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The Pope's latest bull
Apr. 14th, 2006 06:32 pmPope Benedict XVI has issued a rambling set of political meditations for Good Friday. He claims that the civilised world is in the grip of "a diabolical pride aimed at eliminating the family". This has something to do with genetic engineering.
Political religion that makes an idol of "family" disturbs me. Jesus says, "For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter–in–law against her mother–in–law. And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me." (Matt. 10:36-38)
Families can be a source of joy for some, of sorrow and oppression for others. Their shape and limits vary from one human society to another. This talk about the alleged sanctity of family is at very minimum dismaying to the many of our neighbours whose relationships with their families are less than satisfactory. God loves and calls to these people too, even if they prefer not to make "family" the centre of their lives or find that such attachments are best endured from a safe distance.
"Work, family, country!" (Travail, famille, patrie) was the slogan of the traitorous rulers of Vichy France. It was their answer to "liberty, equality, brotherhood" of the French republic. Fascism, then and now.
Political religion that makes an idol of "family" disturbs me. Jesus says, "For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter–in–law against her mother–in–law. And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me." (Matt. 10:36-38)
Families can be a source of joy for some, of sorrow and oppression for others. Their shape and limits vary from one human society to another. This talk about the alleged sanctity of family is at very minimum dismaying to the many of our neighbours whose relationships with their families are less than satisfactory. God loves and calls to these people too, even if they prefer not to make "family" the centre of their lives or find that such attachments are best endured from a safe distance.
"Work, family, country!" (Travail, famille, patrie) was the slogan of the traitorous rulers of Vichy France. It was their answer to "liberty, equality, brotherhood" of the French republic. Fascism, then and now.
