Who is the pope to lecture the rest of us?
The pope is humbly issuing everyone instructions again.
Pope Benedict XVI said yesterday that all of Europe – and not only this former communist country – must acknowledge its Christian heritage as it copes with rising immigration from other cultures and religions.
Must it? Why? That way communalism lies – my religion is bigger than your religion so ha! A secular public square is a much better way to ‘cope with’ immigration from other cultures and religions. (What else would immigration be from? Identical cultures and religions?)
“History has demonstrated the absurdities to which man descends when he excludes God from the horizon of his choices and actions,’’ Benedict said.
Well, history has also demonstrated the savage cruelty to which human beings can descend when they think they are doing god’s will – like Ben’s own church in Ireland, imprisoning women and selling their children, and imprisoning and torturing other children for the crime of being poor, or orphaned, or neglected.
We want no lessons from you, Ben. Go home and think about condoms and AIDS, and repent.
This is the pot calling the kettle black. Included in the inclusion of god is the personal failings of WWII Ratzinger. How dare this fool accuse others when he is one of the most guilty.
Gosh, so a society that excludes God is pretty awful, right? Therefore one that boldly pays tribute to God should be jolly spiffing.
You know, it’s funny how dear old Ratzo didn’t notice the slogan ‘Gott Mit Uns’ during the war. I mean, wasn’t it on his belt buckle when he was in the Nazi armed forces?
The societies where God plays less of a role–say, more secular societies like Sweden or Holland–seem to be doing just fine.
But, silly me, I’m appealing to evidence. As we all know, evidence can’t disprove faith! As Twain is alleged to have said, “Faith is believin’ what you know ain’t so.”
It’s a shame, but at the moment our media do seem to think that old men in dresses & shockingly bad hats deserve rather more than their fair share of attention.
And to think he’s been invited over for a full “State Visit” next year.
Still, might be some decent protesting opportunities, so there’s always a silver lining.
:-)
Speaking of attention – they will be definitely be in for a lot of it in the very foreseeable future; when a new clerical sexual abuse report appears on the Dublin horizon. No wonder southern Ireland has not, as yet -been put in the papal pipeline for a visit. Ben will probably too tied up sorting out the aftermath of the scandal.
The Spanish parliament debated a motion of censure of Ben16 just a few days ago, condemning the condoms/AIDS stance. There was only one vote in favour, but still…
A few other politicians also said very critical things about the Pope, though they said that the motion of censure wasn’t the way to go about things.
Ben16 has not yet ruled out making an official visit to us in 2010. What a tease!