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Consumerism Exacerbates the Spread of Depression, Says Pope
Zenit ^ | 2003-11-14

Posted on 11/15/2003 4:20:14 PM PST by nickcarraway

Addresses Congress Held in the Vatican on This Illness

VATICAN CITY, NOV. 14, 2003 (Zenit.org).- The spread of depression today is a worrying phenomenon induced in part by society, John Paul II says.

The Pope encouraged those suffering from this illness to develop their spiritual life in order to discover the love of God, and those who care for them to be affectionate, so that the sufferers will feel accepted and loved.

The Holy Father addressed the challenges that depression poses to the Church and society, when he received in Paul VI Hall today the participants in the 18th International Conference on Depression, organized by the Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers.

The meeting gathered some 600 medical experts, committed lay people and Church figures to analyze the situation of some 340 million people worldwide who suffer from depression, an illness that in the worst of cases can lead to suicide.

"The spread of depressive states is worrying," the Pope began by saying. "Psychological and spiritual human frailties are manifested which at least in part are induced by society."

"It is important to be aware of the repercussion that messages transmitted by the media have on persons, by exalting consumerism, immediate satisfaction of desires, the ever greater race for material well-being," he said.

In the face of this situation, "it is necessary to propose new ways so that each one will be able to build his own personality, cultivating the spiritual life, foundation of a mature existence," the Holy Father said.

In fact, "depression is always a spiritual trial," he added. To people who no longer see the meaning of life, the Pope recommended meditation of the Psalms "in which the holy author expresses his joys and anxieties in prayer"; the recitation of the rosary to see Christ with Mary's eyes; and participation in the Eucharist, "source of interior peace."

The Pontiff reminded those who struggle with depression that "in his infinite love, God is always close to those who suffer," adding that "depressive illness can be a way to discover other aspects of oneself and new forms of encounter with God."

Lastly, the Holy Father encouraged those who care for people afflicted by depression, "to make them perceive the tenderness of God, integrate them in a community of faith and life where they feel accepted, understood, supported, in a word, worthy to love and to be loved."


TOPICS: Catholic; Current Events; General Discusssion; Ministry/Outreach; Moral Issues; Religion & Culture
KEYWORDS: catholic; depression; materialism
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1 posted on 11/15/2003 4:20:16 PM PST by nickcarraway
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To: Lady In Blue; Canticle_of_Deborah; Desdemona; NYer; Salvation; Aunt Polgara; Flying Circus; ...
ping
2 posted on 11/15/2003 4:21:19 PM PST by nickcarraway (www.terrisfight.org)
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To: nickcarraway
From John Allen's column "Word from Rome," November 14, 2003:

Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragán, head of the Pontifical Council for Health Pastoral Care, this week is running an international conference on depression, a mental illness which he described as the “number one killer” of our time. The gathering brings distinguished psychiatrists and medical professionals together with leaders in the church to outline a Catholic response to the problem.

This gesture of cooperation with the discipline of psychiatry comes at an interesting time, since another Vatican department, the Congregation for Catholic Education, is currently studying the use of psychiatric instruments in seminary formation with an eye towards issuing a document on the subject. Behind that initiative lie concerns inside and outside the Vatican that modern psychiatry sometimes rests on assumptions hostile to orthodox religious faith. To take an extreme case, belief in angels and demons is taken by some mental health professionals as prima facie evidence of disturbance.

I asked Lozano Barragán about this on Nov. 12, and he gave an essentially positive response about the application of psychiatry.

“Sometimes the use of psychiatry may be exaggerated,” he said. “But science, true science, is never contrary to religious truth. Thus psychiatry should be very welcome in the church.”

Lozano Barragán said that obviously if a given psychiatrist sets himself or herself up in opposition to religious practice, there could be conflicts. It must never come to a choice between “counseling or confession,” he said.

“In the end, the gifts of God that we administer are more important,” he said. “But psychiatry and the spiritual life of the church should accompany one another. What’s needed is a profound dialogue with the experts in this field.”

On Nov. 13, Lozano Barragán opened the conference with a fascinating overview of 20th century philosophical trends. His basic contention was that the root cause of today’s epidemic of depression (one estimate says 12 percent of the world’s population is depressed) is post-modernity, and especially its embrace of “weak thinking,” meaning relativism and skepticism. Given the collapse of confidence in human reason and in the rationality of the world — we can’t know anything, and we can’t trust anything — it’s no wonder, Lozano Barragán suggested, lots of people are depressed.

Cardinal José Saraiva Martins, prefect of the Congregation for Saints, argued that authentic Christian spirituality is the best antidote.

“Whoever truly believes in the paschal mystery of Christ, and in his or her own likeness to him, can never be depressed,” Martins said. “Depression is not Christian, it’s not part of Biblical anthropology, or of the Catholic faith.”

Martins meant, it should be noted, that Christian faith in itself does not produce depression, not that individual Christians who find themselves depressed have somehow failed in the spiritual life. That point was made at the Nov. 12 press conference by Joaquin Navarro-Valls, the spokesperson for the Vatican and himself a psychiatrist.

“Depression is an illness of the body, not the soul,” Navarro said. “It can happen to the most holy person and to the least holy, just like a broken leg.”

3 posted on 11/15/2003 6:03:32 PM PST by sinkspur (Adopt a shelter dog or cat! You'll save one life, and maybe two!)
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To: Canticle_of_Deborah
"It is important to be aware of the repercussion that messages transmitted by the media have on persons, by exalting consumerism, immediate satisfaction of desires, the ever greater race for material well-being," he said.

Case in point for my comment about America.

4 posted on 11/15/2003 7:54:11 PM PST by MarMema
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To: MarMema
I have no disagreement in this respect.

Neither Catholics nor Orthodox are a majority in this country. It is a Christian nation in founding but I don't think it could be said to be in practice.

Rome isn't crazy about America either.
5 posted on 11/15/2003 8:21:53 PM PST by Canticle_of_Deborah
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To: Canticle_of_Deborah
Rome isn't crazy about America either.

Rome IS crazy about America's money.

6 posted on 11/15/2003 8:38:19 PM PST by sinkspur (Adopt a shelter dog or cat! You'll save one life, and maybe two!)
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To: Canticle_of_Deborah
Rome isn't crazy about America either.

Rome IS crazy about America's money.

7 posted on 11/15/2003 8:38:49 PM PST by sinkspur (Adopt a shelter dog or cat! You'll save one life, and maybe two!)
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To: sinkspur
You have a point there.
8 posted on 11/15/2003 8:41:06 PM PST by Canticle_of_Deborah
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To: nickcarraway
Not being a Catholic I find it so offensive when this man is referred to as the "Holy Father".

the recitation of the rosary to see Christ with Mary's eyes"

What is this all about?

9 posted on 11/15/2003 10:06:21 PM PST by PFKEY
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To: PFKEY
Not being a Catholic I find it so offensive when this man is referred to as the "Holy Father".

It's a title. I'm not too hot about "your honor" for some of these scumbag judges, but, what are you gonna do?

You don't like "Holy Father"? Call him "Pope."

10 posted on 11/15/2003 10:08:26 PM PST by sinkspur (Adopt a shelter dog or cat! You'll save one life, and maybe two!)
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To: sinkspur
That is how I prefer to refer to him and to have him addressed.

Nothing against the man personally, he seems to be a nice guy and I pray for his well-being.
11 posted on 11/15/2003 10:11:56 PM PST by PFKEY
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To: PFKEY
Non-Catholics are not expected to call the Pope "Holy Father". Indeed, it would be incorrect, since it would imply a spiritual relationship that isn't really there. "Your Holiness" is always correct, however. Will that do?
12 posted on 11/15/2003 10:16:35 PM PST by Romulus (Nothing really good ever happened after 1789.)
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To: Romulus
Your Holiness

That's almost as offensive to me. Would Pope be ok?

I don't ever see an occassion to be in his presence but if I were would Sir be ok?

13 posted on 11/15/2003 10:35:30 PM PST by PFKEY
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To: PFKEY
Would Pope be ok?...would Sir be ok?

No it would not be OK -- chiefly because it would paint you as being bumptious to the point of rudeness. Would it stick in your throat to call a Frenchman "Monsieur" or a German "Herr"? Would it do violence to your conscience to call the Queen of England "Your Majesty"? Are you too pure to address a letter to your congressman as "The Honorable Jackson Blowhard"?

If your detestation for the office of Catholic pontiff is such that you can't bring yourself to observe the small courtesies of polite society (you have no problem with expecting me to address your own clergy as "Reverend", I'm guessing), then please stay home and save yourself from the assaults of this sinful world.

14 posted on 11/15/2003 10:58:06 PM PST by Romulus (Nothing really good ever happened after 1789.)
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To: Romulus
you have no problem with expecting me to address your own clergy as "Reverend", I'm guessing

Acually, you would be corrected if you did. Where I worship there is no distinction between clergy and laity.

The difference would be with my conscience regarding what I see as a blasphemous title versus a secular title.

15 posted on 11/15/2003 11:25:13 PM PST by PFKEY
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To: PFKEY
The difference would be with my conscience regarding what I see as a blasphemous title versus a secular title.

What's blasphemous about it?

16 posted on 11/15/2003 11:35:29 PM PST by Romulus (Nothing really good ever happened after 1789.)
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To: Romulus
I know you don't read this the same as I do but this is what I base my objections on.

Matt.23
[9] And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.

And when Jesus prayed to the Father he called Him Holy. I reserve this name for Him alone.

John.17
[11] And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.

17 posted on 11/15/2003 11:46:45 PM PST by PFKEY
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To: PFKEY
1 Peter 1:15-16 but as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct; since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy."

1 Cor 4:15 For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
18 posted on 11/15/2003 11:59:39 PM PST by Romulus (Nothing really good ever happened after 1789.)
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To: Romulus
I am familiar with these versus as well.

No where do I see where we are to call another man holy or father. The Bible most certainly tells us to be holy but I see it as very presumptuous to call a person such.

In the same sense I take great exception to a person who claims they are saved or claims that one is damned. Both are very presumptuous and quite possibly dangerous.



1Cor.4
[15] For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
19 posted on 11/16/2003 12:09:50 AM PST by PFKEY
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To: PFKEY
Not being a Catholic I find it so offensive when this man is referred to as the "Holy Father".

Guess what, Cochese, as a Catholic I don't give a rat's arse that you find it offensive.

Go crap on some other thread, not this one.
20 posted on 11/16/2003 7:35:46 AM PST by Conservative til I die
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