Pope Laments 'Dying' Churches in West

VATICAN CITY â€” Pope Benedict XVI lamented the seemingly "dying" church in Europe and the United States and raised questions about the soaring number of priests in Asia and Africa in a lengthy, off-the-cuff speech to Italian priests.

Benedict also expressed sadness at the plight of divorced Roman Catholics who remarry without getting an annulment, reaffirming that they cannot receive Communion but stressing they should feel they still belong to the church.

The pope made the remarks to priests from the northern Valle d'Aosta region in a two-hour closed meeting Monday in Introd, near where he has been vacationing. The Vatican newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano, published a transcript of the remarks Wednesday.

The pope began his remarks, which touched on Marx, the upheavals in Europe of 1968 and other topics, by stressing that a pope isn't an "oracle" and "is infallible only in rare situations." Benedict previously has stressed that he intends to listen to others and not do only his will as pope.

He then delved into the issues raised by the Aosta bishop on the concerns of priests, noting that he was recently visited by bishops from Africa and Sri Lanka, where the number of priests is skyrocketing. In Europe and elsewhere, the number of priests has fallen sharply.

Benedict he said the "joy" at the growing numbers of churchmen in the developing world is accompanied by "a certain bitterness" because some would-be priests were only looking for a better life.

"Becoming a priest, they become almost like a head of a tribe, they are naturally privileged and have another type of life," he said. "So the wheat and the chaff go together in this beautiful growth of vocations.

"Bishops have to be very attentive to discern (among the candidates) and not just be happy to have many future priests, but to see which ones really are the true vocations â€” discern between the wheat and the chaff," he said.

Benedict also touched on another his favorite themes: the state of the church in Europe. He said in contrast to the developing world, where there is a "springtime of faith," the West was "a world that is tired of its own culture, a world that has arrived at a time in which there's no more evidence of the need for God, much less Christ, and in which it seems that man alone can make himself.

"This is certainly a suffering linked, I'd say, to our time, in which generally one sees that the great churches appear to be dying," he said, mentioning Australia, Europe and the United States.

Benedict also responded to a question about giving the Eucharist to divorcees who remarry without getting a church annulment. The church says divorcees who remarry civally cannot receive Communion, arguing they are in a state that "contrasts with God's law."

The pope reaffirmed the teaching, although he acknowledged the suffering it has caused and said further study is needed. He mentioned in particular the case of when someone gets married in a church without being a true believer, is divorced, remarries and discovers his or her faith, but isn't allowed to receive Communion.

In reaffirming the policy, he said the church had to respect "the good of the community and the good of the sacrament" as well as help those who are suffering. He said priests should teach that suffering is necessary "and this is a noble form of suffering."

Some Italian media reports have suggested the pope was reconsidering the ban, and that the issue would come up at a bishops' meeting in October dedicated to the Eucharist. The question has long been a concern for Benedict; in the 1990s, bishops from his native Germany asked for flexibility on the matter.

The 78-year-old Benedict marked his 100th full day as pope Thursday, a papacy already far longer than the 33-day term of John Paul I. Benedict's immediate predecessor, John Paul II, was pope for more than 26 years.

I have a sincere belief that the lines will be drawn after the October Synod and what happens as a direct result of the inspiration of the Holy Spirit through Pope Benedict XVI in speaking to the heart of the concerns in the Roman Catholic Church. I perceive a spiritual renewal and reawakening among the Bishops, Archbishops and Cardinals. Those liberal Priests and Bishops who aren't as serious about the Tenets of The Faith or who are not faithful to the Magisterium will slowly (and some quite quickly) look like the "odd man out" among the Catholic faithful. Those "progressive Catholics" will be encouraged to make a decision. Either they're for The Church and it's time to enter the Confessional or they can find another denomenation which appeals to their liberal ideas.

I also believe that "young" Roman Catholics will begin to teach their elders what it means to be a Roman Catholic by their actions and involvement in The Church. Those teens to forties who have been awaiting an opportunity to serve Christ and The Church will follow this Pope because he is speaking to their heart of hearts. God said in Scripture that he has placed His laws within our hearts. Baruch 3:7 Because for this end thou hast put thy fear in our hearts, to the intent that we should call upon thy name, and praise thee in our captivity, for we are converted from the iniquity of our fathers, who sinned before thee. Romans 2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God. 12 For whosoever have sinned without the law, shall perish without the law; and whosoever have sinned in the law, shall be judged by the law. 13 For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. 14 For when the Gentiles, who have not the law, do by nature those things that are of the law; these having not the law are a law to themselves: 15 Who shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness to them, and their thoughts between themselves accusing, or also defending one another,

This next section speaks to the situation in The Church (and world) today: 21 Thou therefore that teachest another, teachest not thyself: thou that preachest that men should not steal, stealest: 22 Thou that sayest, men should not commit adultery, committest adultery: thou that abhorrest idols, committest sacrilege: 23 Thou that makest thy boast of the law, by transgression of the law dishonourest God. 24 (For the name of God through you is blasphemed among the Gentiles, as it is written.)

I believe that Pope Benedict will round up the known suspects and have someone (if not himself) sit down with them and remind them of Whom they represent. And it's not themselves. I think that Pope Benedict clearly sees that in the West and especially in the US (and perhaps other Countries) the Priesthood has taken on the taint of politics. Priests and Bishops must be beyond (not above) politics. They are Christ's representatives on earth. If I read my Scripture correctly, Jesus didn't come into the world to bring peace, but a sword. (Matt 10:34) And St. Paul said in Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and effectual, and more piercing than any two edged sword; and reaching unto the division of the soul and the spirit, of the joints also and the marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

It is my belief that Pope Benedict XVI will be holding that two edged sword when he opens the October Synod.

It is my belief that Pope Benedict XVI will be holding that two edged sword when he opens the October Synod.

I believe you are right. It shoudl be interesting to see just who is chosen to represent the US at the synod.

Those liberal Priests and Bishops who aren't as serious about the Tenets of The Faith or who are not faithful to the Magisterium will slowly (and some quite quickly) look like the "odd man out" among the Catholic faithful.

Here too, I believe you are correct. However (don't you hate that word), my concern is for those dioceses, such as mine, where the ultra liberal bishop has been in power for 27+ years and his 'approved' catechesis is all that has been taught for nearly 3 decades. It is so pervasive as to be 'accepted' as valid and true. Our bishop was appointed by Archbishop Jean Jadot with a specific agenda in mind. He still has another 8 years to serve before mandatory retirement. Already, it is obvious that it will take generations to undo the damage. Imagine the situation, 8 years from now. These catholics do not see the bigger picture; they are locked into their small liberal world. Please pray for them!

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