Report says Pope to launch 'Pontifical Council for New Evangelization' [John Allen]

[Catholic_Press]

By JOHN L. ALLEN JR.

According to a report from a well-connected Italian Vatican writer, Pope Benedict XVI will shortly announce the creation of a “Pontifical Council for the New Evangelization,” to be presided over by Italian Archbishop Rino Fisichella. The office will be dedicated to rekindling the faith in the developed West, above all Europe and North America.

Assuming that report is correct, it’s striking for at least three reasons:

• It’s the first significant new structure in the Vatican created under Benedict XVI, reflecting his personal interest in the re-evangelization of traditional Christian lands in the West, where centuries of secularization have taken a steep toll;
• The move would amount to a vindication for Fisichella, who has been under fire from pro-life forces for an allegedly “soft” stance on abortion as President of the Pontifical Academy for Life;
• It’s also another trace of the influence of the Catholic movement Communion and Liberation upon Pope Benedict, since the suggestion for the creation of a “Council for the New Evangelization” first came from the movement’s late founder in the early 1980s.

More…

 

[Dale_M]

the article:

The report was published in the Italian daily Il Giornale on Sunday, April 25, 2010, by veteran Vatican writer Andrea Tornielli. He wrote that a formal announcement of the new “dicastery,” meaning a department within the Vatican, will be made “in coming weeks.”

The term “the New Evangelization” was popularized by Pope John Paul II, who used it to refer to efforts to reawaken the faith in traditionally Christian parts of the world, particularly Europe. The idea was that while the developed West was first “evangelized,” or converted to Christianity, many centuries ago, today it stands in need of a “new evangelization.”

I’m surprised this hasn’t been discussed already. Surely, it will be easier to evangelize a former Christian culture than a non Christian culture. And, clearly, Europe is post-Christian… being largely secular, with church attendance roughly 1/3 of that of the US.

 

[Digitonomy]

Surely, it will be easier to evangelize a former Christian culture than a non Christian culture.

I’m not so sure about this. It’s not as if the Church hasn’t been trying in Europe. The target market has a negative preconception that must be overcome. While a bit more groundwork may be needed in explaining the theology to a non-Christian culture, the Church has been fairly successful in non-Christian areas, at least where not inhibited by local laws. Of course, part of that may have to do with a coherent, well-developed message contrasting with the local tribal traditions. Another big part is no doubt the Catholic missionaries’ investments in local education, health care, food distribution, etc. Absent those needs, I’m not sure that Catholic evangelism has been more sucessful in non-Christian cultures (e.g. Japan) than in Europe. So perhaps you’re right.

 

[jdnation]

I’m surprised this hasn’t been discussed already. Surely, it will be easier to evangelize a former Christian culture than a non Christian culture. And, clearly, Europe is post-Christian… being largely secular, with church attendance roughly 1/3 of that of the US.

Not really… Falling back on the fact that a culture’s former religion was Christianity may help open a discussion. But at the same time the culture thinks in a more progressive and evolutionary perspective. So what is old must be outdated and no longer necessary.

You might as well also consider the West to be another pagan non-Christian culture. They have no basic understanding of concepts like sin nor that God created them. Evolutionary indoctrination, scientism and secular humanism reign supreme, even amongst those who identify themselves as Christian. And the uptick of liberal theology and protestantism have only made Christian beliefs more complicated.

 

[OriginalJS]

Given what is reported to be the situation in Europe and the United States, it appears the Pope is of the opinion that some measures are going to have to be undertaken to prevent the Church from losing even more of its moral authority. Determining what measures to try is going to be a herculean task with no guarantee of success. There are highly successful mega-churches in the US who have used modern methods and watered down theology to gain influence, such as preaching the “prosperity gospel.” I don’t think the church can use many such tactics and still remain Catholic, at least as we know it. The problem is not membership, there are more Catholics now than ever, the problem is that many Catholics simply don’t agree with the Church on religious and moral issues, and provide little support.

 

[kenofken]

They would do better to spend that time and energy working on in-house issues. It’s not a matter of fidning a clever ad campaign or copy writer. Most of us pagans and or “secularists” simply don’t want what you have to sell. If you want a real and relevant conversion challenge, you might try bringing some of the bishops to Christ.

 

[Onyx88]

my mother’s priest said that there were 125,000 people that got baptized during the Easter vigils everywhere

i’m glad because i know of a few friends who didn’t baptize their kids and aren’t raising them Catholic.

 

[Onyx88]

They would do better to spend that time and energy working on in-house issues. It’s not a matter of fidning a clever ad campaign or copy writer. Most of us pagans and or “secularists” simply don’t want what you have to sell. If you want a real and relevant conversion challenge, you might try bringing some of the bishops to Christ.

what does that mean ~ “bringing some bishops to Christ”?

 

[gakroeger]

By JOHN L. ALLEN JR.

According to a report from a well-connected Italian Vatican writer, Pope Benedict XVI will shortly announce the creation of a “Pontifical Council for the New Evangelization,” to be presided over by Italian Archbishop Rino Fisichella. The office will be dedicated to rekindling the faith in the developed West, above all Europe and North America.

Assuming that report is correct, it’s striking for at least three reasons:

• It’s the first significant new structure in the Vatican created under Benedict XVI, reflecting his personal interest in the re-evangelization of traditional Christian lands in the West, where centuries of secularization have taken a steep toll;
• The move would amount to a vindication for Fisichella, who has been under fire from pro-life forces for an allegedly “soft” stance on abortion as President of the Pontifical Academy for Life;
• It’s also another trace of the influence of the Catholic movement Communion and Liberation upon Pope Benedict, since the suggestion for the creation of a “Council for the New Evangelization” first came from the movement’s late founder in the early 1980s.

More…

Here is an article in the Catholic News Agency today…

Click here

As secular as the U.S. is becoming, Europe is much worse. At least many of the Chuches in the U.S. are full on Sundays and especially on Christmas and Easter. No so in Europe.