Posted on 01/13/2013 5:20:29 PM PST by ReformationFan
Far from protecting hard-fought freedoms, modern human rights culture is being used to suppress liberty of conscience and restrain Christianity, he said.
In one of his biggest addresses of the year, Benedict XVI said a false concept of human rights had gripped the western world.
As a result, he said, religion is being marginalised and symbols of faith, such as the cross, are being treated with growing hostility.
He also singled out how, he said, some charities and schools are limiting the freedom of Christians to practise or express their faith and spoke of the need for “conscientious objectors” who would defend faith and traditional morality.
The comments came in the Pope’s annual New Year address to ambassadors from 179 States as well as bodies such as the European Union represented at the Vatican.
It follows a Christmas address in which he singled out plans for gay marriage in several countries including the UK for criticism.
In a wide ranging address, he cited a string of conflicts around the world and spoke about the causes of the global financial crisis.
He said that world peace depended on an authentic interpretation of what human rights actually means.
“Peace in society is also put at risk by certain threats to religious liberty,” he said.
“It is a question sometimes of the marginalisation of religion in social life; sometimes of intolerance or even of violence towards individuals, symbols of religious identity and religious institutions.
“It even happens that believers, and Christians in particular, are prevented from contributing to the common good by their educational and charitable institutions.
“In order effectively to safeguard the exercise of religious liberty it is essential to respect the right of conscientious objection.”
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
That quote is why narcissistic liberals all over the world detest Pope Benedict. They believe they have every right to live as they please, because they, themselves, are the only thing that matters
True. Although it’s not just that they have every right to live as they please. In the liberals’ minds, they have the “right” to persecute and punish anyone who doesn’t agree with them 100%.
‘It comes from Catholic Theology, true, but this fundamental Christian idea is also embedded in the US Constitution—that our Natural Rights come from God.
‘All “Rights” that don’t originate with God — (Natural Law Theory) are not
rights understood by our Constitution. IOW, there is no “right” to kill another human being (abortion) nor is their a “right” to sodomize another person). Both are unnatural and an assault on Virtue—that which is necessary for Justice.
‘The US government is required to promote Justice-—as it’s chief meaning for existence. Without Justice, it is unconstitutional and We the People have a “Right” to dissolve it.
‘Much of the new pseudo “Rights” come from Marxist ideology (Feminism/Homosexualism/progressivism)-—radical egalitarianism which dehumanizes man—removes the male and female nature from human beings. Marxism/Socialism removes Natural Laws and reinserts irrational “rights” so they can remove Natural Rights from God, which promoting homosexual rights does for babies when they deny children’s their biological parent or when they deny children “life”.
‘This removal of Truth—about Human Nature (Marxism is the Big Lie)-—results in irrational “thinking” (all assumptions are based on Lies) which claim “Rights” for behaviors that deny Virtue which is the fundamental reason for any government-—to promote Justice—that Queen of Virtues (Anselm).’
Great post. Thank you for contributing it.
WOW! Thanks for posting this. I have never heard this and am shocked to know this was written in America before 1876. They have surely accomplished their evil goals. This bears repeating. Please see loveliberty2’s complete post #9.
>>>”Back in 1876, a Black Minister and Ohio State Legislator, Rev. Benjamin W. Arnett, delivered the “Centennial Thanksgiving Sermon,” celebrating the Declaration of Independence, at St. Paul A.M.E. Church in Urbana, Ohio. The Sermon can be read online at the American Memory Section of the LOC, in the African-American Collection. Below is a small excerpt from that Sermon’s conclusion. In it Rev. Arnett warned about a movement among “liberals” to remove the ideas underlying America’s founding documents. See if you don’t recognize those ideas from what you have observed in recent years:
“The Danger to our Country.
“Now that our national glory and grandeur is principally derived from the position the fathers took on the great questions of right and wrong, and the career of this nation has been unparalleled in the history of the past, now there are those who are demanding the tearing down the strength of our national fabric. They may not intend to tear it down, but just as sure as they have their way, just that sure will they undermine our superstructure and cause the greatest calamity of the age. What are the demands of this party of men? Just look at it and examine it for yourselves, and see if you are willing that they shall have their way; or will you still assist in keeping the ship of state in the hands of the same crew and run her by the old gospel chart! But ye men who think there is no danger listen to the demands of the Liberals as they choose to call themselves:
“’Organize! Liberals of America! The hour for action has arrived. The cause of freedom calls upon us to combine our strength, our zeal, our efforts. These are The Demands of Liberalism:
“’1. We demand that churches and other ecclesiastical property shall no longer be exempt from just taxation.
“’2. We demand that the employment of chaplains in Congress, in State Legislatures, in the navy and militia, and in prisons, asylums, and all other institutions supported by public money, shall be discontinued.
“’3. We demand that all public appropriations for sectarian educational and charitable institutions shall cease.
“’4. We demand that all religious services now sustained by the government shall be abolished; and especially that the use of the Bible in the public schools, whether ostensibly as a text-book or avowedly as a book of religious worship, shall be prohibited.
“’5. We demand that the appointment, by the President of the United States or by the Governors of the various States, of all religious festivals and fasts shall wholly cease.
“’6. We demand that the judicial oath in the courts and in all other departments of the government shall be abolished, and that simple affirmation under the pains and penalties of perjury shall be established in its stead.
“’7. We demand that all laws directly or indirectly enforcing the observance of Sunday as the Sabbath shall be repealed.
“’8. We demand that all laws looking to the enforcement of “Christian” morality shall be abrogated, and that all laws shall be conformed to the requirements of natural morality, equal rights, and impartial liberty.
“’9. We demand that not only in the Constitution of the United States and of the several States, but also in the practical administration of the same, no privilege or advantage shall be conceded to Christianity or any other special religion; that our entire political system shall be founded and administered on a purely secular basis; and that whatever changes shall prove necessary to this end shall be consistently, unflinchingly, and promptly made.’
“’Let us boldly and with high purpose meet the duty of the hour.’<<<
Your welcome.
I have spent years studying philosophy-—particularly Natural Law Theory. Didn’t realize it is the basis of Common Sense and Logic, but it is. It is amazing-—and Catholic Theology, because of St. Thomas Aquinas immersing Theology in Natural law in the 13th Century, is also amazing. Too bad Vatican II threw out Thomistic Theology-—they need to return to pre-Vatican II before the “social justice” Marxists infiltrated and took over the priesthood. Some lucidity leaks out of Vatican on occasion-—but it is too rare and a little late.
Can’t wait until Logic returns AND IT WILL. The Postmodernists-—as Ayn Rand stated in the 60’s, are totally irrational. When you listen to Marxists/Progressives/Hegelians—you feel like you are in Wonderland. There is no is there. Everything in their world is a twisted fairy-tale and Reason can’t be found.
“Can’t wait until Logic returns AND IT WILL. The Postmodernists-—as Ayn Rand stated in the 60’s, are totally irrational. When you listen to Marxists/Progressives/Hegelians—you feel like you are in Wonderland. There is no is there. Everything in their world is a twisted fairy-tale and Reason can’t be found.”
I hope it retuns soon. It’s long overdue. I don’t know how much more of this mad hatter unbirthday type “reasoning” I can take.
Soak yourself in the Classics and reason will return. I removed TV/cable years ago and things got SO much better rapidly-—it is amazing!!!!!
Study Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics-—he is great! (Father of Logic).
Now—if some of my *friends* could eliminate their agitprop box so they can actually *think* and reflect on occasion!!! All that “white noise” which doesn’t allow coherent thoughts——like Bradbury wrote about in an interview about F. 451:
http://blogs.laweekly.com/informer/2012/06/ray_bradbury_fahrenheit_451.php
Right on, Your Holiness.
The building of peace always comes about by the protection of human beings and their fundamental rights. This task, even if carried out in many ways and with varying degrees of intensity, challenges all countries and must constantly be inspired by the transcendent dignity of the human person and the principles inscribed in human nature. Foremost among these is respect for human life at every stage. In this regard, I was gratified that a resolution of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, in January of last year, called for the prohibition of euthanasia, understood as the intentional killing by act or omission of a dependent human being .At the same time, I must note with dismay that, in various countries, even those of Christian tradition, efforts are being made to introduce or expand legislation which decriminalizes abortion. Direct abortion, that is to say willed as an end or as a means, is gravely contrary to the moral law. In affirming this, the Catholic Church is not lacking in understanding and mercy, also towards the mother involved. Rather, it is a question of being vigilant lest the law unjustly alter the balance between the right to life of the mother and that of the unborn child, a right belonging equally to both. In this area, the recent decision of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights regarding in vitro fertilization, which arbitrarily redefines the moment of conception and weakens the defence of unborn life, is also a source of concern.
Sadly, especially in the West, one frequently encounters ambiguities about the meaning of human rights and their corresponding duties. Rights are often confused with exaggerated manifestations of the autonomy of the individual, who becomes self-referential, no longer open to encounter with God and with others, and absorbed only in seeking to satisfy his or her own needs. To be authentic, the defence of rights must instead consider human beings integrally, in their personal and communitarian dimensions.
[...]
Continuing our meeting today, I would like to add that peace in society is also put at risk by certain threats to religious liberty: it is a question sometimes of the marginalization of religion in social life; sometimes of intolerance or even of violence towards individuals, symbols of religious identity and religious institutions. It even happens that believers, and Christians in particular, are prevented from contributing to the common good by their educational and charitable institutions. In order effectively to safeguard the exercise of religious liberty it is essential to respect the right of conscientious objection. This "frontier" of liberty touches upon principles of great importance of an ethical and religious character, rooted in the very dignity of the human person. They are, as it were, the "bearing walls" of any society that wishes to be truly free and democratic. Thus, outlawing individual and institutional conscientious objection in the name of liberty and pluralism paradoxically opens by contrast the door to intolerance and forced uniformity.
What an absolutely wonderful quote from Martin Luther! I’m going to keep my hands on it and share it whenever possible. It helps me love him more.
I really only know two Obama-voters in our parish (there are probably more, but these are the two who incriminate themselves with bumper stickers.) One of them is a classic low-information voter. Has her good points, by the way, but can’t get past race.
But you knew that.
I love the Church because she loves Him, and not because she loves me, and at her best she is sober and and obedient to His desires for fitting worship and loving works. Those two things are great mystical events, and not rote, nor Pharasee like, but a great movement of the heart carried out. Our Saviour made many promises to her, as a bridegroom would, and as the mystical body of Him, she responds to His commands as a bride would, in a very personal relationship with Him, quite willing to love and obey. He laid down His life for her and that makes it personal.
A lovely quote of course, but applying that to, say, illegal entry makes international law breakers look like Mary and Joseph.
In fact, that socialist Bishop in California ( McC......, or something) said as much. That is where I got the comparison.
I am sorry you saw such a bumper sticker. It is a scandal. These people are blind and disobedient, but I have little doubt they line right up for receiving communion, and leave their disobedience outside the door of the confessional, or else that sticker would be jerked off and burned. Can you imagine that the priest would apply no heat to these people but from the broad terms used at the Amble if he knew?
You know what you have to do now, don’t you? You ask this parishner if that car is borrowed. Take another with you to inquire why the name of the enemy to the Church and the First Ammendment would appear on Catholic’s car?
Here is a link through which, by clicking on Arnett's name, you may access and read a full text version. As you can see, this alphabetical listing is only one section of the alphabet. There are other works in that Collection which could serve to correct some of the "progressive" movement's claims also.
Arnett, in his Sermon, provides his own documentation of the Christian foundations of the Republic, as gleaned from the writings, documents, State Constitutions, and various other means available to him, or within his own memory.
Someone on another thread this week provided the same listing of "demands" of "liberals," except the source was Disraeli, not Arnett.
Why have just one when you can have both ?
Yeah, well that's the ultimate manifestation of their narcissism.
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