$\"\"$ <\/a>

Jesus Christ Superstar<\/p><\/div>
\nThe report below affirms much that is true, good, and necessary. What I cannot reconcile however, is that while the Ecumenical Patriarchate signed the decree, it also supports policies that explicitly, and in some cases, aggressively, undermine the same principles of human value they (according to this report) swore to uphold. I have in mind the uncritical acceptance of the environmentalist agenda, as well as the sophomoric moral reasoning displayed in its teaching on abortion. <\/p>\n

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People who confuse moral posing with clear thinking will lambaste me for making this point (Don’t you care about the environment?!”, Don’t you care about poor people?!”), but frankly, either you see the danger that secularism poses for the long term, or you don’t. Rome is clear, Moscow is clear, but Constantinople remains confused. If Constantinople were thinking clearly, it would not be sanctifying the environmentalist agenda<\/a>, and it would not equivocate on the value of unborn life<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Here’s what Constantinople needs to read: Metropolitan Hilarion: Culture is at risk of becoming anti-culture without the Church<\/a>. It also needs to realize that political correctness is, at bottom, a spiritual affliction. If the Church, particularly its leaders, won’t risk the penalty that clear speaking imposes (of “speaking to the magistrates” that Christ told us we must do), how can we expect others to take courage when they are called to speak?<\/p>\n

About the image.<\/strong> You will see the value of the painting if you understand the descriptive power of cubism, particularly how cubism depicts fragmentation, estrangement, disassociation — all the elements of “anti-culture” (anti<\/em> in Greek means “in place of” and not necessarily “against” although the elements of the anti-culture can be aggressive and hostile and often are). The Christ of the portrait is the way that many (post) moderns see Him, as a projection of their interior world actually, particularly as the ties that bind culture together grow progressively weaker. The painter titled it “Jesus Christ Superstar.” I’d subtitle it “Secular Jesus” or “Acculturated Christ” (maybe even “Episcopalian Savior”). (Jesus Christ Superstar, Anthony Falbo<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

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Affirm Duty to Awaken Consciences<\/strong><\/p>\n
RHODES, Greece, OCT. 27, 2010 (Zenit.org<\/a>).- Representatives from both the Catholic and Orthodox Churches in Europe are sharing concerns about the secularization of society.<\/p>\n
The warned about the dangers derived from a secularized society, “without points of moral reference and without a plan worthy of the human person,” in a final communiqu\u00e9 of the 2nd Catholic Orthodox Forum.<\/p>\n
The forum took place Oct. 18-22 in Rhodes, on the theme “Church-State Relations: Theological and Historical Perspectives.”
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\nIt was presided over by Metropolitan Gennadios of Sassima of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, and by Cardinal Peter Erdo, president of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE). Some 17 delegates from the council participated, and as many other representatives of the Orthodox Churches.<\/p>\n
The participants affirmed, “It is not possible to lay the foundations of coexistence without establishing a relationship with the objective reality of the human being, with the need to be open to the whole reality in which he is integrated, which is not just reduced to the quest for material well-being, but which includes the search for the meaning of life through a never ending spiritual quest.”<\/p>\n
They added, “The image of the human being that is projected in public speeches and in the media is often foreign to the quest for truth, while the satisfaction of subjective desires is valued exclusively.”<\/p>\n
“The juridical order on which states are erected and, hence, relations between citizens, cannot depend on people’s changing opinions, or on the action of pressure groups,” the communiqu\u00e9 stated.<\/p>\n
It stressed that this order “must be based on intangible human values,” that are “innate to the human being” and “preceding the law and the state.”<\/p>\n
The Forum addressed some topics in particular: the Church-state relationship from the theological and historical point of view, the way in which Churches live their relations with the state; the common good and the service\/diakonia of the Church to society.<\/p>\n
The communiqu\u00e9 noted that in Europe the system of separation with cooperation between the Church and the state is the most widespread.<\/p>\n
It added that this separation must be understood “as separation of the political and religious fields, and not in the sense of a reciprocal ignorance, impossible to apply.”<\/p>\n
Harmonious cooperation<\/strong><\/p>\n
“Independence and reciprocal autonomy must allow for a specific and harmonious cooperation between the two institutions,” the participants stated.<\/p>\n
In this context, they added, the Churches “wish to participate more actively in the ethical and moral debates that affect the future of society.”<\/p>\n
The participants affirmed, “It seems important to us to confirm that our countries of Europe cannot break off their Christian roots without destroying themselves and that the ethical challenges are determinant for our future in a globalized world.”<\/p>\n
“The Churches have the duty to awaken consciences,” they asserted, “and to defend the dignity of the human person created in the image of God,” confirming in particular “the right to conscientious objection for medical staff, whom no one can oblige to practice abortion or euthanasia.”<\/p>\n
The communiqu\u00e9 particularly mentioned “the notable differences” existing between the Churches in regard to their material conditions of life:” Some “are financed with state money, others have a system of ecclesiastical tax imposed by law, others take recourse exclusively to the donations of the faithful.”<\/p>\n
It acknowledged that “in some countries of Europe, the Churches continue to wait for the restitution of the goods that were confiscated by the Communist regime, something that would enable them to fulfill their pastoral, charitable and social mission.”<\/p>\n
Finally, the forum participants insisted on liberty of education, affirming that the duty of education belongs to parents.<\/p>\n
They stated that the Church “has the constitutive right to offer an education that is in conformity with the Christian principles of the families that have requested it.”<\/p>\n
The 3rd Catholic Orthodox Forum will be held in Lisbon, Portugal, in 2012.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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