Pope's battle to save Christmas: Don't let atheists crush your traditions, Benedict tells Britain

The Daily Mail (U.K.) ^ | September 17, 2010 | Steve Doughty

[Stoat]

• Easter and Christmas should not be discouraged by fear of offending others 
  
• Christians in public roles should be allowed to act according to conscience
• Lack of ethical foundation resulted in financial crisis, he tells politicians
• Applause for Pope as he continues without incident despite terror threat
  

The Pope issued a clarion call to defend Christianity last night, saying Christmas was at risk of being struck from the calendar.

In a strongly worded speech delivered in Parliament, Benedict XVI bluntly told politicians not to ‘silence’ religion and discourage public celebration of its most important festivals.

And in a thinly veiled attack on controversial equality legislation, he said laws which forced Christians to act against their consciences were wrong.

‘There are those who would advocate that the voice of religion be silenced, or at least relegated to the purely private sphere,’ he told senior politicians and public figures.

 

‘There are those who argue that the public celebration of festivals such as Christmas should be discouraged, in the questionable belief that it might somehow offend those of other religions or none.’

He spoke as security was tightened around the Papal visit after the arrest of six central London street sweepers over a suspected terror plot to attack him.

[Stoat]

Thank you very much for pinging your list  :-)

 

[Mrs. Don-o]

Well, you can't have a Crusade --- of any sort --- without a Christendom.

And you can't have a Christendom made up of nations filled with semi-Christians, quasi-Christians, post-Christians, and anti-Christians.

So Benedict begins at the beginning: proclaiming Christ and calling people to remember who they are.

What happens next? Well, you watch.

[the invisib1e hand]

The Pope issued a clarion call to defend Christianity last night, saying Christmas was at risk of being struck from the calendar.

“Why, it is she that has got all Narnia under her thumb. It's she that makes it always winter. Always winter and never Christmas; think of that!” ...

C.S. Lewis, The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe.

[MarkBsnr]

Both Christmas and Easter are Pagan feasts created in the fourth century.

Sure. Jesus didn't really get born and resurrect; that was an invention of the Catholic Church. All Christians, I am sure, will agree with you. Is there anything else?

[Stoat]

You can sort of start one her by making a really, really, big deal out of Christmas and Easter and by calling Christmas by that name rather than “holiday season” and such

I've been doing that for many years......here in hard-Left Seattle, I'm constantly subjected to "Happy Holidays" which I answer by smiling and saying "Thank you, and a Merry Christmas to you as well".

If a given holiday has meaning to someone, I wish that they would simply refer to it directly in any greeting that they might care to make.  If someone were to greet me with a reference to another religion whose holiday also occurs during our Christmas season I'm equally polite, but this business of being terrified to mention a holiday that's important to you is a very sad elevation of Political Correctness into our common parlance.  Political Correctness tends to exacerbate a level of conflict and fear in society, with the unstated message in this case being "I think most people are bigots who will shoot me or sue me if I dare to mention my religion, so I'll leave my spine at home today and use a generic, milquetoast greeting instead."

In order for the Pope's message to be realized, we all need to incorporate his teachings into our daily lives.  Saying "Merry Christmas" with a friendly smile is a great place to start, IMHO.  The more people hear those words, the more people will understand that it's quite alright to say it.

"getting down off of soapbox now"

[MarkBsnr]

I'm not sure who the bigger threat at this point, but probably Muslims, because of their sheer numbers and pathological fanaticism.

Let us not forget the Judaizers. They may not have the numbers, but they sure make up for it with sheer idiocy.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Stoat.

U.K. cops: 5 arrested over plot targeting Pope
MSNBC | Sep 17, 2010
Posted on 09/17/2010 5:15:32 AM PDT by VRWCTexan
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2590924/posts

[Claud]

Both Christmas and Easter are Pagan feasts created in the fourth century.

That is absolutely false and completely ahistorical. So I guess the Quartodeciman controversy in the mid-100s involved disputes about a feast day that didn't even exist yet?

[Stoat]

Thanks Stoat.

 

You're quite welcome, and thank you very much for pinging your list  :-)

 

I'm noticing that MSNBC is reporting 5 arrested in the assassination plot while the Daily Mail is reporting six.

The plot thickens.. 

[Mmogamer]

I take it you don’t like our holidays...

[Sun]

Also, in this country during the Christmas season, it’s difficult to find the word “Christmas” in many of the stores (while they take Christians’ money).

Which is why I wrote an “It’s OK to say Merry Christmas” letter to the editor.

[Stoat]

Additional coverage:

Video available here which excerpts the passages of the actual speech pertaining to this thread.  Plays for about 1:25

BBC News - Pope says Christianity 'being marginalised'

The full address is available on video here; it plays for about 15:15

BBC - Democracy Live - Pope addresses Westminster Hall

From the LA Times (no video)

Pope in Britain- Pope Benedict warns Britain against secularism - latimes.com

[Stoat]

Also, in this country during the Christmas season, it’s difficult to find the word “Christmas” in many of the stores (while they take Christians’ money).

Which is why I wrote an “It’s OK to say Merry Christmas” letter to the editor.

You make essential points.  Regarding Christmas merchansising, I went so far as to immediately return a box of Christmas cards to the store when I discovered that they were actually made in China....a county long known for brutal persecution of Christians.  It seemed to be far too much of an ironic statement to send a good friend my wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year on a card that may have been made by slave labor.  Similarly, even though I try to avoid "Made In China" goods all year long,  I make a particular effort to avoid giving gifts made in China at Christmastime.

[little jeremiah]

Placemark for possible pingout tomorrow.

[Sun]

Good for you. I also do not buy Christmas cards from Communist China who persecute Christians, & boycott other Chinese products as much as possible.

I send away for powdered garlic produced in California, because it’s difficult to find garlic that isn’t from China in the stores.

[manc]

I agree, it is time to fight back and let these people know that we have our holidays.
It pisses me off that muslims can practice and force their ideology of intolerance and hate onto the the west while Christians , church goers or not be told don’t say Christmas or Easter.

[manc]

same here and I couldn’t give a rats arse if some dopey left wing kook gets offended.

[manc]

well there has been 3 but count me on on another and I’m not that religious.

All the crusades were to take back the holy city because islam moved in.
Before islam hundreds of years before it was invented by some cave dwelling caravan leader Christians and Jews lived there with peace.
islam moves in, they build that big eye sore and then say it is their holy land.

They have another eyesore compliments of the saudi’s near the vatican.
Wil they now say Rome is theirs too

[Salvation]

[Double] NOVENA FOR POPE BENEDICT XVI [Ecumenical]

[notdownwidems]

same here and I couldn’t give a rats arse if some dopey left wing kook gets offended.

I disagree...I do give a rats arse...I WANT dopey left wing kooks to get offended! dk