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The pope in Britain
The Catholic Church in Britain may well feel under pressure as preparations for Pope Benedict’s visit to the island this month has been accompanied by a din of hyperbolic criticism of the pontiff.
Much of this has come from the expected quarter. Madcap proposals such as having Pope Benedict arrested for supposedly presiding over the cover-up of sexual abuse worldwide could be safely ignored as excitable publicity stunts if they did not reflect a general mood that is being stirred up by a variety of commentators. Even state officials, who drew up and disseminated a satirical and offensive anti-papal memorandum, got in on the act.
There is nothing unjust about engaging in robust debate on matters concerning the Catholic Church and its supreme pontiff. Indeed, provided it is grounded in respect, such a dialogue is welcome and necessary.
Alas, much of the criticism of the pope and the Church lacks not only in respect, but also in a close relationship with the truth. In that way, Pope Benedict has been held principally responsible for the scandal of the cover-up of sexual abuse of minors in the Church. The image, based mainly on a misunderstood document issued by the then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, has been held up as “evidence” so many times that it has taken on a life of its own.
It is not unreasonable to examine the pope’s position in the scandal, but such scrutiny must reflect the full story. In the commentaries in Britain’s secular media, it does not always do so. Indeed, there is a palpable whiff of anti-Catholicism about much of the British media. Whatever the causes of antipathy towards the Catholic Church, there is something troubling about the nature in which that opposition sometimes is expressed, in a country where Catholics once were persecuted and not accorded full rights for many centuries.
That history of persecution should not be invoked as a shield from valid and fair criticism, of course. Nonetheless, sometimes public statements regarding the Catholic faith exceed the bounds of fair comment, and should be tempered, because they do rouse sensitivities about the anti-Catholicism of old.
More than likely, the pope’s visit will draw impressive and enthusiastic crowds. It will help to energise the Church in Britain, and it will communicate to those who maintain a hostile attitude towards the Church that Catholicism in the country is not about to vanish.
Likewise, big crowds will also reassure Catholics that the pope is not travelling to an altogether hostile country. The papal visit will most certainly encourage the Church in Britain. It will not solve, however, the ambivalent attitudes of many British Catholics towards the Church’s teachings on artificial contraception, abortion, divorce and homosexuality.
There are those who hope that Pope Benedict will emphasise these issues during his visit, believing that Britain has become “the geopolitical epicentre of the culture of death”, as Edmund Adamus, director of pastoral affairs in the archdiocese of Westminster, has suggested.
The pope doubtless will address these issues. When he does so, to reach those not persuaded by the Church’s teachings, he will need to measure his words very carefully. More than that, an overemphasis on issues of sexuality and reproduction would shape the media coverage at the expense of other important messages Pope Benedict will bring to Britain, such as the Church’s social teaching and, of course, the Good News of salvation.
Many opinion shapers will be watching the pope very closely, ready to feed and exploit any potential controversy. May Pope Benedict walk on the fragile British soil at once with energy and delicacy.
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3 Responses to “The pope in Britain”
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I do not believe that the criticism per se – whether valid or fair, or not – is the real issue. There is something of the nature of a deep desire to be, to belong to something unshakeably good and true and meaningful. A desire that is at the core of every human being – whether recognised or not – and somehow the institution (yes even the papacy) has tried to usurp this place which belong to Christ alone!
“The Southern Cross” is itself notoriously prone to “an overemphasis on issues of sexuality and reproduction”. It is time for you to practise what you preach to the Holy Father, Günther, is it not?
Rosemary you believe simultaneously in these two proposition.
a) Christ
b) (yes even the papacy) has tried to usurp this place which belong to Christ alone!
If you believe in a) Then you would believe in what Jesus instituted and commanded.
You would then know that b) is an incorrect statement and that you are in error.
No one can take you seriously if you believe simultaneously in contradictory propositions.
Have a pleasant day.