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]

good advice here

[wardaddy]

Nice....now if only the Episcopalians would listen.

[Robe]

I not sure, but I think he just told the Dem's to stop lying!

[jmc813]

If only he had made this speech during the California recall election cycle...

[Kerberos]

""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."

"I not sure, but I think he just told the Dem's to stop lying!"

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

[thinktwice]

"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."

I agree with the Pope with one major exception: I'd never want to see a spiritually hot anyone -- Catholic, Muslim, etc. -- holding any political power, anywhere.

[Qwinn]

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

Oh, get off it. Yes, Catholics being involved in politics is a "theocracy". Why don't you just come out and say that there -should- be a religious test to hold political office, that no one should let their beliefs impact their political judgment and, aw hell, let's just throw Catholics in a deep frier?

Sheesh!

Qwinn

[SuenTsn]

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

Are you claiming that the Pope would prefer a temporal rule as well as a spiritual one?

If that's the case, I doubt it. But the positive values that all civilizations have held in common are not outmoded.

[B Knotts]

So, only athiests qualify to hold office, in your opinion?

Worked well in the Soviet Union, I suppose. Depends on your goals, I reckon.

[Stopislamnow]

Pope should take the lead and start excommunicating the various Kennedy's, Daschle's, Granholm's....thats how you send a message to the faithful.

[LiteKeeper]

read later

[BlackElk]

You are worried about religious people but not about La Rand the Apostle of Serial Adultery (in violation of her marriage contract?)????????

[Alas Babylon!]

Well I hope any Christian who carries out the Pope's advice never get apppointed to the Federal Judiciary. Shumer, Leahy, and Clinton will have a field day with them. Seriously, if anyone espouses these Christian values then according to the democrats they are extremists who ought not be ratified--shoot--not even voted upon!

[ckca]

we need to get back to the days of when the theocracy ruled society

Theocracy would be better than your blind mind-numbed bigotry.

[thinktwice]

only athiests (sic)

There are fine people within the atheist crowd; people such as Luther Burbank, Andrew Carnegie, Marie Curie, Charles Darwin, Thomas Edison and Albert Einstein.

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

[Kerberos]

"But the positive values that all civilizations have held in common are not outmoded."

No they are not. But then of course one has to decide which values are the positive values and which are the negative ones. And who gets to decide that?

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.

I have just always held the belief that ones spiritual development was not compatible with political life. Or to put it another way, be not involved in the things of man.

[JohnnyZ]

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

So it's okay if they're religious, as long as they don't take it too seriously, like it actually means anything. Nice!

[Campion]

I have just always held the belief that ones spiritual development was not compatible with political life. Or to put it another way, be not involved in the things of man.

Christians are called to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world, not imitation ostriches with their heads in the sand.

[utahagen]

I don't think Albert Einstien was an atheist.