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.
BRAVO!
So now what is he prepared to DO?
The Church is riddled with 'objectively disorderd' clergy. Time to clean house.
My one problem with Pope John Paul II was that he didn't clean homosexuals out of the Church. To see evil and do nothing is a sin. He could have done it- he could have cleansed the church. We'll never know why he didn't.
Here's Pope Benedict's chance.
Homosexual Agenda Ping.
Trying to get caught up in my pinging.
I humbly admit I didn't read this article yet and can't right at the moment. Looks good - and I will get to it later.
Freepmail me if you want on/off this pinglist.
During their occupation of Poland, the communists resorted to a clever device to undermine prelates - they would accuse them of being homosexuals. JPII, as you recall, is Polish and lived through the horrors of WWII. From what I understand, when told that certain priests had been accused of pederasty, he reflected on his experience from the war years.
It is wrong to hold one man accountable for the actions of certain priests who comprise a very small percentage of the Catholic Church. The Church is comprised of men and ALL men are sinners to one degree or another. It is a sad and unfortunate fact that some of the most deviant sinners made their way into the priesthood. Ironically, there are as many 'sinners' in the churches of other denominations but the media has singled out the Catholic Church. This is yet more evidence of the fact that Christ watches over His church. While we clean up our act, other christian denominations are now ordaining openly gay men as bishops and endorsing homosexual unions. The Catholic Church, meanwhile, stands firm on her commitments, while cleaning house.
Well if someone IS attracted to someone of the same sex, then there is an underlying disorder, whether or not they act on it. They need help, to find out why.
"I'm not sure about that last part. Don't religious scholars disagree on what God's law is?"
God's law is the objective standard, even if people misunderstand it in various ways.
An objective standard doesn't become subjective just because somebody doesn't like it.
“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.
That's absolutely right. Under the disguise of equal rights and in this case, civil rights, gay marriage is the law of the land in Canada. They were successful equaling: gay marriage with racial discrimination, which is utterly absurd since we know that homosexuality is a lifestyle choice not determine by birth as is race or color.
Furthermore, homosexuals enjoy the same rights and benefits we all have. They can also get married and enjoy the state's blessings provided they get married to someone of the opposite sex.
The truth of the matter is that gay marriage is NOT a right, but the erosion of a society's right to preserve the institution of marriage, which by definition, is a union between a man and a woman thus, a gay couple CAN'T demand such right. Nevertheless, attempts to publicly express this kind of opinion is promptly censure and branded as a hate speech by the same group that demands tolerance to publicly flaunt their homosexuality.
Since homosexuals can legally get married, they can also adopt children. The question is... who protects the rights of the majority? Not only our freedom of expression, but also the rights and privileges of children to grow up free from homosexual indoctrination and with 2 parents – a mother and and a father - not 2 dads or 2 moms?
Gay marriage isn't about rights, but a deliberate attempt to undermine one of society's most cherish institutions – marriage - which is not intrinsic to the homosexual lifestyle.
Outstanding post, Victoria. This was one of the most remarkable articles I've seen in a long time. I think Pope Benedict really hits the nail right on the head.
God bless him.
What?
bttt
Benedict is much more philisophical than was John Paul, who spoke it general terms about these matters. Benedict is a real policy wonk, but also has a firm grasp of conservative thought. I think of Pope Benedict as the Antonin Scalia of popes. He is great so far. My only concern is that he doesn't go down the road of P.C. via-a-vis Muslims as John Paul unfortunately did. The Christian world needs a pope who will take the Islamofascists head-on, and demand accountability for the mass-murder of Christians in Africa and Asia.
Remember the prophecies of St. Malachy O'Moore? Statements of impending doom take on a different light if you look at those...
This site:http://www.catholic-pages.com/grabbag/malachy.asp has an interesting little blurb on it.
Not saying I subscribe to that or not, but if BXVI's successor takes the name Peter, I'll re-evaluate thoroughly.
I just love it when spell check wants me to change his name to "Rat zinger" because he really does!
Maybe you have strong arguments over the origins of homosexuality because there is no one answer, there are components of both, genetics and environment.
I have seen very strong evidence of a hereditary component to homosexuality, but I believe that the predilection can be over come, or at least abstained from. On the other hand, I don't advocate for gay men to get married to a woman without warning her of his prediletion toward homosexuality. I have known too many men who carry on a double life, putting their families at risk.
Don't subscribe to this Malachy stuff, personally. I do follow the work of Michael O'Brien in Canada, though, and he seems to be more "spot on" to me.
Frank
I don't know how you were led to believe this. Personally I was hoping for a tough no nonsense Pope. So Ratzinger was my first choice. When I heard of his elevation I was thrilled. He has been called 'God's Rotweiller', the 'Grand Inquisitor of Rome' and other endearing titles.
Granted, that since many people don't follow Vatican affairs that closely they wouldn't know much about him. Below is a paste from a Catholic WEB site.
----snip----
From 1981 - 2005, Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger was appointed head of the Catholic Church's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, whose mission is to "to promote and safeguard the doctrine on the faith and morals throughout the Catholic world" (John Paul II).
I think the 30 bucks I lost on Tradesports was well worth it.
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.