Pope's message for "Men and Religions" meeting

Zenit ^ | September 8, 2004

[AskStPhilomena]

To the Reverend Brother Cardinal Walter Kasper President of the Pontifical Council For Promoting Christian Unity

1. I am particularly glad, dear Brother, to give you the responsibility to convey my greetings and my sincere appreciation to all the Representatives of Churches, Ecclesial Communities and major world Religions who have gathered in Milan for this XVIII Meeting entitled "Religions and Cultures: the Courage to Forge a New Spiritual Humanism." For me it is a joy and a consolation to see that the pilgrimage of peace I started in Assisi in October 1986 did not stop. On the contrary, it continues to grow in terms of participants and fruits.

Furthermore, I am pleased to convey my greetings to the beloved Ambrosian Church. With its Archbishop, Cardinal Dionigi Tettamanzi, it generously welcomed this providential meeting once again. I also thank St. Egidio Community for having grasped the importance of what I called "the spirit of Assisi," and having constantly upheld it with audaciousness and perseverance since 1986, nourishing the commitment to a very necessary pathway in today's world, marked by deep misunderstandings and relentless conflicts.

2. The spirit of dialogue and understanding has often lead to endeavors of reconciliation. Unfortunately, new conflicts have broken out, and an attitude which regards conflicts of religions and civilizations as an almost inevitable heritage of history has become widely accepted.

They truly are not! Peace is possible always! We must always work together to eradicate the seeds of bitterness and misunderstanding embedded in culture and life, we must put all our efforts into eradicating humankind's determination to prevail over the other, we need to work together to erase the arrogance of asserting one's own interests disdaining the identity of the other. These feelings are the harbingers of a world of violence and war. But conflict is never unavoidable!

And religions have a specific task in reminding every man and every woman of this awareness, a gift of God and, at the same time, the fruit of centuries of historical experience. This is what I called "the spirit of Assisi." Our world needs this spirit. It needs convictions and behaviors that secure a solid peace to flow from this spirit, to reinforce international institutions and promote reconciliation. The "spirit of Assisi" urges religions to give their contribution to the new humanism today's world needs so badly.

3. The world needs peace. Every day we hear news of violence, terrorist attacks, military operations. Is the world truly abandoning all hope of attaining peace? At times it seems the world is getting used to violence and the shedding of innocent blood. As we face these troublesome events, I bow my head over the Scriptures and there I find the comforting words of Jesus: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid" (John 14:27).

As Christians who believe in the one who is "our peace" (Ephesians 2:14), his words light up our hope. However, I wish to address and request everybody to withstand the logic of violence, revenge and hatred, and persevere in dialogue. We need to break the deadly chain that imprisons the world and sheds its blood. In this sense, there is so much religious believers can do. The image of peace that rises from the Meeting in Milan encourages many people to embark upon a commitment to peace.

4. In a few days time we shall commemorate that terrible September 11th, 2001, when death reached the very heart of the United States. Three years have passed since then and terrorism sadly seems to be increasing its threats of destruction. The fight against the death-makers doubtless requires firmness and resoluteness. At the same time, however, it is necessary to make every possible effort to eradicate the misery, despair, emptiness of heart and whatever favors this drift towards terror.

We must not let ourselves be overwhelmed by fear, which leads men and women to focus only on themselves and strengthens the selfishness entrenched in the hearts of individuals and groups. We need the courage to globalize solidarity and peace. I am thinking of Africa, first of all, "the continent that seems to incarnate the existing unbalance between the North and the South of the Planet" (Message for the XVI Meeting "Men and Religions": Palermo, August 29th, 2002) and at the heart of my concerns are the Iraqi people. Every day, I invoke for them peace from God, that peace that humankind is not capable of giving.

The Meeting in Milan shows it is crucial for humanity to resolutely make a true commitment to peace. Peace never requires violence, it always calls for dialogue. Especially those who come from Countries whose soil is stained with blood know well that violence constantly generates violence. War throws open the doors to the abyss of evil. War makes anything possible, even what is totally irrational.

That is why war should always be considered a defeat: the defeat of reason and of humanity. May a new spiritual and cultural thrust soon lead humankind to banish war. War never again! I was convinced of this in October 1986 in Assisi, when I asked people belonging to all religions to gather side by side to invoke God for peace. I am even more convinced of it today: as the body grows weak, I feel the power of prayer grow.

5. The title St. Egidio Community has chosen for this year's Meeting is, therefore, very significant: "Religions and Cultures: The Courage to Forge a New Spiritual Humanism." Meeting generates in itself a new humanism, a new way of looking at one another, of understanding each another, of envisioning the world and of working for peace. At the Meeting there are people capable of staying next to one another, who discover how friendship enables them to perceive the extreme dignity of every man and every woman and the richness that is often rooted in diversity.

Dialogue releases the courage for a new spiritual humanism, because it requires to trust in men and women. It never sets person against person. Its purpose is to overcome distance and vulgarity, so we may become aware that we are all creatures of one God, and brothers and sisters all belonging to humankind.

Cherishing these convictions in my heart, I assure you of my participation in spirit in the meeting and invoke upon each of you the heavenly blessings of Almighty God.

Castel Gandolfo, September 3rd, 2004

Joannes Paulus II

[Translation of Italian original published on the Web site of the Community of Sant'Egidio]

[pascendi]

Pope Saint Pius X and the Catholic truth.

[Land of the Irish]

Excellent post!

Thanks

[Land of the Irish]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1211425/posts?page=40#40

A Catholic, a Pope and a Saint.

[Land of the Irish]

Ping

to sempertrad's quote of Pope Saint Pius X

[marshmallow]

First you write this:

As for the last quote provided regarding indifferentism: the pope does very well here upholding the one path to salvation, which is the Catholic Church. In fact, I could provide for you, if you wish, quotes which are even more precise and pointed than this, coming from Pope John Paul II.

Then you write this:

As indifferentism and syncretism are pandemic in our times, and given that you have claimed that he has repeatedly spoken against these things: I ask you, marshmallow, in the name of Dialogue and Respect, to provide for me more quotes or example, that I may come to know the truth which you possess.

In the first papragraph you say that you can provide more quotes, if required. In the second you ask me to provide them.

Which leads me ask; If you already have them, why do you want me to post them? You've admitted that many more exist and offered to post them. Fine by me.

I think those which I quoted are rather good and make my point effectively. They are clear and unambiguous and leave little room for wiggle.

Which is why the best response you can muster is to cry "not enough, not enough". A bit like when your kid brother bets you that you can't hop on one foot for 5 minutes. When you do it, he can't bring himself to say "good job", so he says "OK, bet you can't do it again."

[pascendi]

"If you already have them, why do you want me to post them?"

Because you made this claim: "the Pope has repeatedly spoken out against syncretism" and I would like to see you support it. I say he hasn't. All I have is one or two quotes. If you have trouble finding yours, just ask and I'll be happy to lend you the quotes I already have. Point being, it's your claim... so, you support it.

A bit like when your kid brother bets you that you can't hop on one foot for 5 minutes. When you do it, he can't bring himself to say "good job", so he says "OK, bet you can't do it again."

Huh? Nah, it's not like that at all. It's more like this: That above quote from Pope Saint Pius X blows away the very thing that Pope John Paul II was saying to Cardinal Kasper. It's really just that simple. Read it.

Cardinal Kasper, just as a reminder, is the one who claimed that the Jewish people are already in possession of a valid covenant, and have no need of entering the Catholic Church. Just thought I would throw that in as an extra reference point in the interest of theological spatial relations.

Cardinal Kasper:

"This does not mean that Jews in order to be saved have to become Christians; if they follow their own conscience and believe in God's promises as they understand them in their religious tradition, they are in line with God's plan, which for us comes to historical completion in Jesus Christ."

[AAABEST]

"...it is frightening to behold new apostles eagerly attempting to do better by a common interchange of vague idealism and civic virtues. What are they going to produce ? What is to come out of this collaboration ? A mere verbal and chimerical construction in which we see, glowing in a jumble, and in seductive confusion, the words of Liberty, Justice, Fraternity, Love,Equality and human exlatation, all resting upon an ill-understood human dignity."

BUMP!

If Saint Pius typed these very words on the forum, the New Orderites would start throwing rocks at him.

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

Great post sempertrad.

Liberty, equality and fraternity was the battlecry which brought down Catholic France. Now it has come for Catholic Rome.

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

He would be called a schismatic and accused of ruining the forum.

[pascendi]

Religions and Cultures: the Courage to Forge a New Spiritual Humanism

This looks to be somewhat of a realtime event unfolding. It should be interesting to watch.

[pascendi]

Hey... check this out from the website:

"The Country of the Rainbow movement is born from the Community of Sant'Egidio and benefits from its thirty-year experience with children, adolescents, and young people. The Country of the Rainbow represents the world of tomorrow, as we would like it to be. It is a proposal to build, together, a more just and humane world, a world with more solidarity for others and more respect for nature. We would like a world for everyone where everyone can live with respect for others and for nature."

"Why is it called the "Country of the Rainbow"?

"The story of Noah, which is shared by Jews, Christians, and Muslims, tells about a new covenant between God and people. This covenant, however, also involves animals, the earth, and all living beings. The sign of this covenant is the rainbow. It is the end of a world made up of fighting, war and violence and the beginning of a new world, marked by respect and brotherhood. Moreover, the rainbow, with its many different colors one beside another, is in itself a symbol. It shows that harmony and beauty rise from the respect of everyone's diversity."

"What are the goals of the Country of the Rainbow movement?"

"The movement aims to teach children, adolescents and young people to respect and to live in solidarity with everyone, and to educate them about the problems of various peoples, the earth, and ecology. In addition it also wants to favor, through awareness and cooperation, the development of places that encourage peers friendships."



Gee.

I wonder if we're over-reacting. Maybe this really isn't new age global village stuff, but just a really clever kind of upholding the doctrine of the Catholic Faith in the name of Dialogue and Respect. You think?

Naaaah.

[sempertrad]

St. Pius X sure had a way with words, right? Clear and Catholic - and sure packed a wallop!

There are so many quotes, not only from St. Pius X, but from other popes which address and condemn the idea that peace can be gained independent of Christ. That to me makes the irrationally angry reactions from those who oppose us in this forum so perplexing. Do they think our reactions to JPII's message stem from some desire to dislike the man at all cost? That we have some sort of 'personality conflict' with this particular pope? Maybe they honestly don't realize that our reactions are based not on hatred for this pope, but from studying what past popes taught.

[pascendi]

Back to the beginning. Pope John Paul II said this:

To the Reverend Brother Cardinal Walter Kasper President of the Pontifical Council For Promoting Christian Unity

1. I am particularly glad, dear Brother, to give you the responsibility to convey my greetings and my sincere appreciation to all the Representatives of Churches, Ecclesial Communities and major world Religions who have gathered in Milan for this XVIII Meeting entitled "Religions and Cultures: the Courage to Forge a New Spiritual Humanism."

He continues from this point, and in a nutshell, he gives this endeavor his blessing, and claims it as his own, he claims it is the Spirit of Assisi, he says that he is with them in spirit. He calls it a new spiritual humanism. He says we need this.

Traditional Catholics object. Non-traditional Catholics counter-object, claiming that there's nothing in all this that is contrary to the Faith, that all is well. They say Trads are merely negative, lacking in virtue, and so on and so forth, etc.

Alright, now here again is the website for this supposedly harmless ecumenical get-together.

Browse it through. See that it is socialist, globalist, new age, and anything but Catholic. This isn't harmless. This is the Beast.

Look anywhere; it's all there, anywhere you look. There's too much poison in this site to even begin to catalogue; too much to comment on; too much to analize and to pit against the Catholicism of doctrine and tradition. Especially if no one wants to hear it.

But let no one deny it, what is against the Catholic Faith is all there. Look at the links page. For instance, look who they link to:

"Welcome The World Revolution is an idea for a new, global grassroots social movement for progressive social change. It aims to resolve in a definitive and comprehensive manner the major social problems of our world and our era. Major issue areas of the World Revolution include: peace, human rights, the environment, and world poverty."

How can anyone deny what is happening here? Is this not Socialism, and are not these people in league with Socialism? This isn't new age spirituality we see plastered all over this site from top to bottom? It is no longer possible to deny. Any Catholic who is not a traditional Catholic needs to become one immediately; they need to stop listening to the neopropaganda, they need their tradition, their doctrine before it's too late. The time for denial is over; we need the Blessed Mother to handle the details of how to handle the situation we now find ourselves in as Catholics.

[Land of the Irish]

From the links:

"The World Revolution is an idea for a new, global grassroots social movement for progressive social change. It aims to resolve in a definitive and comprehensive manner the major social problems of our world and our era. Major issue areas of the World Revolution include: peace, human rights, the environment, and world poverty."

http://www.worldrevolution.org/

[marshmallow]

So now we're arguing about the meaning of the word "repeatedly"? More than once, would be my simple definition.

It's at such a point that I feel the need to recuse myself from such silliness.

Feel free to have the last word, do a victory dance or whatever.

Later.

[pascendi]

"Feel free to have the last word, do a victory dance or whatever."

Ok. But I should warn you... it's pretty bland. It goes like this:

Clearly somebody has not been standing watch and the serpent is back in the garden. A bunker mentality is advisable; bring in the women and children, double the wall guards, seal the gate. The Church is under assault.

Defense of the citadel is fairly simple: wear the scapular; teach your children the traditional Catholic Faith. Adopt a detachment appropriate to one's state in life. Say the Rosary every night with the Family. Teach the doctrine of the Cross; assist at the Masses of the sacrificial priesthood on altars that face east towards the Sun of Justice. Do the First Fridays and First Saturdays. Perform the Consecration to Mary according to the formula of St. Louis De Montfort.

I don't want to win an argument. If I had to lose one to win people to the truth, I would do it.

[AAABEST]

Word completely fail me here. This is one of those rare times where I honestly just don't know what to say.

[AskStPhilomena]

"How can anyone deny what is happening here?"

There must be scales in front of their eyes.

[St.Chuck]

Who's going to be the first to say that he's just being misunderstoooooood?

The pope is coopting the language of progressives. Be not afraid.

[St.Chuck]

The fight against the death-makers doubtless requires firmness and resoluteness. At the same time, however, it is necessary to make every possible effort to eradicate the misery, despair, emptiness of heart and whatever favors this drift towards terror.

Don't you think the pope is spot on in this remark?

We must not let ourselves be overwhelmed by fear, which leads men and women to focus only on themselves and strengthens the selfishness entrenched in the hearts of individuals and groups.

Words we would do well to heed.

Peace never requires violence, it always calls for dialogue. Especially those who come from Countries whose soil is stained with blood know well that violence constantly generates violence. War throws open the doors to the abyss of evil. War makes anything possible, even what is totally irrational.

I think the pope demonstrates a command of the issues that confront humanity in these times. It's perplexing that some who claim to be sheep assigned to his pastoral care would find reason for disagreement.