Benedict's European Audience

A number of commentators on Benedict's remarks on Islam  (see, e.g., Stephen Bainbridge ) have pointed out that his intended audience was post-Christian Europe.  I find myself wondering how his message is playing among that audience.

Listening to a story about this on NPR this morning, I was struck by Sylvia Poggioli's reporting about the European  reaction to this controversy.  She noted that many left-leaning European newspapers (she mentions Britain's The Guardian and France's Le Monde) were supporting the Pope, and calling on moderate Muslims to heed his calls for open and open dialogue.  This is consistent with the European press reactions excerpted by Amy Wellborne.  I think the contrast between this reaction and the reaction of the American press is quite striking, especially given the growing Muslim population in Europe.

Later in the day, my big brother (who, like me, was born & spent most of his childhood in Germany) sent me a link to a report by the German Statistics Office, which paints a rather grim portrait of Germany's mental state right now:

According to a new report put out by the German Statistics Office, Germans have the most pessimistic view of the future among all Europeans.

The latest census shows that Germans -- especially young people and eastern Germans -- believe living conditions are much worst than they actually are.

The Date Report is released every two years and is a joint study conducted by various research and statistical agencies.

Jürgen Kocka, head of the Social Science Research Center in Berlin, said there is a discrepancy between Germans' subjective view of living conditions and the actual conditions themselves, because Germans tend to set their standards higher than other Europeans. His analysis was reported on the economics internet site Wirtschaftswoche.de.

The report shows that only 29 percent of Germans feel that their income allows them to live comfortably, Wirtschaftswoche reported. In Denmark, that number is 64 percent; in Sweden, it is 54 percent and in Ireland, it is 50 percent.

. . .

Alternative living arrangements

The traditional nuclear family is continuing its decline in Germany as well, the study showed. More and more young people are growing up in homes with only one parent, or with parents who are not married. In 2005, nearly one-fourth of young people between the ages of 14 and 17 were living in "alternative"-style households.

None of this is probably all that relevant to the effect his remarks are having on those NOT in his intended audience, but I think it is important to remember the portion of his flock to whom Benedict was directing these remarks seems to be badly in need of some sort of spiritual direction. 

Lisa