Pierre the Great Posted May 21, 2006 Share Posted May 21, 2006 Pope Cites Secularism in Canada Birth Rate Pope Benedict XVI said Saturday that low birth rates in Canada are the result of the "pervasive effects of secularism" and asked the country's bishops to counter the trend by preaching the truth of Christ. Benedict, who has spoken out several times in favor of large families, blamed Canada's low birth rate on social ills and moral ambiguities that result from secular ideology. "Like many countries ... Canada is today suffering from the pervasive effects of secularism," Benedict told visiting bishops from Canada. "One of the more dramatic symptoms of this mentality, clearly evident in your own region, is the plummeting birth rate." Canada's birth rate in 2005 was 10.5 births for every 1,000 people, according to Statistics Canada. "Canadians look to you to be men of hope, preaching and teaching with passion the splendor of the truth of Christ who dispels the darkness and illuminates the way to renew ecclesiastical and civic life," the pontiff told the bishops, speaking in English. Separately, Benedict told the new Spanish ambassador to the Holy See that family based on marriage should not be "replaced or confused" by other institutions — an allusion to gay marriage, which is legal in Spain. Benedict said he hoped his planned visit to Valencia, Spain, in July to attend a church gathering dedicated to families would give him "an opportunity to celebrate the beauty and fecundity of the family based on marriage, its very high calling and its essential social value." The pope has been leading a church campaign in defense of traditional families. He also reiterated church opposition to abortion and euthanasia. "The church proclaims without reserve the primordial right to life, from conception to natural death, the right to birth, to create and live in a family, without it being substituted or confused by other forms or different institutions," Benedict said, speaking in Spanish. Ambassador Francisco Vazquez Vazquez described the audience as "cordial and affectionate." Ties between the Holy See and Spain have been strained since Spain's Socialists took office in 2004 with an agenda that has included legalizing gay marriage and making it easier for Spaniards to obtain divorce in the traditionally Roman Catholic country. "pervasive effects of secularism" Please Ratzinger thats all you could come up with? Benedict, who has spoken out several times in favor of large families, blamed Canada's low birth rate on social ills and moral ambiguities that result from secular ideology. If I'm not mistaken Canada is suppose to GROW in the next 50 years. Unless He's talking about Quebec which is a totally differnt matter. But of course he's worried about small families because that means less catholics which equals less money going back to the Vatican. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetsniper Posted May 21, 2006 Share Posted May 21, 2006 Bow down to the Sith Lord! Haha, sorry if thats offensive but he really does look like the Emperor from Star Wars. He just needs lightning to shoot from his fingers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierre the Great Posted May 21, 2006 Author Share Posted May 21, 2006 I used to be religious but now I just can't take the stupidity of the leaders. And I'm not even Catholic, I'm Lutheran. But to me the Catholic church looks, sounds and acts like a big mafia gang. The Archbishop of St. Louis for example EX-COMMUNICATED a polish church because they weren't giving him money!!! How pathetic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheAussiePosse Posted May 22, 2006 Share Posted May 22, 2006 Go Lutherans! It is a shame, I don't agree with a lot of his policies, and didn't like his meddling with the US election, it was anti- rather than pro-. But you can pick your friends, you can pick your relatives... (nothing about noses) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierre the Great Posted May 22, 2006 Author Share Posted May 22, 2006 Yep I'm a Lutheran. Talk about getting into elections. The archbishop here Raymond Burke refused to give communion to ANYONE who voted democrat or 'pro-choice' or pro- stem cell. Came to my school. Thought about punching his fat a** of his little high horse but then I probly would be thrown in jail for the rest of my life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonus Posted May 22, 2006 Share Posted May 22, 2006 i wonder how much religiosity has as much effect on birth rate as GDP/capita. I really dont know. Hey, catholicism is anti-birth control and abortion. They are for fruitful multiplication (like most other major religions), so the Pope is being rational. Would the Canadian birth rate be significantly higher if we were all observant catholics? Maybe... I wonder why I never hear Benedict say something nice about anything... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheAussiePosse Posted May 22, 2006 Share Posted May 22, 2006 Yep I'm a Lutheran. Talk about getting into elections. The archbishop here Raymond Burke refused to give communion to ANYONE who voted democrat or 'pro-choice' or pro- stem cell. Came to my school. Thought about punching his fat a** of his little high horse but then I probly would be thrown in jail for the rest of my life. Yeah, seriously, we're studying law over here, violence against a police officer or religious leader is a jailable offense. Still, it could be worse. He could be anti-sex. At least his arguments have some sense, even if you don't agree with them, they're somewhat rational. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InsaneHABSfan Posted May 22, 2006 Share Posted May 22, 2006 After reading this thread it worries me a little bit about how the hearts of many are becoming hard to religion. Recently I have let religion back into me life, not because of any recent events. When I read how a minister lets politics dictate the flock members, I know this minister is destined to be in the book of H-E-Double-Hockey-Sticks. We were warned about false prophits or those that do not speak the truth and this gentleman is one. I am Catholic however I am looking for a church that teaches the word of God not just going through the motions. It does not have to be Catholic, just an honest open arms church for true belivers. Fortunately for me the Pope does not represent what I understand religion to be about. He is not the judge of the country I live in and his words make no difference with my personal relationship with the creator. I understand his views about keeping marriage(Church, not State) a sacred vow between man and woman and agree. His plan should be attracting people to the church, not being a busy body that drives people like me away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dutch_Habs_Fan Posted May 22, 2006 Share Posted May 22, 2006 I think he wants the planet to be to crowded, so we cut down the Woods for some more houses and skyscrapers. I think he's against the enviroment Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonus Posted May 22, 2006 Share Posted May 22, 2006 I think he wants the planet to be to crowded, so we cut down the Woods for some more houses and skyscrapers. I think he's against the enviroment haha - that's like straight out of Illuminatus Trilogy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierre the Great Posted May 22, 2006 Author Share Posted May 22, 2006 After reading this thread it worries me a little bit about how the hearts of many are becoming hard to religion. Recently I have let religion back into me life, not because of any recent events. When I read how a minister lets politics dictate the flock members, I know this minister is destined to be in the book of H-E-Double-Hockey-Sticks. We were warned about false prophits or those that do not speak the truth and this gentleman is one. I am Catholic however I am looking for a church that teaches the word of God not just going through the motions. It does not have to be Catholic, just an honest open arms church for true belivers. Fortunately for me the Pope does not represent what I understand religion to be about. He is not the judge of the country I live in and his words make no difference with my personal relationship with the creator. I understand his views about keeping marriage(Church, not State) a sacred vow between man and woman and agree. His plan should be attracting people to the church, not being a busy body that drives people like me away. The best thing to do then in my opinion is to go it alone. You know whats good and whats not you can make your own decisions. Thats what I've been doing for the past 2 years. Haven't been to a church service since my pastor was sleeping with the youth minister at a youth convention. Then the other lutheran church the more conservative one (missouri-synod) railed the catholic church at my great uncles funeral when the rest of his family who was sitting in the front row were catholic. Then the catholic church and the local archbishop here Raymond Burke excommunicating a polish community because they would not give up there church and not giving communion to any democrat or politician that voted pro-choice. And to top it off the missouri synod was going to excommunicate my uncle because he was deemed too liberal but then the president had a heart attack and died (a sign from heaven). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean Posted May 23, 2006 Share Posted May 23, 2006 Would the Canadian birth rate be significantly higher if we were all observant catholics? Maybe Most definitively, yes it would be Back in the 1950s and before, Québec was one of the most catholic place in the world and our birth rate was one of the highest on the planet. But since the 1960s the Québec societey secularised itself at capital S speed and our birth rate is now one of the lowest on the planet Within 20 years we went from one extreme to the other. Isn't theyre no place for middle ground anymore? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Puck Posted May 23, 2006 Share Posted May 23, 2006 I can't help but notice that the pope himself seems not to have produced any progeny. Or maybe he has? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierre the Great Posted May 23, 2006 Author Share Posted May 23, 2006 Most definitively, yes it would be Back in the 1950s and before, Québec was one of the most catholic place in the world and our birth rate was one of the highest on the planet. But since the 1960s the Québec societey secularised itself at capital S speed and our birth rate is now one of the lowest on the planet Within 20 years we went from one extreme to the other. Isn't theyre no place for middle ground anymore? Come now what do you want? Long gone are the days of Jean Chretien and his 19 brothers and sisters. Two kids is enough now. Quebec isn't a farming community like it was in yester year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean Posted May 23, 2006 Share Posted May 23, 2006 Granted we're not catholic farmers anymore but nowadays it went to the other extreme. At 1.3/1.4 kids per women, Québec is digging it's own grave in the long term. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dutch_Habs_Fan Posted May 24, 2006 Share Posted May 24, 2006 haha - that's like straight out of Illuminatus Trilogy The what?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierre the Great Posted May 24, 2006 Author Share Posted May 24, 2006 Granted we're not catholic farmers anymore but nowadays it went to the other extreme. At 1.3/1.4 kids per women, Québec is digging it's own grave in the long term. Simple fix: Tax cuts if you have more then 1 kid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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