Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, one of the most powerful men in the Vatican, has given an interview to the leftist Italian newspaper, La Republica, denouncing the rise of a "worrying and aggressive" militant secularism, which threatens to drive out Christianity. Pointing to countries such as Canadsa and Sweden, where the expression of Christian religious doctrine on homosexuality has been criminalized, the Cardinal may be launching a counter—reformation, as it were.

The Telegraph of the U.K. carries a summary of this important apparent manifesto. With the prospect of selecting a successor to John Paul II, there is speculation that Cardinal Ratzinger himself may be a possibility. His advanced age makes a potential Papacy of his likely to be a short one. Be that as it may, it is heartening to see the Catholic Church once more taking the lead in defending faith itslef, and the values common to the Judeo—Christian tradition.

Hat tip: Herb Meyer

Thomas Lfison   11 20 04