00 13/12/2009 12:54







Benedict XVI is not 'anti-modern':
He has gone beyond modernity


December 10, 2009


It is worth turning back to Anglicanorum coetibus. Now that the frenzy has passed, is possible to reason calmly about the true weight of this Apostolic Constitution which will allow groups of Anglicans to return to Rome.

The distraction over the dispensation allowing married Anglican clergy to continue as such when they convert - which is not really new in the Catholic Church - and the ominous forebodings of those who 'fear' the entry into the Church of 'a horde of homophobic and misogynistic traditionalists' [since they oppose women priests and gay marriages] have obfuscated one of the most interesting aspects of the Constitution.

Personal ordinariates, which will allow the Anglicans to convert and maintain their own traditions, conform to the non-territorial juridical forms provided for by the Second Vatican Council to show that the Church is capable of adapting its organization to the demands of the times.

And that is a spirit that has impregnated the Pontificate of Benedict XVI.

This Pope is aware that when there is unity on the essentials - namely, the deposit of faith left by Christ to man - then it is possible to diverge on other things without fear of rupture. [An over-simplification, in the case of cafeteria Catholics who oppose all the life, family and marriage positions of the Church but cannot get themselves to leave the Church, nor to get together to create a 'schismatic' bloc, as the Lefebvrians did! No, they are much too lazy and 'comfortable' to get out of their self-dug rut within the Church, from which they can and do vent all their dissent with almost absolute impunity!]

Far from waging an 'anti-modernity crusade', as some quarters still accuse this Pope repeatedly, Joseph Ratzinger has gone beyond modernity quite a bit.

By showing that trust in truth is the response to the yearnings of contemporary man: it allows finding a common ground that keeps intact the characteristics and freedom of each and everyone.

How many other institutions, after 2000 years, would be that capable of adapting itself to the challenges of the times?

[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 13/12/2009 14:33]