Author Topic: Democracy is rooted in Christian thought, Pope reminds theologians (Read 3296 times)

stevusmagnus · « **on:** December 03, 2010, 12:12:20 PM »

Democracy is rooted in Christian thought, Pope reminds theologians

Catholic World News
December 03, 2010

The freedom of modern democratic societies would be impossible without the contribution of Christian thought, Pope Benedict XVI argued in a December 3 address to the International Theological Commission.

The fundamental belief in human equality, the Pope said, is “the daughter of evangelical monotheism.” He also said that the quest for world peace is another outgrowth of the Christian heritage. “A God Who was not perceived as a source of forgiveness could not be a light along the path of peace,” the Pontiff said.

However, the Pope continued, a society that does not understand the philosophical foundations of its own basic beliefs is in jeopardy. Today, he said, “it is particularly important to show that the fruit dies if the roots of the tree are cut.” Pope Benedict continued:

There is, in fact, no justice without truth, and justice cannot fully develop if is horizon is limited by the material world. For us as Christians, social solidarity always has an eternal perspective.

The Holy Father went on to tell the members of the International Theological Commission—who are in Rome for their plenary meeting—that the goal of theology goes beyond serving society, to probe the eternal truths of an active faith. He cited Blessed John Henry Newman as an example of the theologian who recognizes that the ultimate goal of his study is the pursuit of sanctity.

Source(s):

•Pope Benedict XVI: notion of equality is Church's gift to the world (Vatican Radio) http://www.oecuмene.radiovaticana.org/en1/Articolo.asp?c=444096

•Theology Must Be Nourished by Dialogue with the Logos (VIS) http://visnews-en.blogspot.com/2010/12/theology-must-be-nourished-by-dialogue.html

gladius_veritatis · « **Reply #1 on:** December 03, 2010, 12:13:51 PM »

As the Dog Poet once wrote:

"There must be something I can do, if not for you then for myself, which would remove from me the need to preach to the choir while the congregation prays for the possibility to be made deaf and dumb and blind to any chance of being affected in ways that might prove beneficial to them."

gladius_veritatis · « **Reply #2 on:** December 03, 2010, 12:15:44 PM »

Quote

The fundamental belief in human equality, the Pope said, is “the daughter of evangelical monotheism.”

:scratchchin:

albert cipriani · « **Reply #3 on:** December 03, 2010, 04:53:02 PM »

If Catholic thinking is what has given rise to democracy, what do we make of the following two democratic articles that the Church's Syllabus of Errors condemned:

63. It is lawful to refuse obedience to legitimate princes, and even to rebel against them. -- Encyclical "Qui pluribus," Nov. 9, 1864; Allocution "Quibusque vestrum," Oct. 4, 1847; "Noscitis et Nobiscuм," Dec. 8, 1849; Apostolic Letter "cuм Catholica."

64. The violation of any solemn oath, as well as any wicked and flagitious action repugnant to the eternal law, is not only not blamable but is altogether lawful and worthy of the highest praise when done through love of country. -- Allocution "Quibus quantisque," April 20, 1849.

Article 65 condemns rebellion against the government. Yet all democracies were born in and are replenished by the blood of rebellion agains the "legitimate princes" of the day.

Article 66 condemns the violation of solemn oaths. Many nαzιs refused to rebel against Hitler because they went along with this teaching, having sworn a solemn oath to their Fuhrer, they felt religious-bound to undemocratically continue to do his bidding.

-- Sincerely, Albert the Traditional Catholic

gladius_veritatis · « **Reply #4 on:** December 03, 2010, 05:10:59 PM »

Don't ask difficult questions, albert...

LOL

Welcome to the site :)