Church Won't Clash With State

[Sacramentalist]

From “Church Won’t Clash with State”:

In a message to parliament, Benedict said: “The Church in Italy and every other country does not intend to claim any privilege but rather to fulfill its mission in legitimate respect for the secular nature of the State.”

I simply do not understand why the Church shouldn’t expect to hold a privileged position in a State of which most citizens are Catholic.

Isn’t it the Church’s teaching that Catholic states (i.e. states with a majority Catholic population) ought to give a privileged place to the Catholic Church and her true religion?

 

[Reepicheep]

Not that I know of, and I don’t personally think we ought to claim such a position.

 

[Skotnicki]

From Pius IX’s syllabus of errors:

1. In the present day it is no longer expedient that the Catholic religion should be held as the only religion of the State, to the exclusion of all other forms of worship. – Allocution “Nemo vestrum,” July 26, 1855.
2. Hence it has been wisely decided by law, in some Catholic countries, that persons coming to reside therein shall enjoy the public exercise of their own peculiar worship. – Allocution “Acerbissimum,” Sept. 27, 1852.
3. Moreover, it is false that the civil liberty of every form of worship, and the full power, given to all, of overtly and publicly manifesting any opinions whatsoever and thoughts, conduce more easily to corrupt the morals and minds of the people, and to propagate the pest of indifferentism. – Allocution “Nunquam fore,” Dec. 15, 1856.
4. The Roman Pontiff can, and ought to, reconcile himself, and come to terms with progress, liberalism and modern civilization.- -Allocution “Jamdudum cernimus,” March 18, 1861.

papalencyclicals.net/Pius09/p9syll.htm

 

[Orionthehunter]

Sacramentalist:

From “Church Won’t Clash with State”:

I simply do not understand why the Church shouldn’t expect to hold a privileged position in a State of which most citizens are Catholic.

Isn’t it the Church’s teaching that Catholic states (i.e. states with a majority Catholic population) ought to give a privileged place to the Catholic Church and her true religion?

First of all, do you think that God’s plan is served when Islam has a “privileged place” in the Middle East?

Second, the Church’s primary mission is the conversion of souls. Places of “privilege” can be a distraction from the primary message of salvation.

Third, these souls have been given by God the opportunity to freely choose or reject God. Why would we believe that using the power of the state is in God’s plan? For instance, if a state would say that only people who are Catholic can vote, do you think such a conversion with the purpose of voting would be sincere?

 

[Amado_de_Dios]

Sacramentalist:

I simply do not understand why the Church shouldn’t expect to hold a privileged position in a State of which most citizens are Catholic.

Isn’t it the Church’s teaching that Catholic states (i.e. states with a majority Catholic population) ought to give a privileged place to the Catholic Church and her true religion?

Maybe in ancient times, yes, but today this is not possible. The Church has lost control of the country’s fate, and that is regrettable. But the Pope has to deal with the here and now, and, I believe, this is what he was addressing in parliament, that is, he was not stating a matter of doctrine, but a matter of fact.

God bless!

 

[koda]

Then what will you do with the citizens that aren’t Catholic, or even Christian? How would you prevent predjudice (or would you)? Would these people be ostracized from society, prevented from holding certain jobs, living in certain areas?