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Growing Anti-Clericalism
In an Article on Laicism and Secularism
ROME, NOV. 22, 2004 - An expert
in ecclesial affairs cautions about a growing anti-clerical mentality and the
conformism that it is producing.
Father Giandomenico Mucci writes about the trend in the latest edition of the
review Civiltà Cattolica.
"Anti-clericalism is a political view," he writes, borrowing a phrase from
philosopher Richard Rorty. "It is the idea that ecclesiastical institutions,
despite all the good they do, are dangerous for the health of democratic
societies."
Yet, in the face of this anti-clerical mentality, "in general, silence is kept,"
says Father Mucci, an expert in ecclesial affairs.
Articles that appear in Civiltà Cattolica are reviewed by the Vatican
Secretariat of State before publication.
In the article, Father Mucci states: "Laicism is a positive value, recognized by
the Church when it means the autonomy of the civil and political sphere from the
religious-ecclesiastical." He justifies it with three principles: "the
inseparable character between politics and morality; the separation between
political society and religious community; and the exclusion of agnosticism or
state atheism."
"Laicism is profoundly linked with pluralism, which is the immediate consequence
of freedom," he explains.
"For its part, the only thing the Church does is to show its concern not to
confuse the plurality of culturally and politically legitimate options, with
pluralism on the question of moral principles or of substantial values in the
Christian conscience," the priest continues.
Father Mucci distinguishes between laicism and secularism, quoting intellectual
Claudio Magris, who describes the latter as an intolerant current typical of
bourgeois environments -- middle or upper class -- because of their religious
beliefs or values on life.
The priests explains that laicism is not "monolithic" and acknowledges that
there are many differences within it, mentioning for example the diverse
secularist conceptions in France -- an "interpretation that is based on an
atheist and agnostic view of the world" -- and in Italy "which scorns doctrines
and opinions of the Catholic world."
The article ends with a question: "Is there a new form of despotism at the
door?"
+About Monastic Holy Orders: a basic
+Society of St. Jude Thaddeus (SSJt.)
+Orthodox Order of Friars Minor (OOFM)
+Servants (In Service) to Christ (SC)
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