Pope Warns U.S. Bishops On Threat Of 'Radical Secularism' In America

By Alessandro Speciale
Religion News Service

(RNS) "Radical secularism" is gaining ground in American society and poses a "grave threat" to the Catholic Church's freedom of expression in the public square, Pope Benedict XVI told a group of U.S. bishops on Thursday (Jan. 19).

The delegation of bishops from the mid-Atlantic region, led by Washington Cardinal Donald Wuerl, is in Rome for a series of regular "ad limina" visit that occur once every five years.

Benedict said bishops must help Catholic politicians understand that it is "their personal responsibility to offer public witness to their faith," especially regarding the respect for human life.

Catholics must be on guard to confront a "reductive secularism," Benedict said, which tries to "delegitimize the church's participation in public debate."

The pontiff warned that America's "cherished" tradition of "religious freedom" is under threat as the nation's moral consensus has been "eroded" by "powerful new cultural currents" that not only run counter to "Judeo-Christian tradition, but (are) increasingly hostile to Christianity as such."

Benedict's message echoed a recent campaign by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, which has warned of a "national conflict between church and state of enormous proportions" over same-sex marriage, contraception mandates and other issues.

Benedict warned that the separation of church and state must not be invoked to force the church to "be silent on certain issues," or to sideline believers in "determining the values which will shape the future of the nation".

New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan, president of the bishops' conference, was not in Rome but thanked the pope in a statement for speaking "eloquently and powerfully on the threats to the church's moral witness in public life."

Comments

[leepicton]

03:19 PM on 08/05/2012

I'm glad the Pope is "concerned." People like me are his worst nightmare. I've been atheist for over 60 years and finally know that I have lots and lots of company, and our numbers are rapidly increasing. I only regret I will not live long enough to see religion become a minority position in America.

[lumberman]

08:59 PM on 03/12/2012

So as for the Pope and other ministers of the gospel,preach these important concepts.There are a lot of common sense people with you on this.

[lumberman]

08:56 PM on 03/12/2012

When you talk of democracy it is supposed to be common sense people coming together to face challenges to problems not some science project that has no proof.Children are born out of men and women something science cannot prove otherwise and that is creation.

[lumberman]

08:51 PM on 03/12/2012

I have never seen a church slam the door on anyone's face when they have asked for help.Especially when moral issues arise or poverty.My wife has people in her family that have done missionary work all over the world.They have spent their entire life doing it.

[lumberman]

08:40 PM on 03/12/2012

So I dare the scientific world who has bred this argument into being to prove to us which same sex couple procreated a child.These senseless scientific arguments are the root of more abortions and same sex relationships.Now the church because they care about humanity has to take the brunt of the punishment.

[lumberman]

08:36 PM on 03/12/2012

Science for many years have pushed new ideas about humanity down are throats to the point they think they can explain away even common sense.Common sense issues such as these.

[lumberman]

08:34 PM on 03/12/2012

Second I am not a person raised in faith who hates people.In fact when I was growing up I did not know that homosexuals were even around until they started advertising it themselves.I am realistic.Down to earth.But based on biblical knowledge and nature, creation does not come out of it.And that is it in a nut shell creation or pro creation.I have yet to see a same sex couple create a child and I do not see science stepping up to the plate and saying it happens and that is where the line is drawn between creation and science's version of it.So it is common sense to me that man and woman were created for that unique purpose and science cannot prove it otherwise.They are grasping at straws.So if a church defends this moral belief of procreation they have every right to defend it.

[lumberman]

08:20 PM on 03/12/2012

Then because the option is so available for abortion it is the only option which is crazy.The church has every right of it's freedom of speech as anyone else in this country something that people who quote the founding fathers on here should very well know.If the church feels there is moral laws of God broken they should have the right to voice there opinion.

[lumberman]

08:16 PM on 03/12/2012

Someone wrote the church is not a democracy,you are right there.But tell me why would they be especially on some basic beliefs?It is only those people shouting democracy on here who seem to want marriage between same sex couples,abortions,divorces etc.I have even heard where it is an attack on women's health.Give us a break.When I personally know a woman who had three abortions because the moment wasn't right to keep the child and then because abortion was available like a fast food meal ,that is not an attack on woman's health that is murder.

[Mag7]

04:43 PM on 03/04/2012

Sorry Popester, but the Catholic Church's freedom of expression stops the moment it collides with my personal life. Which by your initiation is often.

[JoyC124]

11:56 AM on 03/04/2012

This is the bigger threat to our democracy than anything else we are facing

[Gerard St Laurent]

06:27 PM on 03/01/2012

Winter solstice is the original celebration of Christmas. too many gods claim December 25 as a birthday, Mithra, Krishna, Romulus, Horus, Jesus, etc. which one is true? None. The Pope should read up on Mythology,

[ny rebel]

12:07 PM on 02/24/2012

"...eloquently and powerfully on the threats to the church's moral witness in public life." The church's moral witness. Wow, they are such selective witnesses. Catholic's traditions - many are just man-made traditions. This is the problem - the Catholic Church never questions itself, never questions their interpretation of the Bible (are they really sure they are following His Word?), and never deals with its immorality within its own ranks. They are not open-minded, they are not seeking the Truth (they think they have found it), and they are not following His Word.

[I AM ERIN 24]

07:29 PM on 02/25/2012

it is a teaching of the Catholic faith to question any unjust cannon or law either in church or society.
the question of female priests for example...we are encouraged to question and argue but the church is not a democracy obviously, so things do not change very quickly.

and they also tend to believe they are right, so some things will only change when the whole congregation threatens to convert ... oh well.

[Flickwatcher]

08:38 PM on 02/05/2012

The apostle Paul prophesied the apostasy of today's world when he wrote the 2nd Epistle to Timothy: "the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths." The article above shows in plain light what St. Paul predicted. Many who post here present themselves as the definition of apostasy, which is the abandonment or renunciation of a religion by a person.

[PXhoplite]

12:44 PM on 02/29/2012

I would only correct that apostasy is rejection of THE religion, namely Christianity. All others are idolatry (1 Corinthians 10:20). theanthistemi.blogspot.com

[Norcal2]

11:59 AM on 03/12/2012

Yes....militant apostate here! lol

[rsttho557949]

11:10 AM on 02/04/2012

I agree with the Pope about the real danger of secularism and pluralism. Both (secularism and pluralism) are two of the worst afflictions ( right up there with democracy) that can come to a society like America. Americans who truly care about this country, the future of their children and their own peace of mind should REJECT any delusion that America would be better off without God as a reminder of how to conduct their lives. Only the fool would buy into secularism and only the truly evil promote secularism. Pluralism is divisive and promotes exclusiveness; its basic nature doesn't promote peace and harmony. Secularism will promote Darwinism and Social Darwinism; the voice of the meek or minority will not be heard. Closer to the truth is that their voices will be silenced. Best chance for a person to live a good life is when the Light of Jesus is shining over America. It is written ,”Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord…not under Stalinism, Darwinism or Secular Humanism.