The Pope lays out some of
the existing cultural conditions that contribute to the difficulty of
evangelization. There exists a distorted egocentric view of freedom that makes
the individual the highest level of existence rather than a socio-centric view that
would allow mores to exist that would protect societies from socially
destructive behaviors. The idea that there exists natural human characteristics
that provide a basis for cultural norms that society would gladly and willingly embrace is entirely foreign in some of our
modern day cultures. We are either in a place where individual rights allow for
nearly any kind of behavior or where individual rights are completely
subordinated to the dictates of the rich or powerful. For those of us in the United States that believe we live under the former condition, you may want to think twice.
The following excerpts are from the section of the letter subtitled "Some cultural challenges":
59. ... until exclusion and
inequality in society and between peoples are reversed, it will be impossible
to eliminate violence.
When a society – whether local, national or global – is willing to leave a part of itself on the fringes, no political programmes or resources spent on law enforcement or surveillance systems can indefinitely guarantee tranquility.
Just as goodness tends to spread, the toleration of evil, which is injustice, tends to expand its baneful influence and quietly to undermine any political and social system, no matter how solid it may appear.
60. Today’s economic mechanisms promote inordinate consumption, yet it is evident that unbridled consumerism combined with inequality proves doubly damaging to the social fabric.
62. In the prevailing culture, priority is given to the outward, the immediate, the visible, the quick, the superficial and the provisional. What is real gives way to appearances.
When a society – whether local, national or global – is willing to leave a part of itself on the fringes, no political programmes or resources spent on law enforcement or surveillance systems can indefinitely guarantee tranquility.
Just as goodness tends to spread, the toleration of evil, which is injustice, tends to expand its baneful influence and quietly to undermine any political and social system, no matter how solid it may appear.
60. Today’s economic mechanisms promote inordinate consumption, yet it is evident that unbridled consumerism combined with inequality proves doubly damaging to the social fabric.
62. In the prevailing culture, priority is given to the outward, the immediate, the visible, the quick, the superficial and the provisional. What is real gives way to appearances.
... By the same token, the
bishops of Asia “underlined the external influences being brought to bear on
Asian cultures. New patterns of behaviour are emerging as a result of
over-exposure to the mass media... As a result, the negative aspects of the
media and entertainment industries are threatening traditional values, and in
particular the sacredness of marriage and the stability of the family”.
63. The Catholic faith of many peoples is nowadays being challenged by the proliferation of new religious movements, some of which tend to fundamentalism while others seem to propose a spirituality without God.
... We must recognize that if part of our baptized people lack a sense of belonging to the Church, this is also due to certain structures and the occasion- ally unwelcoming atmosphere of some of our parishes and communities, or to a bureaucratic way of dealing with problems, be they simple or complex, in the lives of our people.
64. The process of secularization tends to reduce the faith and the Church to the sphere of the private and personal ... it has produced a growing deterioration of ethics, a weakening of the sense of personal and collective sin, and a steady increase in relativism....
...the bishops of the United States of America have rightly pointed out, while the Church insists on the existence of objective moral norms which are valid for everyone, “there are those in our culture who portray this teaching as unjust that is, as opposed to basic human rights....”
In response, we need to provide an education which teaches critical thinking and encourages the development of mature moral values.
63. The Catholic faith of many peoples is nowadays being challenged by the proliferation of new religious movements, some of which tend to fundamentalism while others seem to propose a spirituality without God.
... We must recognize that if part of our baptized people lack a sense of belonging to the Church, this is also due to certain structures and the occasion- ally unwelcoming atmosphere of some of our parishes and communities, or to a bureaucratic way of dealing with problems, be they simple or complex, in the lives of our people.
64. The process of secularization tends to reduce the faith and the Church to the sphere of the private and personal ... it has produced a growing deterioration of ethics, a weakening of the sense of personal and collective sin, and a steady increase in relativism....
...the bishops of the United States of America have rightly pointed out, while the Church insists on the existence of objective moral norms which are valid for everyone, “there are those in our culture who portray this teaching as unjust that is, as opposed to basic human rights....”
In response, we need to provide an education which teaches critical thinking and encourages the development of mature moral values.
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