Posted on 02/04/2010 6:18:16 AM PST by marshmallow
Sitting in the Great Room A of the Edward J. Pryzbyla University Center at Catholic University in Washington, D.C. forty minutes before Cardinal Schnborn's much anticipated lecture, two young college women, almost looking over their shoulders, were deeply engaged in a hushed conversation of the still touchy subject of Medjugorje. The conversation ended quickly as Cardinal Schonborn, accompanied by a Dean of Catholic University and the Austrian Ambassador to the United States entered the room, but make no mistake, the presence of Medjugorje continued to loom large.
After a brief and pleasant introduction, Cardinal Schonborn, standing behind a modest podium, looked out at the standing room only crowd and jokingly thanked those without seats for their early standing ovation. It was a nice, light moment for the young Cardinal, whose demeanor and handsome looks remind some of of the great John Paul II.
Though Cardinal Schonborn's delivery is engaging and sprinkled with self-deprecating humor the subject of today's lecture was anything but sunny. Cardinal Schonborn came to Washington D.C. to talk about the health and vibrancy of Christianity and Catholicism in Europe. After hearing the speech, one would have to conclude that the prognosis for Christianity's growth, particularly in Europe, faces many obstacles. His lecture, titled the "The Identity of Christianity - Alien Presence or Foundation of the West", presented a stark assessment of Christian faith in Europe and suggested that the revitalization of faith among its citizens would be arduous and uncertain.
From the onset, Cardinal Schonborn suggested that the creation of the European Union has been Christianity's clear villain and called out the E.U for "ignoring its Christian roots", failing to mention Christianity in its constitution, and referring to Christianity as a "foreign element". Cardinal Schonborn did not mince any words when he said the Europen Union was wrong when members of the E.U. said European values were superior to Christian values.
He went on to say Europe was now the least religious region in the world and attributed that dubious distinction to the rise of the culture of consumerism. According to Cardinal Schonborn the culture of consumerism has led to an alarming fall in birthrates and begs the question "Is Europe Dying". He said the population of Europe was "selfish" and he called the declining birthrates the moral equivalent of climate change.
The Cardinal said that the roots of Christianity in Europe are directly traced back to Paul's vision in Macedonia but now today the Catholic religion is facing, in his words, an emancipation by the European Union and Europe is close to losing its Christian "roots". He insinuated that with the decline of Christianity a potential rise in violence may be the result. He reminded those in the audience that the so called "dark ages" of mid-evil times were not nearly as violent and deadly as the 20th century had been.
He said a debate is raging in Europe between secular society and Christian believers as to the essence of the dignity of man, The Secularists claim human rights and the dignity of man were a result of the enlightenment and that turning away from religious faith has improved the "dignity of man".
At one point, Cardinal Schonborn offered a hopeful note, saying that despite the hostile environment towards religion in Europe, the region still had "ample spiritual resources" and that the times today remind him of early Christianity, a time when early believers were an unwelcomed minority but with a deep faith and a "revolutionary" spirit.
Towards the end of his talk, Cardinal Schonborn made an interesting concession by saying Christianity and the Catholic Church have leaned from secular society by listening to what he described, somewhat playfully, as their "nasty questions" He called this a "good thing", The dialog, he says, leads to a "credible Christian life" Despite the dark clouds in Europe, he ended his speech with a powerful expression of Christian renewal by offering to the audience the hopeful words of Jesus Christ: "Remember I am with you always to the end of times"
After the formal presentation the Cardinal was kind enough to take questions. Questions ranged from the Catholic Church's position on health care reform in the United States to the presence of "Masons" in Europe, but most in the room were waiting to hear a question about the elephant in the room, about Medjugorje. It took about five questions and then the the word "Medjugorje was finally spoken by a earnest young women. The room went quite and then with the timing of a seasoned stand up comic Cardinal Schonborn, with a big smile on his face said "Thanks for such an easy questions"
His answer was essentially verbatim to what he has said in the past so please click here for his previous comments on Medjugorje but we were left wondering if perhaps the Cardinal did make a little Medjugorje news.
A colleague of ours, a Yale Divinity graduate student, who was at today's lecture also attended the 2008 Medjugorje youth festival and had the special privilege of attending a talk by Mirjana Dragicevic-Soldo. He recalled being somewhat surprised to hear the almost never political visionary mention that the European Union was causing problems for Christianity. Now, interestingly, Cardinal Schonborn, who has met with some of the visionaries privately, has come to the United States to specifically address this very notion.
As many know by now Cardinal Schonborn has frequently, forthrightly, and now almost famously said "if it were not for Medjugorje our Seminaries would be empty. Half our new priests come to us directly or indirectly because of Medjugorje" He has also spoken of the "great fruits" of Medjugorje and in his answer to the earnest young lady's question this afternoon he mentioned, not once but twice, how he sees that Medjugorje brings young people back to the Church. So now we ask is Cardinal Schonborn hinting that the solution to the dire state of Christianity in Europe is perhaps found in Medjugorje. Is His eminence subtly encouraging us to look to Our Blessed Mother for guidance in these uncertain times and to look to Her for direction as She points us to the Way.
Is Cardinal Schonborn suggesting, perhaps not in his words but maybe in his heart that Medjugorje is, as some have said, "The hope of the world?"
No surprise the European Union is a vehicle for Godless socialism and the erasure of Europe’s religious heritage.
Thanks for posting this. Our parish priest recently went to medjugore. Before he went, he was not sold on the authenticity one way or another. But his respond when he returned was that something good was going on there. By their fruits ...
Good fruits come from God. Even at a place like Medjugorje with so called visions.
Which I think is fake.
Ditto.
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.