The Church and the Modern World

Today, the Holy See released the 2008 World Day of Peace Message promulgated by Pope Benedict XVI on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. It is the fortieth such message since Pope Paul VI inaugurated these messages in 1968. This year’s theme is “The Human Family, A Community of Peace.” The full message is HERE. The Holy Father covers a good deal of territory in this rich message, and many of the points he makes addresses some of the topics of the day that trigger robust and diverse responses, many of which MOJers have been addressing in recent posts. I recommend this message since the Pope comments intelligently on a good number of them.

Before I briefly comment on several passages of the Pope’s message, I want to respond quickly to Rob’s disagreement with my characterization that we here in the US (and probably in some of the other western democracies) are beginning to experience a form of totalitarianism. Rob has thoughtfully expressed his objection for which I am grateful. He and others make me think all the more carefully about what I think and say. Having said, this, I also want to present my candid hope that I will be proven wrong and he will be proven right. But, at this stage, I cannot be optimistic about this aspiration.

The issue of the Boy Scouts in Philadelphia (that he, Susan, and I have discussed) is not an isolated incident. Regarding the increasing pressure to accept as normative homosexual conduct, the Philadelphia case does not stand alone. One illustration is the matter of Catholic institutions (here in the US and abroad) removing themselves from the adoption apostolate because they would not and cannot consent to placing children into families headed by two members of the same sex. I wonder when the following point made by Pope Benedict will be considered “hate speech” by some warranting silencing through the threat of criminal prosecution:

N. 5 Consequently, whoever, even unknowingly, circumvents the institution of the family undermines peace in the entire community, national and international, since he weakens what is in effect the primary agency of peace. This point merits special reflection: everything that serves to weaken the family based on the marriage of a man and a woman, everything that directly or indirectly stands in the way of its openness to the responsible acceptance of a new life, everything that obstructs its right to be primarily responsible for the education of its children, constitutes an objective obstacle on the road to peace. The family needs to have a home, employment and a just recognition of the domestic activity of parents, the possibility of schooling for children, and basic health care for all. When society and public policy are not committed to assisting the family in these areas, they deprive themselves of an essential resource in the service of peace. The social communications media, in particular, because of their educational potential, have a special responsibility for promoting respect for the family, making clear its expectations and rights, and presenting all its beauty.

Eduardo earlier today championed the work of the Holy See delegation at the recent international conference on the environment. Having been on similar delegations of the Holy See in the past, I can assure you that the Church’s interest and presence at conferences convened to debate and educate on this critical issue is not restricted to the present moment. With the few resources at its disposal, the Church, through the Holy See, does a remarkable job of attending and substantively contributing to the debate on most of the pressing issues of the day. It should be of no surprise to us that the Church’s teachings address just about every one of these issues. Yet it is remarkable that many believe the Church is only concerned about “gay marriage and contraception.” It is concerned about these and many other matters. Yet, it is a great pity that the media (often the most prominent voice on what the Church “thinks”) will focus only on the Church’s activities on some issues (i.e., abortion, contraception, sexuality) but remain silent about its intensive work on virtually all other issues. I sometimes ask myself: why does the Church so frequently have to reiterate its teachings on marriage, human reproduction, sex, and abortion? I have come to realize that it is not the Church that harps on these matters, but it is those who wish to alter society’s outlook on them. Then the Church must respond clearly and with the necessary charity due those with whom it disagrees, for it is her duty to do so. I wonder if the media will be inclined to comment on this point made by the Pope regarding some long-standing teachings on the environment:

N. 8 [I]it is essential to “sense” that the earth is “our common home” and, in our stewardship and service to all, to choose the path of dialogue rather than the path of unilateral decisions. Further international agencies may need to be established in order to confront together the stewardship of this “home” of ours; more important, however, is the need for ever greater conviction about the need for responsible cooperation. The problems looming on the horizon are complex and time is short. In order to face this situation effectively, there is a need to act in harmony. One area where there is a particular need to intensify dialogue between nations is that of the stewardship of the earth’s energy resources.

Once again, I commend this most recent document issued by Pope Benedict. He touches upon many issues that concern us, our work, and our discipleship.       RJA sj