Ratzinger and Europe
Here's an extraordinary commentary by Reverend James V. Schall about the deep love and affection that Cardinal Raztinger(now Pope Benedict XVI) has for the heritage of Europe. According to Schall, Ratzinger is upset with the fact that Europe has chosen to reject its rich spiritual heritage and that in turn has lead the continent to its possible destruction. The only possible road to salvation open for Europe is for its people to return to their roots and proudly proclaim their heritage.
Ratzinger clearly agrees with the views expressed by Hilaire Belloc in his 1921 book Europe and the Faith. Belloc went to great lengths explaining how the Catholic Church contributed immeasurably to the development of European civilization. And as I stated in my previous post recent scholarly investigations has confirmed this viewpoint. Yet Belloc's work was not just about how the Catholic faith was key to European developments of the past, it also argued that it was the key to Europe's future survival. As he stated, "Europe will return to the Faith, or she will perish."
Ratzinger most certainly is in full agreement with that statement. There is little doubt that Ratzinger also agrees with Belloc's other famous statement that "The Faith is Europe. And Europe is the Faith." But what does that mean exactly? Well Schall himself gave an interesting explanation elsewhere:
"The fact is that without Christianity, Europe is not Europe. In fact, with the rapid decline of its birthrates, with large-scale Muslim immigration and with a secularized Euro-elite, it is rapidly becoming something else."
That is exactly what Ratzinger appears to be so concerned about; that by rejecting the Christian faith, Europe is not only killing itself morally but physically as well!
I find it reassuring that we now have a Pope that who is devoted to the preservation of Europe's heritage from the onslaughts of multi-culturalism. Hopefully Robert Spencer was absolutely correct when he stated "In choosing Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger to succeed Pope John Paul II as Pope Benedict XVI, the Catholic Church has cast a vote for the survival of Europe and the West."
Ratzinger clearly agrees with the views expressed by Hilaire Belloc in his 1921 book Europe and the Faith. Belloc went to great lengths explaining how the Catholic Church contributed immeasurably to the development of European civilization. And as I stated in my previous post recent scholarly investigations has confirmed this viewpoint. Yet Belloc's work was not just about how the Catholic faith was key to European developments of the past, it also argued that it was the key to Europe's future survival. As he stated, "Europe will return to the Faith, or she will perish."
Ratzinger most certainly is in full agreement with that statement. There is little doubt that Ratzinger also agrees with Belloc's other famous statement that "The Faith is Europe. And Europe is the Faith." But what does that mean exactly? Well Schall himself gave an interesting explanation elsewhere:
"The fact is that without Christianity, Europe is not Europe. In fact, with the rapid decline of its birthrates, with large-scale Muslim immigration and with a secularized Euro-elite, it is rapidly becoming something else."
That is exactly what Ratzinger appears to be so concerned about; that by rejecting the Christian faith, Europe is not only killing itself morally but physically as well!
I find it reassuring that we now have a Pope that who is devoted to the preservation of Europe's heritage from the onslaughts of multi-culturalism. Hopefully Robert Spencer was absolutely correct when he stated "In choosing Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger to succeed Pope John Paul II as Pope Benedict XVI, the Catholic Church has cast a vote for the survival of Europe and the West."
posted by Perun at
2:43 PM
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