The prerequisite for democracy

Truth. Pope Benedict bases everything he says on the foundation of truth. Freedom is a noble goal, and every person deserves it. But it has to be a freedom ordered to truth.

Benedict has been talking about this to a group of Canadian bishops in Rome for their “ad limina” visit. As always, he talked about evangelizing the culture. Is that task tougher in this culture than it was when Christ taught the Apostles and then sent them out to the known world to pass it on? That was a tough world. Over the ages, hostility to the message has continued. It is creeping into formerly receptive territory now, so that besides the obvious enemies of message out there, this culture has absorbed relativism among the masses of…even Christians.

So….the Pope reminded the bishops that their “fundamental task” is to “make God visible in the human face of Jesus.” And he said he knows how difficult that is, judging by a report from Vatican Information Service.

“The split between the Gospel and culture, with the exclusion of God from the public sphere” is one of the “impediments to the spread of Christ’s Kingdom” said the Holy Father. “Canada has a well-earned reputation for a generous and practical commitment to justice and peace, and there is an enticing sense of vibrancy and opportunity in your multicultural cities. At the same time, however, certain values … have evolved in the most disturbing of ways. In the name of ‘tolerance’ your country has had to endure the folly of the redefinition of spouse, and in the name of ‘freedom of choice’ it is confronted with the daily destruction of unborn children. When the Creator’s divine plan is ignored the truth of human nature is lost.”

This could just as easily be said of the United States.

“Democracy succeeds,” the Holy Father insisted, “only to the extent that it is based on truth and a correct understanding of the human person. Catholic involvement in political life cannot compromise on this principle. … In your discussions with politicians and civic leaders I encourage you to demonstrate that our Christian faith, far from being an impediment to dialogue, is a bridge, precisely because it brings together reason and culture.”

There are some Catholic politicians in America that some bishops in America should be haveing those discussions with, and sometime before the election would be good.