Upholding ethical truths is not intolerance, Pope states

Last updated on: September 4, 2012 at 8:12 pm by CNA Daily News

Upholding ethical truths is not intolerance, Pope states 2012-09-04T20:12:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Castel Gandolfo, Italy, Sep 4, 2012 / 02:12 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Benedict XVI told a group of his former students that Christians should not be scared to uphold ethical truths despite the fear of being branded “intolerant.”

“Today, the concepts of truth and intolerance have almost fused together, so that to say that one has the truth becomes synonymous with intolerance. And we Christians do not dare to believe or to speak about the truth,” the Pope said in his homily during Sunday morning Mass at Castel Gandolfo.

The Sept. 2 liturgy at the papal summer residence marked the conclusion of this year’s Ratzinger Schülerkreis or Ratzinger Student Circle. Since 1977 the annual event has drawn together those who defended their doctoral theses with the present Pope during his years teaching theology at various universities in Germany.

According the Vatican Radio, Pope Benedict’s homily was based on an analysis of a passage in the Book of Deuteronomy that recalled how Israel received God’s law, which brought it authentic wisdom. The Pope said this wisdom was a gift to take joy in, rather than the result of some individual genius.

Similarly, he said, the Church is a “universal Israel” that must also take joy in God’s gift of Christ, the Law made flesh, without any sense of triumphalism but with gratitude for a gift we did not create. We must learn “to allow ourselves to be led by the truth,” he said, “then the truth will be able to shine through us anew, for the salvation of the world.”

Last year, for the first time ever, the Schülerkreis also included those who have written their doctrinal theses on texts by Joseph Ratzinger, now known as Pope Benedict XVI. With the addition of those students, the number of those participating in the three days of closed-door seminars increased to approximately 40.

This year the topic for group study and discussion was the Church’s ecumenical dialogue with Anglicanism and Lutheranism.

Schülerkreis member Cardinal Christoph Schönborn of Vienna recalled how Pope Benedict explained that “the most important thing is that we listen to each other” since as fellow Christians we cannot create unity, which “is a gift from God.” What can be done in ecumenism, added the Pope, is to “learn from each other how to follow Christ today.”

“That is beautiful,” said Cardinal Schönborn, “because it gave us such an input of hope for what were are doing with these dialogues that are often apparently without results – but if we meet each other in faith, then it is really a mutual enrichment in the faith in Christ.”

Pope Benedict’s 26-year academic career involved him teaching at universities in Bonn, Munster, Tubingen and Regensburg. He was appointed as Archbishop of Munich and Freising in 1977.

Vatican

Previous Post

September 4, 2012

Father Groeschel steps down from EWTN show

Next Post

September 4, 2012 World Youth Day organizers report widespread interest

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What is the effect of the Red Horse's arrival in revelations?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Plagues spread across the land Peace is taken from the earth People fall into a deep sleep The sun turns black