Scottish Catholic Observer

Pope Benedict XVI defended the ‘integrity’ and ‘uniqueness’ of marriage between a man and a woman, during his four-day state visit to Germany last week in which he underlined Christian unity, interfaith dialogue and the urgent need for religion in an increasingly secularised society.

The Holy Father was making his first official visit to his homeland as Pope and, in addition to defending the sanctity of marriage in light of bids in Scotland and internationally to redefine it for same-sex couples, he also spoke out against abortion and euthanasia.

Guided by God

“Faith in God, the Creator of life, and unconditional adherence to the dignity of every human being strengthen faithful Christians to oppose vigorously every manipulative and selective intervention in the area of human life,” the Pope said in an address to Orthodox church leaders at the Seminary Hörsaal, Freiburg, on Saturday. “Knowing too the value of marriage and the family, we as Christians attach great importance to defending the integrity and the uniqueness of marriage between one man and one woman from any kind of misinterpretation.”

The Pope said that, in this respect, ‘the common engagement of Christians, including Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Christians, makes a valuable contribution to building up a society equipped for the future, in which the human person is given the respect which is his due.’

“In the present climate, in which many would like, as it were, to ‘liberate’ public life from God, the Christian Churches in Germany—including Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Christians—are walking side by side along the path of peaceful witness for understanding and solidarity among peoples, on the basis of their faith in the one God and Father of all,” the Holy Father said. “At the same time they continue to place the miracle of God’s incarnation at the centre of their proclamation. Realising that on this mystery all human dignity depends, they speak up jointly for the protection of human life from conception to natural death.”

Scottish reaction

The Holy Father’s messages from Germany had particular resonance with Catholics in Scotland, particularly his defence of the integrity of marriage.

The Pope’s words followed a recent statement from the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, in which they emphasised that they would ‘strenuously oppose’ any attempts from the Scottish Government to redefine marriage to include same-sex couples, while similar plans have also been proposed in England and Wales.

A newly released UK Government survey revealed that the majority of people in the country are not in favour of same-sex marriage.

John Deighan, parliamentary officer for Scotland’s Catholic bishops, welcomed the Holy Father’s comments in Germany.

“There is a real moral confusion across the world on issues like the right to life and the importance of the family built on marriage,” Mr Deighan said. “The Pope’s encouragement to all Christians to proclaim the Christian message is therefore of great importance if people are to have a chance of surviving the confusion of our times.

“The Pope has consistently emphasised the need to talk about God for the sake of our society because without God society loses sight of the importance and meaning of human life. It is therefore vital to heed his words and enthusiastically proclaim the full Christian message in society and not allow false ideas of tolerance and respect to silence us.”

Worldliness

On Sunday, the final day of the Papal visit to Germany, the Holy Father told Catholic workers that the Church must set aside Her ‘worldliness.’

“In order to accomplish Her true task adequately, the Church must constantly renew the effort to detach Herself from the ‘worldliness’ of the world,” Pope Benedict said to those gathered at Freiburg concert hall, including German president, Christian Wulff before adding “… One could almost say that history comes to the aid of the Church here through the various periods of secularisation, which have contributed significantly to Her purification and inner reform.”

Faced with many challenges today, the Pope (left) said that the Church’s ‘basic motive for change is the Apostolic Mission of the Disciples and the Church Herself.’

“The Church, in other words, must constantly rededicate Herself to Her mission,” the Pope said.

The Holy Father recalled that history has shown how a Church detached from the world can bear more effective missionary witness. “Once liberated from Her material and political burdens, the Church can reach out more effectively and in a truly Christian way to the whole world, She can be truly open to the world,” he said.

The Pope’s German visit ended on Sunday evening with an address to state officials at Lahr Airport, at which he encouraged the Church in Germany ‘to pursue with resolute confidence the path of faith which leads people back to their roots, to the heart of the Good News of Christ.’

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