Guest Opinion: Sweet XVI. What Does the Reaction to Pope Benedicts Christmas Message Reveal?
We believe that Pope Benedict XVI is speaking sweet reason.
"Rant!" "Hateful!" "Outrageous!" These were some of the milder expletives cast at the Pope-the ones we didn't have to delete. This storm of abuse arose because of a papal statement extolling marriage and the natural family. The Pope is saying that our natures are given us by a gracious God. That God loves us. These natures are not socially constructed nor subject to our own will. Male and female, God creates us. Is that what the shouters think is hateful?
Bob Morrison and Ken Blackwell
WASHINGTON, DC (Catholic Online) - Much of the Internet exploded in wrath over Pope Benedict XVI's Christmas greetings to the Roman curia. Delivered in those historic halls painted by Renaissance artists, the Pope's address was given to those tasked with administering the Vatican State and serving the Catholic faithful worldwide.
"Rant!" "Hateful!" "Outrageous!" These were some of the milder expletives cast at the Pope-the ones we didn't have to delete. This storm of abuse arose because of a papal statement extolling marriage and the natural family.
Let us carefully note what is happening here. The acknowledged leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics is speaking to his brother priests about the essentials of the Roman Catholic faith. He is speaking in a forum recognized to be the sovereign territory of a city-state, known to Catholics as the Holy See.
Even so, even within these walls, the Pope is not free from abuse, much of it obscene. Those who think they can retreat behind their church walls in America, in France, in Britain, or anywhere else on earth, and ignore the world outside, need to pay close attention to what is happening to Pope Benedict XVI's Christmas message to his brethren.
Leon Trotsky, that old Bolshevik revolutionary, had a point: "You may not be interested in war, but war is interested in you." And here we see it. There is a worldwide reaction-from the U.S. and Canada to Australia and Europe-against what the Pope said. There is a virtual war declared against the 85-year old Pontiff's words.
Even those who claim to be Catholic have taken the occasion to denounce Pope Benedict's thoughts.
What are those thoughts that provoke such a violent reaction? He asked pertinent questions:
Does man become himself by living for himself alone and only entering into relationships with others when he can break them off again at any time? Is lifelong commitment antithetical to human freedom?
The Pope went further, stating:
"People dispute the idea that they have a nature, given to them by their bodily identity, that serves as a defining element of the human being," he said. "They deny their nature and decide that it is not something previously given to them, but that they make it for themselves."
"The manipulation of nature, which we deplore today where our environment is concerned, now becomes man's fundamental choice where he himself is concerned,"
Is there anything here to provoke such vitriolic attacks? Is there anything here not expressed in mild words of sweet reason?
The Pope is saying that our natures are given us by a gracious God. That God loves us. These natures are not socially constructed nor subject to our own will. Male and female, God creates us. Is that what the shouters think is hateful?
Then, what must they think of these words: ".they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."
Do those words from the American Declaration of Independence conflict with the Pope's Christmas message on humanity? We do not think so. Every word in the Declaration depends on and is justified by the "laws of Nature and of Nature's God." Surely, that nature which gives us our sexual identity is part of the understanding of what it means to be human.
In the tsunami of ink that rushed forward to denounce the Pope's statement, it's interesting to note-and we express profound gratitude for it-that the Deseret News gave the Pope's statement a respectful hearing. This news outlet, often seen as being close to the leadership of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormon), seems instinctively to understand what it is like to be a persecuted minority.
It was amazing to see how Pope Benedict made use of the powerful statements of France's Grand Rabbi. Rabbi Gilles Bernheim has issued a statement that shows how creating a right of two persons of the same sex to marry constitutes a radical threat to the idea of marriage and sexuality itself.
In citing the work of this Jewish philosopher and theologian, the Pope was showing the world there is room for leaders of different religions to align in a worldwide effort to defend marriage and family.
You may disagree with everything the Pope said at Christmas. You may think he is wrong and even argue that his ideas are outmoded. After all, President Obama agreed with the Pope's definition of marriage and family-as recently as last May.
But you cannot reasonably argue that they are motivated by hatred, by bigotry. In embracing Protestants, Orthodox Christians and Jews, and others in a bid to shore up the crumbling foundations of human society, in speaking mildly and with charity for all, we believe that Pope Benedict XVI is speaking sweet reason.
*****
Ken Blackwell, a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, is a director of the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty. He and Bob Morrison are senior fellows at the Family Research Council.
- - -
Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.
Keywords: Ken Blackwell, Bob Morrison, Pope Benedict XVI, Marriage, anti-Catholic, anti-Christian, Pro-life, Pro-marriage, pro-family
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Yes! Our Pope IS doing is job, as you all note...and I am so glad to see it! Jesus tells us if we truly love him, we shall be hated by others. I also liked the post that said in essence, that we do not have a trendy religion. And yes, we are made of saints and sinners. Blessings to all...
There is a statement in the Bible..."by their fruits you know them..." - self explanatory.
I am not surprised at all, at these disparaging responses to the Pope's message. In fact I would have been surprised if He was not attacked. Christ made it clear in John chapter 15 that the world would hate us just as it hated Him. We shall continue to pray for the Church and the Holy Father.
Those who speak the truth in the hard matters have a greater love for the souls of men than those who keep silent yet know the truth and its founder. May God help us all stand for what is good and acceptable in His sight that we not be judged along with those who practice that which destroys the essence of the soul. May anyone who judges us as unloving come to Christ and be delivered from the error of their ways. May they experience the love of Christ and like the rest of us sinners be changed in the desires of our hearts.
While I remain a Protestant, I agree with the Pope on this. I am disappointed that so many so many Roman Catholics voted for our current president who is the first President to openly support so called "same sex" marriage and a champion for abortion on demand. Christians need to speak out with one voice and mobilize on behalf of the family and the unborn. Until we have unity on these issues, we will continue to watch the underpinnings of our freedoms erode until we are policed by those who espouse tolerance.
How dare we Catholics be permitted to think things different than every bigoted gay activist trying to suppress our thoughts, words, faith, etc.
Has the world not noticed that we Catholics don't change for every fad or whim. If we did our faith would look like..the episcopalians.
Bob and Ken like to stir the pot. There is no reason to compare the Declaration of Independence and the teaching of the Catholic Church. What our man-made government does matters not----what our secular society does matters not---there is only salvation through God. The Pope must lead.
Ours is a broken world, as homosexuals, lesbians, other bestialities and the baby-killer organization Planned Parenthood and its supporters attest. However God and His only begotten Son are in command, as future events will show. Our mandate is to trust in and glorify God and Jesus and His Kingdom despite the hateful animals of this world, who call themselves human beings...
It is unfortunate that Pope Benedict is being maligned for speaking and expressing his clear beliefs and conviction.Nowadays, it seems if you go against the mainstream thinking, one is "labelled" all sorts of things. Why can't we have a decent conversation and respect each others viewpoints. I love this pope and pray that he will continue to speak about the sanctity of family life between a man and a woman.
DarthJ - while I partially agree with your statement, where the Pope is doing a great job, I think the reaction towards him is not acceptable. It should not be acceptable to us as Catholics and it should not be acceptable to any Christians. The reason he is so viciously attacked is because he is speaking the truth, and to those who want to blur and eventually get rid of the truth the Popes message is a huge problem. It is a huge problem because he's opening people's eyes to think differently and re-evaluate the very meaning of life and what it means to be brought into this world. We (Catholics expecially) need to protect that message and the dignity of the Holy Father at all costs. If he's met with a backlash, then let's react back to that and firmly hold our position. The Holy Father is not speaking to Catholics alone, he's speaking to the world. His message WILL prevail. The distractors will achieve absolutely nothing. Cheers.