Posted on 05/24/2006 6:47:17 AM PDT by NYer
Some Canadians' noses are out of joint after Pope Benedict had the audacity to criticize our nation in front of the world.
The pontiff's beef?
Our low birthrate, which Benedict attributes to the absence of religion in our lives.
His words have been met so far with little more than a chorus of grumbles and cries to "mind your own business."
The Pope blames our woes on our "secular" status, which simply means Canada's population is turning away from organized religion.
How far? Just look at the reaction to Prime Minister Stephen Harper closing a speech with the words: "God bless Canada."
It's hard to believe that could offend anyone. After all, he's not beseeching any particular religion's god to bestow good fortune upon our country.
But, judging from the negative reaction these days to the words God, religion and church, you'd think he was uttering an obscenity.
According to Statistics Canada, the number of Canadians who practise no religion sat at about 19% in 2004, compared to 12% in 1985.
Fair enough. We live in a free country, where no one is forced to believe anything they don't wish to believe. No one could argue against that.
The drawback is that organized religion once provided a foundation for our moral standards and a model for good behaviour. As its impact on our society wanes, it is replaced by an ambiguous set of rules.
Personal gratification moves toward the top of the list. The '60s slogan "if it feels good, do it," has become the mantra for an entire society.
Many politicians, even if they hold deep religious convictions themselves, are reluctant to place themselves in the line of fire by suggesting a nation's success runs far deeper than the employment rate or income levels.
Fortunately, Pope Benedict is bound by no such constraints.
In fact, stirring things up is part of his job description.
That's what he was doing when he urged Canada's Roman Catholic bishops to preach "with passion."
Like the man he claims as his Saviour, Benedict is obviously on a mission.
He recently suggested a lack of true love was behind an increase in failed marriages and a decrease in birthrates across the developed world.
It's a message our politically correct society might not want to hear, but it is one that bears closer scrutiny.
At first glance, our diminishing birthrate appears just another manifestation of modern life, which offers us choices and benefits unknown to previous generations.
The trouble is, if our birthrate continues to diminish, or even remains steady at close to record low levels, it will begin to threaten our nation's survival.
Even immigration isn't filling the void -- despite the fact we welcome more newcomers than just about any nation.
The foundation of our society will crumble around us without enough fresh blood to replenish our population.
It's interesting so much debate is devoted to the potential impact of global warming, while this more fundamental threat goes virtually ignored.
The mainstream argument runs that everyone is free -- there's that word again -- to make their own choices about parenthood.
The larger question is why our society as a whole has come to place so little value on children when they mean so much to the continuation of our nation's viability.
It's not simply a matter of making it easier for parents to afford the cost of raising children -- even though that would be a good start.
Benedict and other religious leaders can only try to change our society's attitude that places a higher value on luxury cars, estate homes and sun destination vacations than on a noisy house full of energetic, laughing children.
If they don't succeed, the eventual economic repercussions may do the job for them.
New figures by Statistics Canada project there'll be more seniors over age 65 than children under 15 by 2015. By 2031, the number of seniors could be double the number of children.
When that happens, who'll take up the jobs needed to keep our economy going to support this mob of oldsters?
Where will the health-care providers come from needed to keep these masses of seniors healthy and happy?
Sadly, perhaps that's what it will take for our self-centred, cynical society to finally heed the true significance of Benedict's warning.
Yeah.. I can imagine.
Which I think is the case with a LOT of secularized, God-scorning, non-Catholic "Catholics" in, f'rinstance, Quebec.
If they are like their cousins in France - they are getting secular.
What's the birthrate in Vatican City? I'd bet it's below Italy's. Seems like the pot is calling the kettle black.
Look, you have the equivalent of an Equal Rights ammendment in Canada. Women ARE hard cases in Canada , IF they have gone to college or graduated from college. If you want a nice Canadian Lady, fetch one that has only high school under her belt, and you will be pleasantly surprised. Also the ladies who are from the rural areas of Canada are also real women.
Also . surprisingly, the ladies from rural Quebec tend not to be femino-nazis.
Now if you lads want me up there to give you some help spreading seed , just let this happy farmer know . ( LOL)
( Canadian Living in Vermont)
I know its hard work for you guys to sort the femino-nazis out from the good Canadian Women, but when has hard work delayed a horny hoser for even one second?
I agree, but some are called to it "for the kingdom of heaven," as Jesus said.
Since the Pope was discussing the trend in birth rates, I can guarantee the Vatican's has been steady, while Italy's has been declining. So at least they're holding up their end of the bargain...
Although your whole post is nothing but a silly Non sequitur .
No need to guess. Just look at the stats.
Paul VI was correct in reaffirming the Church's constant opposition to artificial means of birth control, and his predictions regarding the fate of society were truly prophetic. But even he didn't forsee the population implosion.
Oddly enough, he's never had cancer of any sort. Furthermore, his father died of a heart attack, and his mother died of old age.
Funny how it works that way.
I would respectfully remind you that the Pope's 'backyard', as you put it, is the whole world. Last time I checked, that included Canada.
Similar situation in my family. My generation: I am a single adoptive parent; my brother and 2 cousins never reproduced. Last year, the last member of one branch of the family died. My brother expressed an interest in collecting her family memorabilia. I couldn't understand why; he has produced no progeny. He is the end of his family line as well.
It always warms my heart to see large families who continue to grow and multiply. They are a beautiful reminder of God's promise to Abraham.
Not really. It's not all about birthrate alone: if that were the case, I suppose we'd all be required to have regular sex starting at puberty, after being dosed with chemicals to get multiple ovulation. Triplets for teenagers! Not the Catholic program.
What it IS all about, is generous love: and specifically, the good use of sex appropriate to one's state in life.
For celibates, that would mean generously foregoing sexual intercourse for the sake of the Kingdom (as Jesus said.)
For marrieds, that would mean loving your spouse and generously welcoming the babies when they come.
That would result in a zero birthrate at Vatican City, and a Church composed of robust and happy families. Now there's a comsummation devoutly to be desired.
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