Archbishop Celestino Migliore, apostolic nuncio and permanent observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, has reminded the UN that religion is a positive force in human society and urged member nations to promote religious freedom worldwide.
“The question of religion and the contribution of religions to peace and development have resurfaced in the United Nations in recent years because they have become urgent and inevitable in the opinion of the world,” he said as the General Assembly discussed the “culture of peace.” “A century and a half ago, at the beginning of the industrial revolution, religion was described as the ‘opium of the people,’ today, in the context of globalization, it is increasingly regarded as the ‘vitamin of the poor.’”
He continued:
The unique contribution of religions and the dialogue and cooperation among them lies in their raison d'être which is to serve the spiritual and transcendental dimension of human nature. They tend as well to raise the human spirit, protect life, empower the weak, translate ideals into action, purify institutions, contribute to resolving economic and non-economic inequalities, inspire their leaders to go beyond the normal call of duty, permit people to attain a fuller realization of their natural potential, and traverse situations of conflict through reconciliation, peace-building processes and the healing of memories scarred by injustice.
After discussing the Holy See’s track record in the area of interreligious dialogue, Archbishop Migliore pointedly reminded those assembled that it is far more important for the UN to promote religious freedom than to discuss the role of religion in international conflicts. “Having in mind the spirit and the word of the UN Charter as well as core juridical instruments,” he said, “it is safe to say that the United Nations' specific and primary responsibility vis-à-vis religion is to debate, elucidate and help States to fully ensure, at all levels, the implementation of the right to religious freedom as affirmed in the relevant UN documents which include full respect for and promotion not only of the fundamental freedom of conscience but also of the expression and practice of everybody's religion, without restriction.”
Archbishop Migliore made his remarks on November 10; the Holy See Press Office released them on November 13.
Joined: 30 Mar 2009 Posts: 52 Location: Sydney, N.S.W., Australia
Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 12:24 pm Post subject:
Quote:
After discussing the Holy See’s track record in the area of interreligious dialogue, Archbishop Migliore pointedly reminded those assembled that it is far more important for the UN to promote religious freedom than to discuss the role of religion in international conflicts. “Having in mind the spirit and the word of the UN Charter as well as core juridical instruments,” he said, “it is safe to say that the United Nations' specific and primary responsibility vis-à-vis religion is to debate, elucidate and help States to fully ensure, at all levels, the implementation of the right to religious freedom as affirmed in the relevant UN documents which include full respect for and promotion not only of the fundamental freedom of conscience but also of the expression and practice of everybody's religion, without restriction.”
[my emphasis]
Some other quotations: Condemned ex Cathedra:
Quote:
the best plan for public society, and civil progress absolutely requires that human society be established and governed with no regard to religion, as if it did not exist, or at least, without making distinction between the true and the false religions.
[Quanta cura, Encyclical of Bl. Pius IX,
http://www.catecheticsonline.com/SourcesofDogma17.php]
Condemned ex Cathedra:
Quote:
the best condition of society is the one in which there is no acknowledgment by the government of the duty of restraining, by established penalties, offenders of the Catholic religion, except insofar as the public peace demands.
[Ibid.]
Condemned ex Cathedra:
Quote:
liberty of conscience and of worship is the proper right of every man, and should be proclaimed and asserted by law in every correctly established society; that the right to all manner of liberty rests in the citizens, not to be restrained by either ecclesiastical or civil authority; and that by this right they can manifest openly and publicly and declare their own concepts, whatever they be, by voice, by print, or in any other way.
[Ibid.]
Presumably the hermeneutic of continuity will enable us to resolve what is merely an apparent difficulty.
It truly amazes me that I think I made up the perfect comeback for this "Opium of the People" quote by Marx. Perhaps its been said before, but I have not heard or read it. It should roll of peoples tongues without thinking. Here goes.
How can one say that religion is the opium of the people, when being truly religious and devout is actually hard work? It deprives us of certain comforts and vanities when practiced correctly. It fosters obedience to Almighty God. It denies us the "gift" of taking the easy way out of a hard life and hard situations.
No, the opium of the people is living a life of luxury, without concerns of morality, or of being distracted by circuses.
Here is some opium:
Rock and roll,
TV,
Radio,
Newspapers,
Video Games,
Pornography,
Gambling, etc.
It is so inherently obvious, that it almost goes unnoticed.
How could this be? The problem, I think is in taking this quote as an a priori, and in trying to prove that religion is not opium. Because when we do that, we have already lost the argument.
After discussing the Holy See’s track record in the area of interreligious dialogue, Archbishop Migliore pointedly reminded those assembled that it is far more important for the UN to promote religious freedom than to discuss the role of religion in international conflicts. “Having in mind the spirit and the word of the UN Charter as well as core juridical instruments,” he said, “it is safe to say that the United Nations' specific and primary responsibility vis-à-vis religion is to debate, elucidate and help States to fully ensure, at all levels, the implementation of the right to religious freedom as affirmed in the relevant UN documents which include full respect for and promotion not only of the fundamental freedom of conscience but also of the expression and practice of everybody's religion, without restriction.”
[my emphasis]
Some other quotations: Condemned ex Cathedra:
Quote:
the best plan for public society, and civil progress absolutely requires that human society be established and governed with no regard to religion, as if it did not exist, or at least, without making distinction between the true and the false religions.
[Quanta cura, Encyclical of Bl. Pius IX,
http://www.catecheticsonline.com/SourcesofDogma17.php]
Condemned ex Cathedra:
Quote:
the best condition of society is the one in which there is no acknowledgment by the government of the duty of restraining, by established penalties, offenders of the Catholic religion, except insofar as the public peace demands.
[Ibid.]
Condemned ex Cathedra:
Quote:
liberty of conscience and of worship is the proper right of every man, and should be proclaimed and asserted by law in every correctly established society; that the right to all manner of liberty rests in the citizens, not to be restrained by either ecclesiastical or civil authority; and that by this right they can manifest openly and publicly and declare their own concepts, whatever they be, by voice, by print, or in any other way.
[Ibid.]
Presumably the hermeneutic of continuity will enable us to resolve what is merely an apparent difficulty.
Not to nitpick, but these condemnations are not ex cathedra. For a statement to be "ex cathedra," it must "explain a doctrine of faith or morals to be held" (Denzinger 1839). Only a positive statement of truth can be "ex cathedra. "
If one contradicts such an infallible statement, it is "heresy." If one contradicts an authentic (i.e. not infallible) statement of doctrine or if one asserts an otherwise condemned proposition, it is "error." This is why, by the way, Pope Pius IX called his document the "Syllabus of Errors" and not the "Syllabus of Heresies." Not every error is heresy. It depends on the manner in which the doctrine is proposed.
Joined: 30 Mar 2009 Posts: 52 Location: Sydney, N.S.W., Australia
Posted: Wed Nov 18, 2009 12:13 pm Post subject:
JAT wrote:
Only a positive statement of truth can be "ex cathedra. "
No, negative statements of error can be ex Cathedra too: Vatican I defines "ex Cathedra" as
Quote:
when carrying out the duty of the pastor and teacher of all Christians by virtue of his supreme apostolic authority he defines [not "explains"] a doctrine of faith or morals to be held by the universal Church
[Dz. 1839,
http://www.catecheticsonline.com/SourcesofDogma19.php]
In Quanta cura, Bl. Pius IX defined the doctrine that all the opinions quoted in the Encyclical are "erroneous opinions" (plus whatever other respective notes of censure he attached to each individual opinion) and to be held as such by all Catholics. Don't take my word for the possible ex Cathedra status of doctrinal condemnations, though: See Prince-Bishop Gasser's official relatio on the Vatican definition of Papal Infallibility, or for the particular case of Quanta cura, Msgr. Lefebvre in Religious Liberty Questioned or Cardinal Newman in his Letter to The Duke of Norfolk.
JAT wrote:
If one contradicts such an infallible statement, it is "heresy."
Only if the (extraordinary-Magisterium) infallible statement in question is on a matter of Faith though, right? A condemned moral error, even if condemned ex Cathedra, is still an error, not heresy (unless the moral error is condemned in Scripture, I suppose; e.g. St. Paul's condemnation of doing evil in order that good may come of it).
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