I think that mutual respect, etc., is a worthy goal. How do we accomplish that wrt people who utterly reject mutual respect in favor of forced conversion? It’s all well and good to say we should respect each other’s beliefs, but when those beliefs include killing priests at Mass, then, no, no respect is due.
Pope Benedict XVI talked about mutual respect in terms of reciprocity.
One-sided apology tours are not the way to go. When it comes to the relationship with God, well then, what does he have to apologize for, but every other group of people need to understand that nobody walks through this life without leaving footprints. Even myths about Mary walking through her childhood without her feet touching the ground are not scripture, but just myths.
It is good that Ben’s predecessor, St. Jon Paul II gave the apology on behalf of all Catholics to those of other faith traditions that Catholics have stepped on along the way. Initiating discussion through repentance is a very Catholic tradition.
But it is not as if Catholics also do not have tread marks all over their backs too in this long history between ourselves and other religionists. Mutual respect includes self-respect, and that means not making oneself into a doormat.
Catholic immigration policy is based on reciprocity. It involves not only being gracious hosts, but includes the expectation of gracious guests as well.
Love is a relationship. If it is not a two way street, than it isn’t love.
Unfortunately, the left has so poisoned our culture that when guests state unequivocally that they have no intention of respecting the culture of their hosts, the West ‘reciprocates’ by self-loathing and agreeing that there is nothing worthwhile in our culture to respect.
And the religious right often echoes that statement from the other direction.
Hey hey ho ho western civ has got to go…
going… going…