Religion & Europe

With the recent election in the US, America was inundated with countless stories on the "moral values voters" and religion's impact on the American electorate. Though the MSM tried to promote this as a new event or even an anomaly, a large subsection of "God-fearing" Americans see it as an everyday occurrence. As one of those "God fearing" people, I realize that this nation is highly religious with such roots dating back to Plymouth Rock but I am also aware of the cross-current of secular humanism that is slowly but surely seeping into our culture. Whether in our books, magazines, TV shows, movies, music and especially amongst the elites in this nation, you have this desire to sweep religion from the scene. Just look at the recent Supreme Court hearings on the Pledge of Allegiance or the hearings on the display of the Ten Commandments. Though the tide of "God-fearing" believers is much greater than the secular humanists in this nation, one cannot say the same for the European continent. This emerging devotion to secular humanism is at an all-time high amongst the elite that it has penetrated even the EU Constitution. For those unaware, the EU caused a fuss throughout The Vatican and millions of Christians who inhabit the European continent, by leaving out all references to God or a higher being. I guess they don't believe in the US passage "endowed by their creator" should be in their constitution or founding documents. I think Pope John Paul II put it best when he said that "One does not cut off the roots from which one is born." To read more, read here, here, here, and here.

In today's edition of National Review Online, John O'Sullivan has written a wonderful piece on the decline of religion in Europe. According to Mr. O'Sullivan, the most likely individual to restore the religious culture to the European continent is Pope John Paul II. Though he may be infirmed due to his recent bouts with Parkinson's and his most recent respiratory problems, the Pope also is the one true individual who has the ability to touch so many hearts. In the same manner that his Eminence touched the hearts of countless individuals locked behind the Iron Curtain toiling under Soviet Tyranny and countless others who traveled hundreds and even thousands of miles to grace his appearance. If he could achieve the inevitable during the Cold War, O'Sullivan believes that the Pope can achieve the same in Europe. Here's a sample of the piece:

Pope John Paul II, who has strongly supported European unity throughout his papacy as the modern expression of Christendom, now finds that it has become instead the expression of secular fundamentalism.

It surely grieves him. But is there perhaps in the pope's pilgrimages to the third world and in the "reverse missionaries" from there to Europe the hand of providence a second time?

Thousands of pilgrims from all over the world came to St Peter's Square last Sunday to see the silent pope and hear his appeal for their prayers read by another.

Will the millions of new Christians they represent in Asia and Africa be the vehicles of the saving grace that will rejuvenate the tired churches of Europe? And will the pope himself live to lead this renaissance as he led the last? Or will he merely glimpse from afar, like Moses, the promised land he is not permitted to enter?

Not to be in the least flippant but: God only knows.

The challenge for The Vatican and millions upon millions of "God-fearing" inhabitants of Europe is very great especially with the power of the secular humanist elites that run the EU and the culture centers. While its daunting, the battle for Christianity's Soul in Europe is winnable, only if people are willing to follow The Church. To get a better perspective on the daunting quest that awaits the Pope and his acolytes take a look at this three part series in The Christian Science Monitor on religion in Europe here, here, and here.