Posted on 04/19/2005 11:56:55 AM PDT by MadIvan
Cardinal Ratzinger on the Banishment of God From Public Life
Receives St. Benedict Award for Promotion of Life and Family
SUBIACO, Italy, APRIL 12, 2005 (Zenit.org).- Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger says that believers are faced with the tendency to banish God from public life and confine him to the "subjective realm of past residual cultures."
On April 1, when receiving the St. Benedict Award for the Promotion of Life and the Family in Europe, conferred by the Subiaco Foundation for Life and the Family, the dean of the College of Cardinals delivered an address on the present crisis of culture and identity, especially in the Old World.
After stating that "moral force has not grown apace with the development of science but, on the contrary, has diminished," Cardinal Ratzinger explained that "the most serious danger at this time is precisely the imbalance between technical possibilities and moral energy."
He gave two examples: the threat of terrorism and the possibility to manipulate the origin of human life.
The then prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith—almost all heads of Vatican dicasteries lost their posts when John Paul II died— pointed out that "Europe has developed a culture that, in a way previously unknown to humanity, excludes God from the public consciousness, either by denying him altogether or by judging that his existence cannot be demonstrated, is uncertain and, therefore, somewhat irrelevant to public life."
An attempt is being made "to build the human community absolutely without God," the cardinal stressed.
"The rejection of reference to God is not an expression of tolerance which wishes to protect non-theist religions and the dignity of atheists and agnostics, but rather an expression of the desire to see God banished definitively from humanity's public life, and driven into the subjective realm of residual cultures of the past," he warned.
For the cardinal, the starting point of this view is "relativism," which has become "a dogmatism that believes it is in possession of the definitive knowledge of reason, and with the right to regard all the rest as a stage of humanity, which has basically been surpassed, and which can be suitably relativized."
At this rate, Cardinal Ratzinger added, we will no longer "be able to affirm that homosexuality, as the Catholic Church teaches, is an objective disorder of the structure of human existence."
"The fact that the Church is convinced of not having the right to confer priestly ordination on women, is now considered by some as irreconcilable with the European Constitution," he added.
In the final part of his address, Cardinal Ratzinger explained that "we need roots to survive and we must not lose them from sight if we do not want human dignity to disappear."
"Only creative reason, which has been manifested in the crucified God as love, can really show us the way," he said. "We need men who will keep their sight on God, learning there" what "true humanity" is, as "only through men touched by God, can God again be close to men." ZE05041102
I'm not sure if it's something I should mention in confession or not ... please don't forget to pray for all these modernists. While they still breathe, there's still time for them to repent.
Thank GOD that we have a strong and unwavering moralist as the new Pope!
We need a decade from him. With a decade, most of the remaining liberals will be too old to contend for the Papacy. I also think he can continue in the line of John Paul the Great in standing up for doctrine.
Regards, Ivan
Just today, I've seen several disgruntled Anglicans on this forum start talking about swimming the Tiber.
Anyone who was part of our New Pope's fan club may now start selling on E-Bay.
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Thank you for that correction.
So did Pope Peter change his name? /sarcasm off.
>> Just today, I've seen several disgruntled Anglicans on this forum start talking about swimming the Tiber.<<
Oooooo!
Praying for conversions!
It's a tradition for the Papacy that evolved over time. And your problem with it is...?
The libs hold deeds to the actual church properties. If they go they will take the buildings with them. That's my concern.
Even if conservative Catholics choose Rome over AmChurch they won't have anywhere to attend Mass. My sense, especially from reading modern American Catholics on the net, is that most of them will be clueless and follow the diocesan churches.
But should not our spirit (soul) prevail over our passions since our soul is in God's image?
Is he a Benedictine?
Jesus changed it for him. You'll find it in Matthew, Chapter 16.
Some people are already coming unglued"He who brings trouble on his family will inherit only wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise." (Proverbs 11:29)
"So did Pope Peter change his name?"
I believe that Simon's name was changed by Jesus to Peter;
"Thou art Peter (rock) and upon this rock I shall build My Church"
Bwahahahaha!!!!!
I just finished a period of FIVE YEARS ASSISTing at Mass in a middle school cafeteria, because my Parish is brand new. DON'T give me any BS about having 'nowhere' to ASSIST at Mass. There's always a place.
Ever heard of a 'Mass Rock'?
I'm with ValenB4. Without the evil Wilson's interference, the war probably would have ended either with a German/Austrian outright victory or a negotiated settlement prior to November 1918 as desired by Pope Benedict XV. Instead, American involvement (which revived the embattled Allied cause) resulted in the tragic destruction of the last remnants of Christendom, the ancient German and Austro-Hungarian monarchies, a calamity which paved the way for Hitler and Stalin and from which Europe has still not recovered.
The first three years of the war were indeed nonideological. But with the fall of the Russian monarchy and the entry of the US in 1917, the character of the war was transformed into a very ideological conflict between the forces of "Progress" & "Democracy" (the Allies) and Tradition & Monarchy (the Central Powers), a conflict in which as a monarchist I stand firmly with the latter, as do all true conservatives.
The US has waged many unjustified wars since 1898, but World War I was the worst. I hope Wilson is burning in Hell.
In many places they would be able to turn to the FSSP, the ICK, the SSPX, or independent traditional chapels.
An open AmChurch schism could be good for the traditionalist movement, couldn't it?
Thank you. I appreciate it.
"So such a Pope's name recognizes the current global war on terror, America's role, and what part the Church should play.
Re your post on the choice of Benedict: I saw other symbolism in his choice of that particular name. Benedict XV came after Pius X, a major traditionalist whose papacy was long and distinguished. I looked at the choice of the name as wanting to tell the Church that he's not a JPII clone (not choosing to be JPIII) and as saying he'll want his papacy to be known for peacemaking efforts. Or at least I'm trying to think positive about this...
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