Don't just mourn, have babies!

By Leila Marie Lawler ( articles ) | Jul 14, 2003

It's good that the Pope is reminding Europeans about Christian culture, their culture. Have you seen Mostly Martha? It's a beautiful movie. I don't want to give away the end or anything, but suffice it to say that it evokes the warm-extended-family-at-a-long-table-under-the-trees-in-sunny-Italy picture that we all have tucked away somewhere in our hearts.

And that picture, an idisputable ideal of Catholic culture, has one essential element: children. Making it quite ironic that we always associate it with Italy, which has the lowest birthrate in Europe.

Although his words have a melancholic, valedictory tone, the Pope must mean this as well: to have culture, have children!