Today's Vatican Press Release makes clear the ongoing theme of the Catholic Church being a root of Western Culture. Regardless of your faith this point is obviously true. It is a bit like noting the influence of Islam on Arab Culture. Still, for some Europeans it seems difficult to accept the obvious and recognize the role of the Church and faith more generally in the making of Europe.
HOLY FATHER RECALLS HIS APOSTOLIC TRIP TO FRANCE
VATICAN CITY, 17 SEP 2008 (VIS) - In today's general audience, which was held in the Paul VI Hall, the Pope spoke of his recent apostolic trip to France, which culminated in his pilgrimage to Lourdes for the 150th anniversary of the apparitions of the Virgin Mary to St. Bernadette.
The Church in France "has since the 2nd century played a vital civilising role", said the Holy Father, noting how, "in this context, the need developed for a healthy distinction between the political and religious spheres. ... True laicism", he went on, "does not mean overlooking the spiritual dimension, rather it means recognising that such a dimension is, in a radical way, the guarantor of our freedom and of the autonomy of earthly things, thanks to the dictates of creative Wisdom which human conscience knows how to accept and put into effect.
"This was the perspective of my broad-ranging reflections on the theme of 'the origins of western theology and the roots of European culture', which I delivered at my meeting with the world of culture in a place chosen for its symbolic significance, the College des Bernardins".
James Morton
1100 - 5255 Yonge Street
Toronto, Ontario
M2N 6P4
No comments:
Post a Comment