Pope labels democracy ‘godless’
The Pope published a new book yesterday strongly attacking the “negative” society of the West, calling it a godless “anti-Gospel and new totalitarianism” masquerading as democracy.
Entitled Memory and Identity: Conversations Between Millenniums, John Paul II’s fifth book, printed first in Italian, blames the moral permisiveness of the West for undermining society with divorce, free love, abortion, euthanasia, and genetic manipulation.
Seems like he’s pining for the ‘good old days’ of theocracy.
Hat tip, once again, to wits0.
4 Comments
Heheh, not sure if he’s pining for â??good old daysâ?? of theocracy. Afterall that’s unlikely to return to ‘Christendom’. From his position, I guess, there’s little else to complain about but along the line of morality. The important thing seems to be whether this morality retains ethical values that is recognisable more or less universally. At least Christian morality is viable in that it emphasizes on love and peace, not war or very strongly flavored “us and ‘em” human schism like another. Then again some political and idiotarian atheists have become very unduly aggressive and abusing their freedom under various banners. They seem to prefer targeting Christians in the USA. ACLU should ring a bell.
Much of the West’s current culture is, in practice, totalitarian. Our society has gone from protecting us from others to protecting us from ourselves. The essence of Catholicism is free will, and the moral use of that gift from God. Anything that limits free will, or provides and excuse for the improper exercise of free will, is antithetical to our faith.
Much of the Pope’s criticism of the West is daily echoed by conservatives and libertarians. It’s not news that our society is troubled, and it is the Pope’s job to point that out.
Other than in the Papal States, no part of the West was never a theocracy.
Something tells me JPII’s book is a tad more ‘involved’ than initial reports would have it.
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The Church has long been concerned with the dignity of Man, and we are in the habit of doing things that threaten that dignity. At the same time, the Church is an authoritarian body, and has trouble with people thinking for themselves. For some people learning how to let go and let their kids grow up is very hard, if not impossible.
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That said, I suspect the Pope has a point. We do need to be aware of the abuses, and do what we can to stop them. For if we let them continue we face our culture becoming a parody of what it could be.
Well are we shocked? This is
the moronthe man who said that the Age of Enlightment was the biggest evil of the last millenia.One Trackback
Excuse me while I make some popcorn
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