Author:
Publication: Zenit.org
Date: November 30, 2003
Voices Concern About New Age Mysticism,
Family Life, and More
[Note from the Hindu Vivek Kendra:
Would it not be appropriate if the Roman Catholic Church first re-Christainise
the Catholics before seeking newer pastures?]
Cardinal Keith O'Brien called for
a national effort to re-Christianize Scotland and urged resistance to tide
of secularization, especially concerning the celebration of Christmas.
At a National Mass on Saturday to
mark his recent appointment to the College of Cardinals, the archbishop
of St. Andrews and Edinburgh used his homily to defend Scotland's Christian
values and to urge Christians in other denominations and all people of
good will, to do likewise.
At the Mass in St. Mary's Cathedral,
he concluded with a call to "all our peoples to reconsider the basic Christian
message which has been handed on and lived in our country for almost 2,000
years now."
He also urged every local authority
in Scotland to erect a Nativity scene in their area at Christmas.
"I think it only appropriate that
there be a Nativity scene at the center of the celebrations of each of
our communities," he said. "Without this there is left a gaping hole at
the heart of the season of good will."
Excerpts from the homily appear
below.
Marriage and family life
Since my appointment as cardinal
I have shared with my own congregation's particular concerns which I also
share with many people of good will.
In our country as in many other
countries throughout the world there is a deterioration in standards with
regard to marriage and family life. I see it as one of my priorities to
help our young people better prepare for the sacrament of matrimony; to
have added support for them in their early years of married life; to give
appropriate help in bringing up their children; and as they live out their
married life to be enabled to learn from those in stable unions.
At a recent meeting of the National
Secretariat for the Laity of our Catholic Church, representatives of the
main organizations, groups and movements in our Church, with a particular
focus on working with families, spoke out about marriage and family life.
Among other things they said the following:
"It is in the best interests of
Scottish society, and is therefore a duty incumbent on all who are active
in public life, to respect and foster family life. All legislative and
fiscal policy must take account of the effect that it will have on this
core institution of our society and ensure that it is strengthened and
not undermined."
Re-Christianization
Marriage and family life is but
one of the very many concerns which I and others have at this present time.
I think that these concerns have grown in recent years quite simply because
of the unwillingness of many people to recognize and reaffirm the Christian
identity of Scotland and its peoples.
Consequently I have seen as a major
project for the years given to me to serve as cardinal the task of "Re-Christianization
of Scotland." This is indeed a major task, a project upon which one should
not enter upon lightly, and it is one which I cannot in any way face alone.
Consequently I appeal at this celebration for the ongoing help and support
of all members of my own Church. But I also appeal to the members of the
other Christian Churches in our country as well as to our civic leaders
who have been elected by them.
Other concerns
We might say at this present time
that, despite the baptism of our country some 1,600 years ago, the message
brought to us which found a ready audience among our ancestors is marginalized
and ignored. As a people we are the poorer for it!
At a time when our society craves
the moral and spiritual compass our faith can provide, we see people of
all ages turn to other influences and beliefs in the search for spiritual
meaning in their lives. Yet the increase in New Age mysticism, alternative
therapies, drug experimentation and secular humanism has been accompanied
by a huge increase in discontent and unhappiness as measured in opinion
polls and surveys.
Our material well-being has not
been matched by spiritual well-being. In the midst of our wealth and success
it seems that as a people we are more fearful, pessimistic and depressed
than ever!
At a time when Christians and Christian
leaders should be shouting from the rooftops about the benefits that come
from belief in God, we seem paralyzed by our own predicament, wary of causing
offense, and are all too willing to accept the conclusions of our detractors
that Christians are a spent force in the land. As the message of Christ
continues to illuminate the lives of millions of new believers around the
world, here in the ancient land of Scotland, although we were among the
first to hear the Gospel message, we no longer respond to it as once we
did.
We no longer seem to notice when
our Christian identity is attacked and marginalized. We are not ready to
respond to the attacks which take place at this present time with regard
to our basic moral teaching.
Even in recent days we have seen
examples of attempts to de-Christianize our country. A major charity refused
to allow its shops to sell products that have a Christian theme in the
run-up to Christmas! Further, the great majority of Christmas cards have
no mention of the word "Christmas." Mention is simply made of "Seasons
Greetings," as if we were singling out this "Winter Season" as a time of
special celebration.
Causes of hope
However I would hate you to think
that I am being too pessimistic at this present time. Rather the opposite.
I see in what I have already said above an outline of some of the challenges
that I and others are called upon to face.
My motto chosen some 18 years ago
when I was appointed archbishop consisted of words from Psalm 99: "Serve
the Lord with gladness!" And the theme for my own pastoral plan, chosen
a few years ago is: "Together in Hope." I link these words with the words
of Jesus to his first followers including St. Andrew: "Launch out into
the deep!"
There is no excuse for despair at
this present time. Rather there is much to be grateful for. I call in you
all to realize that:
-- We live in a civil, democratic
society, which sees freedom of religion as a cornerstone;
-- We will not suffer the persecutions
that many other countries endure when spreading and teaching their faith;
-- There still exists a "bedrock
of belief" upon which we can build.
We realize that in our courts of
law, oaths are still sworn on the Holy Bible; the two greatest festivals
in the Christian calendar, Christmas and Easter, remain as holidays to
be enjoyed and celebrated with our very calendar based on these events.
Our Christian churches work more closely together than ever before and
serve society in more ways than ever. At least three-quarters of our population
describe themselves as "Christians."
It is to our churches that we turn
week in and week out, with 600,000 Scots each Sunday faithfully attending
Christian churches to bear witness to their faith. As we know, it is also
in time of national grief, shock or sorrow that it is to our Churches that
people turn.
Facing the future
It is with all this in mind that
I believe that the time has come for a concerted and determined effort
to re-Christianize Scotland while also being aware of those of other faiths
in our midst. It is in the spirit of collaboration that I call on women
and men of good will in the Christian community to join me in this effort.
I further ask our politicians in local and national government to respect
the beliefs of the majority of our electors and the Christian origins of
our country. I ask serious consideration to be given to the following points.
1. I ask all our peoples to reconsider
the basic Christian message which has been handed on and lived in our country
for almost 2,000 years now. This is the standard by which we should be
living our lives and the standard which we should be handing on to our
young. We must focus on the fundamental teaching of Jesus Christ, first
of all.
2. I ask you all to recognize the
feast of our patron saint, St. Andrew on 30 November each year. Help would
be given in this if our Parliament recognized this day, St. Andrew's Day,
as a national holiday. In this way, we bring to the fore the fact that
as a country we have as our patron one of the great followers of Jesus
Christ, who did spread the Christian message in an outstanding way.
3. Aware that some 24 hours from
now I will dedicate with other Christian leaders the city of Edinburgh's
Nativity scene in Princes Street Gardens, I congratulate this city and
all the city and town councils in Scotland who have erected such scenes.
I would ask each and every council and community in Scotland to consider
doing likewise.
Aware of the remembrance memorials
which are the focus of our prayer on Remembrance Sunday and aware also
of the ways in which considerable sums of money are spent on Christmas
displays, I think it only appropriate that there be a Nativity scene at
the center of the celebrations of each of our communities. Without this
there is left a gaping hole at the heart of the season of good will.
4. I would call on all our peoples
to ensure that there is a real Christian commemoration of the feast of
Christmas by the cards that we send, the celebrations we undertake, and
the way in which we observe Christmas Day itself. Surely there is value
in our following the lead of parliamentary colleagues in Westminster and
assure our shop workers that they need not face Christmas Day opening.
Christmas is the time to think of one's family and the value of home life,
rather than shop life.
Conclusion
I indicated that I am aware of something
of the enormity of the task facing me as an archbishop and as a cardinal
at this present time. However I am also aware of the tremendous support
and help which I have already received. I am sure that that support and
help will continue in the years which lie ahead.
I similarly offer my own help and
support in every way possible to those who seek it and perhaps also to
some of those who do not seek it in my future service. On a recent visit
to one of our primary schools I was asked, "Why do cardinals always wear
red?" I indicated that red is the color of blood and that throughout the
Church's history cardinals have been called upon to shed their blood for
Christ.
Perhaps I will not be called upon
to shed my blood literally. But I assure you that I will spend myself in
service of Scotland, of Scotland's people, of all people of good will in
the years which lie ahead.
