They are simply stating a fact. At the time of this address, he was a Cardinal, hence the title of the article. Since delivering this talk, he has been elected Pope.
Posted on 07/29/2005 9:54:14 AM PDT by NYer
ROME, Italy, July 28, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) – In the conclusion of Cardinal Ratzinger’s lecture, now Pope Benedict XVI, delivered on April 1st, the eve of John Paul II’s death, the then Cardinal strongly denounced the European Enlightenment culture and its increasing dogmatism against religion, Christianity and freedom.
The Cardinal expressed his belief that the reasons given by the architects of the EU Constitution for excluding God from the document—that the mention of God or recognition of the Christian roots of the continent might offend those of other religions—doesn’t hold up under scrutiny.
“The affirmation that the mention of the Christian roots of Europe injures the sentiments of many non-Christians who are in Europe, is not very convincing, given that it relates, first of all, to an historical fact that no one can seriously deny…It is not the mention of God that offends those who belong to other religions, but rather the attempt to build the human community absolutely without God,” said the Cardinal.
Instead, Ratzinger continued, it is obvious that the exclusion of religion from the public sphere is rather the result of the imposition of Enlightenment dogma, which dogma falsely professes the ideals of freedom and tolerance. Indeed, one of the inevitable consequences of what Ratzinger called the ‘Culture of Rights’, as divorced from its Judeo-Christian roots, is that “the concept of discrimination is ever more extended, and so the prohibition of discrimination can be increasingly transformed into a limitation of the freedom of opinion.”
“Very soon,” said the Cardinal in a chilling prophesy that is already coming to fulfillment in many Western nations, including Canada, “it will not be possible to state that homosexuality, as the Catholic Church teaches, is an objective disorder in the structuring of human existence.”
According to Ratzinger it is “obvious that the ill-defined or undefined concept of freedom, which is at the base of this culture, inevitably entails contradictions…A confused ideology of freedom leads to dogmatism, which is showing itself increasingly hostile to freedom.”
Ratzinger concluded by expressing his strong doubt that the Enlightenment culture will ever provide a common cause for men. “We have to ask ourselves,” says the Cardinal, “if it is really complete in itself, to the degree that it has no need of a root outside itself.” The implied answer, of course, is no, the Enlightenment culture without the firm foundation of Europe’s roots in Christianity can only devolve into a pseudo and dogmatic religion, ultimately restrictive of freedom.
I agree with everything you posted. As a prosecutor, I saw many "openly" homosexuals in Court. Take away their loathesome sexual practices and look at them psychologically, and there was always some sort of underlying personality disorder there.
I sincerely believe they are miserable because deep down inside, they KNOW that what they are doing is wrong. Their response is to project their misery out on everyone else. If they can't make everyone around them practice their perversions, they subconsciously believe that the best they can do is make everyone around them as miserable as they are.
The Pope hits the nail on the head!
I think it is perfectly "objective" to state that sexual organs in humans have a purpose -- procreation between male and female. That is their natural function.
Not a Catholic here, but I admire this old boy's spunk.
What concerns me is that if he continues with his hard line, he'll soon find himself on the wrong side of the War on Terror "global struggle against violent extremism".
They are simply stating a fact. At the time of this address, he was a Cardinal, hence the title of the article. Since delivering this talk, he has been elected Pope.
I was referring to the "everyday Joe." Butt out.
;)
It was in the early 1970's when the radical SSAD's violently disrupted the convention of the APA. The SSAD's demanded that homosexuality be removed from DSM, or they would be at the next year's convention and misbehave even worse. The APA caved.
I had been led to believe that Cardinal Ratzinger was rather liberal in Church matters. I have been pleasantly surprised.
The role of the Pope is to uphold the teachings of Jesus Christ, even if it means risking his life.
I am a Roman Catholic practicing my faith in a Maronite (Eastern) Catholic Church. After reading the Gospel, the priest elevates the Book of the Gospels and proclaims
He then blesses the congregation with the book and kisses the sacred scriptural passage just read. Truth is truth!
May God have mercy on us.
Where's the argument? Some is genetic, some is learned. There is such a thing as a natural golfer. Far many more learn it, like it, get in the habit, and get rather good at it. The real question is: what are the numbers?
However, make sure you check that opinion with "she who must be obeyed," before you mention it in public.
I think in many cases - judging from people I have known, at least - homosexuals come from dysfunctional situations that make it very hard for them to deal with persons of the opposite sex (who are a challenge!).
Once upon a time, they might simply have moved in with another man or woman and spent their lives as two slightly eccentric folks forming a household with no sexual implications, because in many cases, sex wasn't particularly important to them. Until a few decades ago, it was very common for batchelor brothers or unmarried sisters to live together, or for adult sisters and brothers to live together - obviously, with no sexual implications.
The problem is that we live in an age where EVERYTHING has to be sexual. Freud did that to us. And I think this is the root of our problems.
Thank you for the JPII quote.
Here's one I posted on my bulletin board:
"Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the 'Easter people' and hallelujah is our song."
Wishing is great, praying for it is even better.
Long live Pope Benedict!!!
You are both astute. Get yourself right with God and pray without ceasing. We are now being prepared by this Pontiff to Witness our Faith in ways we had never thought necessary.
Frank
Ah.. Once again, I didn't read carefully enough.
For goodness sake, a couple of days ago I asked a poster who wondered about leg cramps if this poster was pregnant.
Turns out this poster is a man. :)
I have kids home for summer vacation. That's my best excuse. :)
I remember deploying to places "less than friendly" to Americans while in the USAF. There was a strange, eerily threatening feeling in those times and places. I get that feeling now, only this time more intense, but I know it will follow the course God has set. The victory is already assured. Now it only remains to be seen how we make account of ourselves toward that final victory. Someone once said, (and I paraphrase here) "I do not concern myself with having God on my side, I am much more concerned that I am on His." As you said, pray without ceasing.
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.