Pope Benedict XVI continues to criticize the European Union for not mentioning God and Europe's Christian roots in declarations marking its 50th birthday. The Pope believes that "the continent's Christian roots" should be specifically recognized, saying that a "society in which the Christian conscience does not live anymore loses direction, does not know anymore where to go, ends up empty and bankrupt." Such a conscience was needed to promote justice and a sense of responsibility among one another, he said.
What is the difference between a specifically Christian conscience and any other human conscience? Is the Pope trying to say that Christians are morally superior to everyone else? Do you agree, and if so, how do you justify such an opinion?
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070325/wl_nm/eu_anniversary_pope_dc_3
2007-03-25 11:17:44 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Perhaps Pope Benedict XVI sees it as his job to remind the European Union of its "Christian roots", but he can not have considered all of the ramifications of such a mnemonic. Christianity's history in Europe, if examined closely, is not the glorious and moral past he might be envisioning. From the Crusades through the Inquisition and the Church's failure to intercede in Hitler's Holocaust (by omission or intent) to the more recent scandals involving pedophilia, the record of the Roman Catholic Church in Europe is not particularly worthy of emulation from a moralistic viewpoint nor of praise. Morality and religion are not necessarily synonymous! "Christian Conscience" may require a bit of introspection and self-examination...
2007-03-26 14:49:36 · answer #1 · answered by Lynci 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It is amazing how many people are using your question to start another trend of Pope-bashing and Catholic-bashing. The ceaseless complaints about "the Inquisition", "the Crusades", etc. show that people are more interested in maintaining the status quo of public opinion rather than searching for the truth of what really was taking place. I suspect that it is because many fear that, if they were to truly investigate with an open mind what the Catholic Church and the Pope are saying, they would have no choice but to agree that its assessment is completely correct.
This being said, what is "conscience", and specifically "Christian conscience"? It is more than the conscience that each man or woman has in regards to the natural moral law. It is a conscience based on a morality that has its roots in the Gospel (and hence, in the very person of Jesus Christ Himself). The Pope is not saying that Christians are "superior" to others because of this conscience. He is merely saying that this conscience allows Christians (and specifically Catholic Christians, because of the fullness of the Gospel present within the Catholic tradition) to penetrate more deeply into the Christian way of life, founded on the Truth revealed to us by Our Lord Jesus Christ. Whether or not Catholics will "take advantage" of this wonderful opportunity by living more faithfully the Gospel in all its fullness is another question. But let's not throw out the baby with the bath water. Christians may not live up to the fullness of the Gospel, but let's not blame the Gospel for it! It makes me think of those people who, seeing the abuses that take place in the clergy, blame the priesthood or the office itself. The priesthood is a holy, sacred office. It is men who do not always live faithfully to the fullest their calling as priests. But this does not in any way imply that the priesthood itself is evil or corrupt (contrary to public, secular opinion -- which, of course, is not always the best means of judging the Truth).
In speaking of Christian conscience, Pope Benedict XVI is merely carrying out his duty as Vicar of Christ, which is to strengthen the faithful and encourage them to persevere in the faith (and bring them to the fullness of that same faith). One might take objection to this if one wills, but that does not mean that one is correct. Truth must be discerned with an unprejudiced, open mind, and be accepted wherever it can be found. This is because all truth comes for God, for God alone IS the Truth.
I hope this helps.
2007-03-29 01:03:33 · answer #2 · answered by uiogdpm 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Christianity, and specifically, the Catholic Church, single handedly saved modern civilization after the fall of Rome, and preserved the best of it, while re-creating a new and glorious European civilization in the image of God.
All the great European institutions of higher learning, art, and science have their roots in the Catholic Church, and the Church has its' roots in Jesus Christ, the one who personally founded it.
This is the source of the "Christian conscience" that the Pope speaks about.
Now that they've been politely warned of their errors, let's wait and see what, if anything, God chooses to do about it.
2007-03-25 17:44:53 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
The position of the Pope is obviously mostly political.
His christian ethical standing requires that he makes some kind of comment about social issues. Obviously for atheists and non Christians is just empty rhetoric.
2007-03-25 11:29:45 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Well Christians are defineatly not morally superior. Legalistic Christians do make a lot of annoying rules though. Like they think you can't wear skirts or cut your hair. I mean what the flippin poo? I'm glad I'm not a legalistic Christian. I am a Baptist! YAY!
2007-03-25 11:24:16 · answer #5 · answered by peachblossom202020 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Yes this one is easy...
The Pope is saying that his belief is the best and you all are stupid. So follow him or die. See...back in the day, the Pope's word meant life or death of thousands of villages and cultures.....ahhh those pesky crusaders burning eyeballs out of women because their husbands fought for their own beliefs...
2007-03-25 11:26:22 · answer #6 · answered by zentularis 2 · 3⤊ 3⤋
It may just be a knee jerk reaction out of fear of Islam. Then again, he may truly believe that nonsense.
2007-03-25 11:22:21 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋