Posted on 10/08/2004 12:27:31 PM PDT by yonif
Pope John Paul II has urged believers to proudly display the signs of their faith, saying the practice does not encourage intolerance or infringe on the separation of church and state.
In an apostolic letter to Roman Catholics launching the Year of the Eucharist, the pope made no mention of specific problems. But the message follows sharp controversy in France over a government ban on conspicuous religious symbols such as Muslim headscarves, Jewish skullcaps or large crucifixes in the country's schools.
The pontiff also repeated his concern that too few Catholics are giving due reverence to the Eucharist or properly marking Sunday as the Lord's Day.
He also described faith as a means of counteracting violence and a way of bringing attention to such problems as poverty and hunger in the world.
You need to consider the totality of his statements before applauding too loudly. Hitler, Stalin, Mao, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton accidentally got it right now and then.
***wearing a symbol of one's faith is a good way to REMEMBER to act 'in good faith' and to represent what the symbol stands for in a more positive way. ***
It certainly can help.
Respect has to start at the top.
I read a passage in Cor. II a few nights past, and it spoke of the flock keeping its shepherds, and reciprocity and all that. I love St. Paul.
I think Christian Love is held in such high regard by St. Paul because it is the hardest to master. Complete humility is required, and that's probably why it's so pleasing to The Lord.
Do you make the Sign of the Cross and pray before eating in a restaurant?
I do.
I agree, but somehow "to go boldly where no man has gone before" just doesn't have the same ZING to it.
Regards,
Did you post that with a straight face?
In his homily, the Pope said the new world order he wanted "would be able to provide solutions to the problems of today ... based on the dignity of human beings, an integrated development of society, solidarity between rich and poor nations, and on the sharing of resources and the extraordinary results of scientific and technological progress."
After reading the above quote from an article in The Guardian, what came immediately to mind was the (in)famous quote by Karl Marx: "From each according to his ability, to each according to his need."
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