"Stand Against...The Aggressive Secularism"
In a statement that the Independent Catholic News all but glossed over, Bishop William Kenney CP, Auxiliary Bishop of Birmingham, and Spokesperson on European Affairs for the Catholic Bishops, spoke about what he described as "a vociferous and aggressive secularism in certain parts of Europe."
Romania is about to enter the European Union, and is not as secular as many of its other European counterparts. Romania, it is being assumed, will eventually "get with it" and renounce some of its religious traditions in favor of the more "enlightened" secularism.
The Birmingham Diocese gives Bishop Kenney's statements in a bit more context:
"At a time when there is a vociferous and aggressive secularism in certain parts of Europe it must be said that all people who have any faith, and not just Christians, are going to need to stand together for the values which Europe and not least Romania stand for."
Does this not apply to America?
Are citizens of faith not marginalized here too? Are words like "fundamentalist" and "fanatic" not thrown around with the same venom as "racist" on this side of the ocean?
As in Europe, so too in America. All people who have any faith are going to need to stand to gether for the values which we ourselves stand for. Even if those values transcend America.
Comments
It's interesting that although according to most surveys we live in one of the most "religious" nations on earth, our society is decidedly anti-religious in many respects. The dominant popular culture views religious belief as inherently irrational and superstitious, so many religious people simply ignore parts (or even all) of that popular culture.
The best thing that people of faith can do, is what you are doing. Take our faith into the streams of popular culture.
Posted by: NLG | March 25, 2007 11:42 AM
I like your site! I made a video about militant secularism that you may be interested in: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYSSYpVpxjs
Posted by: Ryan | April 14, 2007 12:10 PM