Pope Cites Secularism in Canada Birth Rate

The Los Angeles Times ^ | Monday, May 20, 2006 | AP

[MinorityRepublican]

VATICAN CITY -- Pope Benedict XVI said Saturday that low birth rates in Canada are the result of the "pervasive effects of secularism" and asked the country's bishops to counter the trend by preaching the truth of Christ.

Benedict, who has spoken out several times in favor of large families, blamed Canada's low birth rate on social ills and moral ambiguities that result from secular ideology.

"Like many countries ... Canada is today suffering from the pervasive effects of secularism," Benedict told visiting bishops from Canada. "One of the more dramatic symptoms of this mentality, clearly evident in your own region, is the plummeting birth rate."

Canada's birth rate in 2005 was 10.5 births for every 1,000 people, according to Statistics Canada.

"Canadians look to you to be men of hope, preaching and teaching with passion the splendor of the truth of Christ who dispels the darkness and illuminates the way to renew ecclesiastical and civic life," the pontiff told the bishops, speaking in English.

Separately, Benedict told the new Spanish ambassador to the Holy See that family based on marriage should not be "replaced or confused" by other institutions -- an allusion to gay marriage, which is legal in Spain.

Benedict said he hoped his planned visit to Valencia, Spain, in July to attend a church gathering dedicated to families would give him "an opportunity to celebrate the beauty and fecundity of the family based on marriage, its very high calling and its essential social value."

The pope has been leading a church campaign in defense of traditional families.

He also reiterated church opposition to abortion and euthanasia.

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

It's the "revenge of the cradle" in reverse.

[NZerFromHK]

I expect the Canadian Liberals and NDPers will suddenly become enthusiastic selective quoters of Thomas Cramer and Oliver Cromwell concerning Roman Catholicism as yardsticks to attack the current Vatican. Of course they will brush aside the God-fearing Bible-believing aaspects of both.

[MinorityRepublican]

If you'd like to be on this Death of the West ping list, please FR mail me.

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

From the "Conquest" in 1759, until the early 20th century, the population of Quebec doubled every 25 years, through high birthrates. This "revenge of the cradle" was encouraged by francophone elites (church and state) as a way of increasing Quebec's influence in Canadian politics.

Muslims in Europe seem to be employing a similar demographic weapon.

[MinorityRepublican]

BTTT

[NZerFromHK]

You may like to read the "interesting" responses over at Freedominion.ca. It does seem that they have leftists almost literally quoting Cromwell to bash the Catholic church (disclaimer: I'm an evangelical and I quite like Cromwell - I found it funnt a secular leftist would use the rhetoric of a conservative Protestant to bash Catholics):

http://www.freedominion.ca/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=60114&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

(Needs registration)

[TheWasteLand]

You know, if it's just secularism, then does that mean we just need to play the waiting game, because soon the secularists will breed themselves out of existence? I hope so.

[MinorityRepublican]

You know, if it's just secularism, then does that mean we just need to play the waiting game, because soon the secularists will breed themselves out of existence? I hope so.

Yes but we can't get ourselves into a situation like in France where secularists already have bred themselves out of existence and now are rapidly being replaced by the Muslims.

[TheWasteLand]

That's easy. Just don't let them in.

[MinorityRepublican]

That's easy. Just don't let them in.

Easier done than said.

[MadIvan]

Viva Papa!

Regards, Ivan