Posted on 10/02/2005 2:09:41 PM PDT by NYer
In a message to over 250 Catholic bishops at the Vatican today, Pope Benedict XVI said it was hypocritical to exclude God and religion from public life.
"A tolerance which allows God as a private opinion but which excludes him from public life, from the reality of the world and our lives, is not tolerance but hypocrisy," the pope said in the homily he gave at a three-week-long synod's opening mass in St Peter's Basilica. "When man makes himself the only master of the world and master of himself, justice cannot exist. Then, arbitrariness, power and interests rule."
Today marked the beginning of the pope's first synod since his April 19 election, Agence France-Presse reported. The conference will focus on theological issues linked to Holy Communion, as well as abortion and divorce.
People who ignore God pose a threat to "the Church in Europe, Europe itself and the West," the pontiff said.
Bishops will debate how to address falling church attendance in Europe, the U.S. and Oceania, where the number of faithful attending Sunday mass has dropped well below that of Africa and Asia.
The synod was expected to deal with various issues surrounding abortion, including how to address Catholic politicians who support the practice, especially when those politicians seek to take Communion.
The news service quoted a working Vatican document that said Catholics who "publicly supported immoral choices such as abortion" were committing mortal sins.
The document also condemned those backing politicians who "openly supported abortion or other terrible crimes against human life, justice or peace" or who succumbed to "temptation or corruption," saying all were acting against the church's teachings.
"Some receive communion while denying the teachings of the Church or publicly supporting immoral choices in life, such as abortion, without thinking that they are committing an act of grave personal dishonesty and causing scandal," the document said.
The event got under way without four bishops from China who were prevented from traveling to the Vatican by Beijing's Communist government. According to AFP, three of the bishops were part of China's state-approved church and one was from the underground Catholic church.
Pope Benedict XVI arrives to lead a solemn mass in Saint Peter's Basilica at the Vatican for the opening of the synod of the bishops October 2, 2005. Pope Benedict opening the first major Church meeting since his election, said on Sunday that trying to keep God out of public life was 'not tolerance but hypocrisy.' REUTERS/Vincenzo Pinto/Pool
Bears repeating!
Pope Benedict XVI distributes the Holy Eucharist to an unidentified religious nun.
Catholic Ping
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I love the picture of Pope Benedict administering the Blessed Sacrament to the nun in traditional habit.
I'm not Catholic, but I'm liking this Pope.
"A tolerance which allows God as a private opinion but which excludes him from public life, from the reality of the world and our lives, is not tolerance but hypocrisy."Yes. And not only hypocrisy but also untruth, and The Left is utterly infected with it.
"When man makes himself the only master of the world and master of himself, justice cannot exist."...and he is headed for a fall.
"People who ignore God pose a threat to 'the Church in Europe, Europe itself and the West.'"This could not be more clear.
Perhaps Benedict is the force the world needs, now as never before, to overcome the forces of darkness, evil, and decadence.
...and this from a non-Catholic.
It's truly awesome! Here's another that speaks volumes.
Pope Benedict XVI blesses himself as he opens a three week long Synod of 250 Bishops.
The Protestant Reformation was inevitable, but it's past time for world Christianity to unite.
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE our Pope.
'That-is-one-tough-Pope' ping.
I'm no Catholic, tho brought up as one....but this sounds like the Congress, Senate and the Judicial to me.
JMO
FMCDH(BITS)
What would one expect the Pope to say? Should anyone be shocked that he didn't say God and morality are subjective individual decisions?
He is truly the right man for our times. Following the death of JPII and on the morning when the Conclave to elect his successor was to begin, (then Cardinal) Ratzinger, in his position as Dean of the College of Cardinals, said the «PRO ELIGENDO ROMANO PONTIFICE» Mass. It was telecast live at 3am via cable on EWTN. I just happened to wake up and turn the TV on as he moved into his homily. These words caught my attention and that of the whole world.
"How many winds of doctrine have we known in recent decades, how many ideological currents, how many ways of thinking. The small boat of the thought of many Christians has often been tossed about by these waves - flung from one extreme to another: from Marxism to liberalism, even to libertinism; from collectivism to radical individualism; from atheism to a vague religious mysticism; from agnosticism to syncretism and so forth. Every day new sects spring up, and what St Paul says about human deception and the trickery that strives to entice people into error (cf. Eph 4: 14) comes true.
Today, having a clear faith based on the Creed of the Church is often labeled as fundamentalism. Whereas relativism, that is, letting oneself be "tossed here and there, carried about by every wind of doctrine", seems the only attitude that can cope with modern times. We are building a dictatorship of relativism that does not recognize anything as definitive and whose ultimate goal consists solely of one's own ego and desires.
We, however, have a different goal: the Son of God, the true man. He is the measure of true humanism. An "adult" faith is not a faith that follows the trends of fashion and the latest novelty; a mature adult faith is deeply rooted in friendship with Christ. It is this friendship that opens us up to all that is good and gives us a criterion by which to distinguish the true from the false, and deceipt from truth......: (you can read the entire homily at the above link).
There is no doubt that this man has his pulse on the secularist workings of society and reminds christians to hold fast to the truth of Holy Scripture.
That's fantastic. Of course everything else he said is wonderful too, but that's the one I didn't expect, yet is VERY important.
Please take a moment to read post #14 to The Ghost of FReepers Past. Great insight into this pope.
Ratzinger is a theologian; he has seen and lived it all. This year, with JPII so ill, (then) Cardinal Ratzinger was asked to lead the faithful through the Stations of the Cross on Good Friday. This is a popular devotional, especially on that day. It was conducted at The Colisseum in Rome. What Cardinal Ratzinger said at the Ninth Station, caught even the attention of the worldwide media. Remember, he was only a Cardinal at the time but felt compelled to speak from his heart.
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NINTH STATION V/. Adoramus te, Christe, et benedicimus tibi. From the Book of Lamentations. 3:27-32 It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. Let him sit alone in silence when he has laid it on him; let him put his mouth in the dust - there may yet be hope; let him give his cheek to the smiter, and be filled with insults. For the Lord will not cast off for ever, but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion, according to the abundance of his steadfast love.
What can the third fall of Jesus under the Cross say to us? We have considered the fall of man in general, and the falling of many Christians away from Christ and into a godless secularism. Should we not also think of how much Christ suffers in his own Church? How often is the holy sacrament of his Presence abused, how often must he enter empty and evil hearts! How often do we celebrate only ourselves, without even realizing that he is there! How often is his Word twisted and misused! What little faith is present behind so many theories, so many empty words! How much filth there is in the Church, and even among those who, in the priesthood, ought to belong entirely to him! How much pride, how much self-complacency! What little respect we pay to the Sacrament of Reconciliation, where he waits for us, ready to raise us up whenever we fall! All this is present in his Passion. His betrayal by his disciples, their unworthy reception of his Body and Blood, is certainly the greatest suffering endured by the Redeemer; it pierces his heart. We can only call to him from the depths of our hearts: Kyrie eleison – Lord, save us (cf. Mt 8: 25). PRAYER Lord, your Church often seems like a boat about to sink, a boat taking in water on every side. In your field we see more weeds than wheat. The soiled garments and face of your Church throw us into confusion. Yet it is we ourselves who have soiled them! It is we who betray you time and time again, after all our lofty words and grand gestures. Have mercy on your Church; within her too, Adam continues to fall. When we fall, we drag you down to earth, and Satan laughs, for he hopes that you will not be able to rise from that fall; he hopes that being dragged down in the fall of your Church, you will remain prostrate and overpowered. But you will rise again. You stood up, you arose and you can also raise us up. Save and sanctify your Church. Save and sanctify us all.
All: Pater noster, qui es in cælis: Eia mater, fons amoris, |
"The Protestant Reformation was inevitable, but it's past time for world Christianity to unite."
In a word, yup. I don't see that unity necessarily having to be in the formal sense, but I do see unity being vital in our response to mutual threats.
Exactly.
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