" prevalent in many countries.
The pope and the Church have come under increased attack because of their opposition to homosexual marriage and women priests. The pope has repeatedly denounced what he says are attempts to push religion out of public debate.
The 85-year-old pontiff celebrated Mass on the day Christians in the West mark the Epiphany, and ordained four new archbishops including his personal secretary.
In a homily to about 10,000 people in St Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, he firmly rejected suggestions the Church should change to suit public opinion.
"Anyone who lives and proclaims the faith of the Church is on many points out of step with the prevalent way of thinking," he said. "The approval of the prevailing wisdom, however, is not the criterion to which we submit."
In the United States, a group last month started a petition on the White House website asking the administration of President Barack Obama to list the Catholic Church as a "hate group" because of its opposition to gay marriage.
"Today's regnant agnosticism has its own dogmas and is extremely intolerant regarding anything that would question it and the criteria it employs," the pope said.
"Therefore the courage to contradict the prevailing mindset is particularly urgent for a bishop today. He must be courageous," he said.
MONTI AT MASS
The pope ordained the new archbishops in a ceremony attended by Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti, placing his hands on the heads of the four men and anointing them with holy oil to symbolise the transmission of episcopal authority.
The best known of the four new archbishops is the pontiff's chief private secretary Monsignor Georg Ganswein, who has been...
(Excerpt) Read more at in.reuters.com ...
When it comes to “stand firm for anything”, half the bishops in the United States are Boehner and McConnell of the cloth.
reg·nant /ˈregnənt/ Adjective Reigning; ruling. Currently having the greatest influence; dominant.
As far as groups of people who are going to harm society, “agnostics” are probably pretty low on most people’s red-flag dangerous groups.
You would think so but the type of agnostic or militant atheist who would designate the Church as a hate group is nothing to be trifled with.
I think labeling the Catholic church a hate group has more to do with being pro homosexuality and anti freedom of religion than agnosticism.
Agnosticism is probably the attitude most hostile to religion. Better than honest atheist than the agnostic who pretends not to be a dogmatic materialist.
"Therefore the courage to contradict the prevailing mindset is particularly urgent for a bishop today. He must be courageous," he said.
God blessed us greatly when the College of Cardinals chose Josef Ratzinger to be Pope.
I believe this term “agnostic” is used to identify those we call as “athiests” — because I don’t believe it is possible for most people to be true “athiests” as in not believing in a greater power than themselves. People replace religion with belief in something else — nationalism, shopping, tv etc. — it’s in human nature.
I hold that is it impossible to be a true atheist. in an accident, or in trouble, mankind looks for some higher power. It’s in our nature, we need hope.
the communists are agnostics
" . . . half the bishops in the United States are Boehner and McConnell of the cloth."
I'm probably thinking of the same half you are and I never gave them credit for having strong backbones like those two guys. I'll reconsider.
Communists are atheistic.
Since Adam and Eve tried to hide in the garden it has been the natural inclination of man to run from God.
true,but I’m talking non-religiously. Nearly every individual believes in some higher power. It’s in our human psyche — we NEED to believe in some higher power. If not God, then something else — like in Star Trek where they’ve replaced God with a devotion to the Federation and to technological progress (”Don’t be too proud of this technological terror you’ve constructed. The ability to destroy a planet is insignificant next to the power of the Force.”)...
I understand. And this need to believe is just an attempt to discover some meaning or value in the world. The ontological quest. And of course, as Ecclesiastes shows, there is no meaning or value in the world apart from the one true God.
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