Pope Urges Christian Political Activity Not to be "Obscured by Pragmatism"

LifeSiteNews.com ^ | 11/10/03 | LifeSiteNews.com

[ckca]

URL: http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2003/nov/03111001.html

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LifeSite Daily News

Monday November 10, 2003

Pope Urges Christian Political Activity Not to be "Obscured by Pragmatism"

Emphasizes that truth, rather than win-ability should govern political actions

VATICAN, November 10, 2003 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Pope John Paul II warned on Friday that Christians have a duty to be involved politically and that truth, rather than win-ability should govern political actions.

Speaking of the promotion of Christian values through "correct methods proper to political activity," the Pope said, "The Christian must also ensure that the salt' of his Christian commitment does not lose its 'flavour' and that the 'light' of his Gospel ideals does not become obscured by pragmatism or even worse by utilitarianism."

Speaking in English at a seminar organized by the Robert Schuman Foundation, he said Europe "seems tragically to be suffering from a profound crisis of values." He continued, "Here I gladly point out how much can be done, from this standpoint, by means of a responsible and generous participation in 'political' life."

We are not free to sit back and complain said the Pope. "The complaints often made against political activity do not justify an attitude of disengaged skepticism on the part of the Catholic, who instead has the duty of assuming responsibility for the well-being of society. It is not enough to call for the building of a just and fraternal society," he said.

The Pope offered advice on how to wisely engage in politics without compromising one's morality for pragmatic gain. "For this," the Christian involved in politics, "will need to deepen his knowledge of Christian social doctrine, striving to assimilate its principles and to apply it with wisdom where necessary. This will assume a serious spiritual formation which is nourished by prayer."

The Pope concluded, "A superficial, spiritually lukewarm or indifferent person, or one excessively concerned with success and popularity, will never be able adequately to exercise his political responsibility."

See the Pope's full address to the Schuman Foundation:
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/speeches/2003/november/documents/hf_jp -ii_spe_20031107_robert-schuman_en.html

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[ckca]

pause a moment to review the "Atheist's improve society" thread.

Pause a moment to review these atheist "improvements" (man is far safer under a theocracy than under an a-theocracy):

[ckca]

I'd never want to see a spiritually hot anyone -- Catholic, Muslim, etc. -- holding any political power, anywhere.

But the most dangerous animal of all is the spiritually hot atheist. See post 21 for the murderous numbers generated by last century's most spiritually hot anyones.

[thinktwice]

The following Einstein quotations come from ... Famous Atheists, Freethinkers, Diests and Agnostics.

"I do not believe in a personal God and I have never denied this but have expressed it clearly. If something is in me which can be called religion than it is the unbounded admiration for the structure of the world so far as our science can reveal it."

"I cannot imagine a God who rewards and punishes the objects of his creation, whose purposes are modeled after our own -- a God, in short, who is but a reflection of human frailty. Neither can I believe that the individual survives the death of his body, although feeble souls harbor such thoughts through fear or ridiculous egotism."

"I do not believe in the immortality of the individual, and I consider ethics to be an exclusively human concern with no superhuman authority behind it."

"If people are good only because they fear punishment, and hope for a reward, then we are a sorry lot indeed."

-Albert Einstein, German-born American physicist

[Aquinasfan]

Pope John Paul II warned on Friday that Christians have a duty to be involved politically and that truth, rather than win-ability should govern political actions.

Atomic bump.

[thinktwice]

spiritually hot atheist

Oxymnoron ... a figure of speech in which opposite, or contradictory ideas or terms are combined.

[Aquinasfan]

While you're quoting Al...

Only the Church stood squarely across the path of Hitler's campaign for suppressing truth. I never had any special interest in the Church before, but now I feel a great affection and admiration because the Church alone has had the courage and persistence to stand for intellectual truth and moral freedom. I am forced thus to confess that what I once despised I now praise unreservedly.

Albert Einstein
Time Magazine, 12/23/40

[utahagen]

I guess you're right: Einstein was atheist. I wonder what he meant when he said, "God does not play dice withthe universe."

[ckca]

spiritually hot atheist

Oxymnoron

Wrong. I've met far too many proselytizing (& arrogant & condescending & foolhardy & patronizing ... etc) atheists to disprove your silly notion that atheism cannot be "spiritually hot." Many atheists are so "spiritually hot" in their persecution of and hatred for theism/theists that the best descriptor of their "spiritually hot" nature is simply demonic.

[thinktwice]

Here is another website covering -- with quotations -- Famous Atheists, Agnostics, and Others Against Religion

Included are quotations from Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, James Madison, Abraham Lincoln and ... others.

[Kerberos]

"Christians are called to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world"

Yeah I know, the our God's better than your God's thing.

[B Knotts]

There are fine people within the atheist crowd

Did I say there weren't? I'm no anti-Randian zealot.

My point is that you seem to want to exclude anyone who is religious from public office. I don't think that's a good idea.

[Catholicguy]

Amen. Thanx for the ping

[thinktwice]

My point is that you seem to want to exclude anyone who is religious from public office.

Your assumption is wrong.

Reason tells me that there is something spiritual in every living creature -- it is within the faculty of consciousness.

Add to that the fact that animals perceive things. If you watch carefully, you can observe that animals (dogs, cats, etc.) react to things at a perceptual level. I suspect that what we see in those animals is perceptual level thought -- they that think without having any ability to think things through.

We have, at the human level, the faculty of reason; and as conscious animals we can use reason to "understand" (not everything) some things within our perceptions -- we have the ability to "understand" at conceptual, even abstract, levels of thinking.

I like to ask questions and seek answers. I understand that's a Jesuit approach.

What I like in political leadership is a non-religious -- rational -- approach; an approach that avoids mystical irrationalities; an approach that transcends wishful, or knee-jerk perceptual, (typical Democrat) thought.

[B Knotts]

I question the perceptive ability of animals, based on my observations of all the jackasses in Congress.

But seriously, it seems that the most irrational people in public office tend to be the irreligious (Democrats). I'm not suggesting cause-and-effect here; just pointing out my observations.

[Jacvin]

"No, I think he more accurately said we need to get back to the days of when the theocracy ruled society."



I think you may have some reading comprehension issues.

[thinktwice]

I question the perceptive ability of animals, based on my observations of all the jackasses in Congress.

There is no question that animals perceive; but what I've observed is that even we humans cannot comprehend all that we perceive. Around us during every conscious moment are countless unnoticed perceptions. When you look at a nightime sky, your focus is limited -- you might actually "see" a thousand stars while you focus you mind on the moon.

But seriously, it seems that the most irrational people in public office tend to be the irreligious (Democrats).

It's my guess that (in general) Democrats are every bit as religious as Republicans; but ... what word combination really makes sense: the "irrational religious," or the "irrational irreligious"?

[SuenTsn]

It seems to be that the Pope is advocating the necessity of Christians becoming politically involved so that they get to be the ones who decides.

Thank you for your reply.

Well, there is much disagreement among Catholics themselves and among Christians who are non-Catholic. Just in reference to the death penalty, for instance, you will find people of faith on both sides of the question. I believe the Pope is against it, but Catholics can be found that are both pro- and con-.

I do think that many liberals have missed the boat by ignoring the fact that people are motivated by spiritual considerations. I'm sure there are rational arguments for much of what they advocate, but I've found that what beliefs people hold through faith motivate their actions far more than the rational arguments.

I think the Pope is asking people to frame the issues more in light of spiritual thought, and to not be afraid to admit that spirituality is very important in their lives. JMO, though.