Posted on 07/28/2005 10:34:43 AM PDT by NYer
VATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI lamented the seemingly "dying" church in Europe and the United States and raised questions about the soaring number of priests in Asia and Africa in a lengthy, off-the-cuff speech to Italian priests.
Benedict also expressed sadness at the plight of divorced Roman Catholics who remarry without getting an annulment, reaffirming that they cannot receive Communion but stressing they should feel they still belong to the church.
Pope Benedict XVI waves as he leaves Les Combes d'Introd, near Aosta, Italy,Thursday, July 28, 2005.The pontiff left his vacation retreat in the Italian Alps on Thursday, heading to the papal residence on a lake south of Rome, marking his 100th full day as pontiff by traveling. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
|
The pope made the remarks to priests from the northern Valle d'Aosta region in a two-hour closed meeting Monday in Introd, near where he has been vacationing. The Vatican newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano, published a transcript of the remarks Wednesday.
The pope began his remarks, which touched on Marx, the upheavals in Europe of 1968 and other topics, by stressing that a pope isn't an "oracle" and "is infallible only in rare situations." Benedict previously has stressed that he intends to listen to others and not do only his will as pope.
He then delved into the issues raised by the Aosta bishop on the concerns of priests, noting that he was recently visited by bishops from Africa and Sri Lanka, where the number of priests is skyrocketing. In Europe and elsewhere, the number of priests has fallen sharply.
Benedict he said the "joy" at the growing numbers of churchmen in the developing world is accompanied by "a certain bitterness" because some would-be priests were only looking for a better life.
"Becoming a priest, they become almost like a head of a tribe, they are naturally privileged and have another type of life," he said. "So the wheat and the chaff go together in this beautiful growth of vocations.
"Bishops have to be very attentive to discern (among the candidates) and not just be happy to have many future priests, but to see which ones really are the true vocations — discern between the wheat and the chaff," he said.
Benedict also touched on another his favorite themes: the state of the church in Europe. He said in contrast to the developing world, where there is a "springtime of faith," the West was "a world that is tired of its own culture, a world that has arrived at a time in which there's no more evidence of the need for God, much less Christ, and in which it seems that man alone can make himself.
"This is certainly a suffering linked, I'd say, to our time, in which generally one sees that the great churches appear to be dying," he said, mentioning Australia, Europe and the United States.
Benedict also responded to a question about giving the Eucharist to divorcees who remarry without getting a church annulment. The church says divorcees who remarry civally cannot receive Communion, arguing they are in a state that "contrasts with God's law."
The pope reaffirmed the teaching, although he acknowledged the suffering it has caused and said further study is needed. He mentioned in particular the case of when someone gets married in a church without being a true believer, is divorced, remarries and discovers his or her faith, but isn't allowed to receive Communion.
In reaffirming the policy, he said the church had to respect "the good of the community and the good of the sacrament" as well as help those who are suffering. He said priests should teach that suffering is necessary "and this is a noble form of suffering."
Some Italian media reports have suggested the pope was reconsidering the ban, and that the issue would come up at a bishops' meeting in October dedicated to the Eucharist. The question has long been a concern for Benedict; in the 1990s, bishops from his native Germany asked for flexibility on the matter.
The 78-year-old Benedict marked his 100th full day as pope Thursday, a papacy already far longer than the 33-day term of John Paul I. Benedict's immediate predecessor, John Paul II, was pope for more than 26 years.
___
I wonder if these are the subjects the Holy Father will write about in his first encyclical.
The Western Churches remind me of the writings in the New Testament of the 7 Churches.
Maybe it has something to do with the fact that African and Asian priests are allowed to marry and have families, and European and American priests aren't?
The rule is the same for all countries. Wherever did you get the idea that African and Asian priests are allowed to get married?
There are more tourists in European churches than church goers. Europe is lost.
Maybe it has something to do with the fact that African and Asian priests are allowed to marry and have families, >>
what? explain yourself please.
I love him !
An ignorant statement refuted by the facts.
Ee-yeah. I'm afraid I have to agree with you on the status of Christian civilization in Europe, west of the Elbe at any rate. "Old" Europe has become a sort of secular humanist theme park, a "Europeland" for American Democrats to gaze wistfully across the Atlantic at. Well, perhaps our liberals will emigrate and temporarily slow Europe's disastrous demographic trends...
I guess it all depends on where you're at. In the southern U.S., churches are doing pretty well. In the northeast, not so good.
As regards the comments made about celibate priesthood, I think celibacy has an impact on the numbers, but not as great as one might expect. Being a priest is often a thankless job, and certainly not one with many material rewards.
I hereby retract my statement. I swear I read a thread on FR some time back about how the Church was accepting married men with families as priests in Africa due to "cultural considerations". However, I can find no evidence to back this up.
Catholic Parishes Flourish in Southern U.S.
Number of Catholics Rises by 15 Million (Diocesan Priests Increase; Religious Decrease)
Spanish Catholicism still very robust (3 shrines and The Sagrada Familia)
Catholics outsource praying to India
Catholic Priests in India 'Outsourced' to Meet Clergy Shortage in West
Christian Coalition head (in Ala.) becomes Catholic
Church growth continues for Catholic and Pentecostals; six mainline denominations decline
Young people turn against their parents' 'church lite'
Pope calls US Church to repentance and renewal
A father for the 11th time - Widower becomes Catholic priest
Number of Adults Who Don't Attend Church Service Doubles
Huge Christian growth shocks China's leaders
Church Attendance Increased : Protestants have now clearly overtaken Catholics in church attendance
Catholics Trail Protestants in Church Attendance [Gallup]
Church Attendance Linked to Longer Life
Dozens of Episcopalians Follow Leader into Catholic Church
Thousands prepare to join U.S. Catholic Church this Easter
Where Have All the People in the Pews Gone?
More Than 150,000 People to Join Catholic Church Holy Saturday
Spirituality on the rise on college campuses
Analysis: Rome up, Protestantism down?
Benedict's Logic: A Church Contracting & Expanding Simultaneously
CHRISTIANITY EXPLODING WORLDWIDE; 3RD WORLD SENDING MISSIONARIES [V ENCOURAGING DOC]
Christianity taking over the planet?
Local pews straining to hold increasing Catholic population
Catholic Church is losing sway in Europe (Opinion from Ireland)
Has the Catholic Church given up the Ghost?
Statistics Reveal Africa Is (Catholic) Church's New Hope
Chicago Ordains Largest Class of Priests in a Decade
Foreign priests want to fill a need- if Americans let them
Reviving a dream: Big hopes of little congregation growing for Orthodox church
Ancient rhythm: Converts to Orthodoxy growing in America
Catholic Church Prepares for Cold War With Evangelists
IS THE CHURCH LIKELY TO SHRINK--AND SHOULD IT?
Church Attendance in Germany Experiences Huge Growth after Pope Benedict Elected
We could only hope. Europeans seem to have this snide idea that those who believe in absolutes and God are stupid and ignorant. How us ignorant Christians managed to build a Republic and the wealthiest civilization must just boggle their minds.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.