Posted on 11/08/2012 7:04:54 AM PST by marshmallow
It passed almost unnoticed, but last month Benedict XVI significantly upped the ante in an argument hes made one of his pontificates centerpieces. To the horror, one suspects, of some professional interfaith dialoguers and wishful-thinkers more generally, the pope indicated the Church should recognize that some types of religion are in fact sick and distorted.
This message isnt likely to be well-received among those who think religious pluralism is somehow an end in itself. Their discomfort, however, doesnt lessen the force of Benedicts point.
The context of Benedicts remarks was the 50th anniversary of Vatican IIs opening. In an article published in the Holy Sees semi-official newspaper, LOsservatore Romano, Benedict reflected upon his own memories of the Council. Characteristically, however, he used the occasion to make subtle but pointed observations about particular challenges presently confronting the Church and orthodox Christianity more generally: difficulties that no amount of interfaith happy-talk and ecumenical handholding will make go away.
One of Vatican IIs achievements, the pope argued, was the Declaration Nostra Aetate, which addressed the Churchs relationship with non-Christian religions. This document focused on the most theologically-important relationshipJudaism and Christianitybut also ventured remarks about Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism. Without watering down Christianitys truth-claims, Benedict wrote, Nostra Aetate outlined how Catholics could engage in respectful dialogue and collaboration with other religions.
Then, however, Benedict made his move. With the passage of time, he noted, a weakness of Nostra Aetate has become apparent: it speaks of religion solely in a positive way and it disregards the sick and distorted forms of religion.
Plainly Benedict wasnt referring to the choice of Christians to sin. The Catholic who, for instance, intentionally chooses to kill innocent life is, after all, acting contrary to the Churchs teaching. Instead Benedict appears to have in mind religions which seemingly........
(Excerpt) Read more at crisismagazine.com ...
Thanks for the article. I’m working through all the stuff it mentions.
The only amazing part of this article is that something so obvious needed to be said.
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