Posted on 11/23/2004 3:04:36 PM PST by Right in Wisconsin
A leading contender to become the next Pope launched a fierce attack on the forces of secularism yesterday, arguing that they were fostering intolerance in Europe and forcing Christianity underground.
Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, 77, one of the Vatican's most powerful figures, issued a rallying cry to the faithful, saying that the liberal consensus had now evolved into a "worrying and aggressive" ideology.
Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger As a result, "Catholic and Christian religion" had been pushed out of the public debate and was being "driven into the margins".
The warning, in a long interview in La Repubblica, Italy's Left-leaning newspaper, comes as the Bavarian-born cardinal, who is the Pope's doctrinal chief, is being viewed as an important late entry for the papacy.
Coming shortly after MEPs refused to approve the Italian politician Rocco Buttiglione as European justice commissioner because of his strong Catholic views on gays and women, his statements may be seen by some as something of a manifesto.
The cardinal was speaking against a backdrop of rapidly declining priestly vocations in Europe which is worrying Church leaders.
Describing the development of a "secular ideological aggression" across the continent as "cause for concern," the cardinal said: "In Sweden, a Protestant minister who preached about homosexuality on the basis of an excerpt from the scriptures was put in jail for a month.
"Secularism is no longer that element of neutrality, which opens up space for freedom for all. It is beginning to change into an ideology which, through politics, is being imposed.
"It concedes no public space to the Catholic and Christian vision, which as a result runs the risk of turning into a purely private matter, so that deep down it is no longer the same.
"In this sense a struggle exists and so we must defend religious freedom against an ideology which is held up as if it were the only voice of rationality, when instead it is only an expression of a 'certain' rationialism."
In contemporary society, said the cardinal, who is the Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, God had been pushed "very much into the margins".
"In politics, it seems to be almost indecent to speak about God, almost as it were an attack on the freedom of someone who doesn't believe," he said.
The cardinal added: "A secularism which is just, is a freedom of religion. The state does not impose a religion, but rather provides free space to those religions with a responsibility to civil society."
The society in which we now lived was one where there was a great deal of transformation.
"Negative birth rates and immigration are changing Europe's ethnic make-up. Above all we've gone from being a Christian culture to one of aggressive secularism which at times is intolerant."
He said that even though "churches were emptying" and people were "no longer able to believe," Christian faith was "not dead".
He said he remained convinced of hope's inner strength, even if the future of the Church lay more in "other continents" than Europe.
Cardinal Ratzinger, once viewed as the likely papal "kingmaker", is now believed to stand a good chance himself precisely because of his advanced years.
Vatican watchers maintain that long-serving popes tend to be succeeded by short-lived "interim" papacies.
Despite his arch-conservative popular image, the cardinal often reveals a frankness and readiness to discuss even the most delicate subjects. .
He admitted that the gulf between the Church and its faithful over sexuality was a matter for "further reflection".
He said that the Pill had "separated sexuality from fertility and so has deeply changed the concept of life itself.
"The sexual act has lost its meaning and purpose. . . to the point that all kinds of sexuality have become the equivalents of each other. The main consequence is the placing of homosexuality and heterosexuality on equal terms."
I thought Arinze had the inside track to become the next pope.
I'm no Vatican expert, but it seems to me that Ratzinger is the best hope we Catholics have of undoing the damage of the last 40 years.
The bias of the MSM is patent in the way they characterize the statements.
In another publication he was 'lashing out' and here he is launching 'a fierce attack'.
When you actually read the man's words, it is a rather deliberate statement of fact. Not the histrionic melodrama the writers seem to desire.
I didn't really read the article, but what struck me is that it claims that a 77-year-old man is considered a front-runner to be Pope. He may be perfect in every other way for the job, but I can't see him really being in the running at that age. No disrespect to him or others in their late 70's, but the clock isn't on his side for staying around long enough to do anything of real substance.
I am not Catholic, but I am devout and love the Church. Yet, when I consider what has been said by Malachi Martin (a Jesuit), I know that there is another force that would love to gain control the Church.
I have always wondered if Ratzinger is a believer or just a man in a job or worse.
I certainly do not mean to judge, but he makes me nervous.
I think this will be a very interesting dynamic to watch in Europe over the next decade or so. The EU has chosen to deny the reference to Europe's Christian roots in its constitution but I think the intellectual engagement has at last been joined after decades of denial. It may be that the challenge from Islam will force a re-examination of aggressive secularism as both a political and cultural force. I hope so.
Good work...as usual...
"The bias of the MSM is patent in the way they characterize the statements.
In another publication he was 'lashing out' and here he is launching 'a fierce attack'.
When you actually read the man's words, it is a rather deliberate statement of fact. Not the histrionic melodrama the writers seem to desire."
Ya' know? It would be interesting to see if there is even ONE instance of the MSM describing an Imams words this way.
Any Imam.
Anywhere.
Sending prayers for us all, and for Christianity to prevail throughout all its trials.
I think that insight is brilliant.
By denying their common Christian heritage, they are living a lie. It can't last. Something must change.
The socialist "progressives" want to make God illegal. They have already taken it to a point in Europe where professing faith is considered a hate crime.
Here in the US, I actually heard someone (a leftie) say the other day that people who go to church should not be allowed to vote.
Jesus warned us that the day would come where people would revile those who believe in him. I guess we are being blessed in our times.
I doubt Cardinal Ratzinger would be elected, but we can hope!
There are some great T-shirts, caps and mugs on sale on the Ratzinger fan club site. Thanks!
This is a powerfully stated characterization.
I thought it was clear, concise, to the point.
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