Popes intervention at the European Parliament These words need - TopicsExpress



          

Popes intervention at the European Parliament These words need to be read and acted upon by the powerful and those in anger and despair. This is Europe but of course these comments could be transferred here and exported anywhere in the world. This new pope is a true leader, his mission reaches far beyond Catholic faith, he is someone who brings hope.These words resonate with truth in me. Jonathan Luxmoore | Nov. 26, 2014 Oxford, England When the pope entered the packed chamber of the European Parliament on Tuesday, he was widely expected to reiterate the Catholic churchs long-standing support for a united Europe. But Francis also issued a rebuke for current attitudes and practices, leaving many members of the Parliament reeling at the force and vigor of his words. The pope is always frank and sincere, whether with church people or with politicians -- its good he delivered such a strong message at this time of crisis, said Thierry Bonaventura, spokesman for the Swiss-based Council of Catholic Episcopates of Europe. His analysis of [the] situation is shared by many Europeans, he said. But his aim, even so, was less to criticize than to recall the key principles the EU should uphold if it wishes to maintain a spirit of service and commitment to peace and justice. The Argentine pontiff was in Strasbourg, France, at the invitation of the Parliaments German socialist president, Martin Schulz, who thanked him profusely for providing orientation in times of disorientation. It was the first papal visit to the EUs legislative branch since 1988, when Pope John Paul II famously invoked the spiritual unity of a still-divided continent and defended the right of subject nations in its communist-ruled east. Growing citizens distrust Yet it was clear from the outset that Francis hadnt just come to admire and praise. As the European Union has expanded, there has been growing mistrust on the part of citizens towards institutions considered to be aloof, engaged in laying down rules perceived as insensitive to individual peoples, if not downright harmful, he told his listeners. In many quarters, we encounter a general impression of weariness and aging, of a Europe which is now a grandmother, no longer fertile and vibrant. As a result, the great ideas which once inspired Europe seem to have lost their attraction, only to be replaced by the bureaucratic technicalities of its institutions. The pope said he wanted to offer a hope and encouragement by reliving the ambitious political project of the EUs post-war founding fathers. But the EUs commitment to human rights and dignity had been threatened, he cautioned, by a view of human beings as objects whose conception, configuration and utility can be programmed and who could be discarded when no longer useful, due to weakness, illness or old age. A notion of individualistic rights had also taken root, he added, which took no account of any broader social context and risked becoming a source of conflicts and violence. He reminded European legislators they had a duty to protect and nurture Europes identity by tending to the needs of individuals and people against a throwaway culture and an uncontrolled consumerism. This meant acknowledging the legacy of Christianity. It also meant standing up for family life, education, human ecology and the rights of labor, speaking out for migrants when the Mediterranean Sea risked becoming a vast cemetery of boat people from Africa and the Middle East, and not allowing democracy to be eroded by multinational interests and systems of economic power at the service of unseen empires. The time has come to work together in building a Europe which revolves not around the economy, but around the sacredness of the human person, around inalienable values, Francis said. The time has come for us to abandon the idea of a Europe which is fearful and self-absorbed, in order to revive and encourage a Europe of leadership, a repository of science, art, music, human values and faith as well -- a Europe which contemplates the heavens and pursues lofty ideals. The popes speech was broadly welcomed.
Posted on: Thu, 27 Nov 2014 22:45:49 +0000

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