Curial cardinal denounces secularization of religious life in Europe, North America
February 05, 2010
Denouncing the embrace of secularism that has characterized some European and North American religious communities in recent decades, Cardinal Franc Rode, prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, has called upon religious to present “alternatives to the dominant culture, which is a culture of death, of violence and of abuse.”
“The crisis experienced by certain religious communities, especially in Western Europe and North America, reflects the more profound crisis of European and American society,” he said. “All this has dried up the sources that for centuries have nourished consecrated and missionary life in the Church.”
“The secularized culture has penetrated into the minds and hearts of some consecrated persons and some communities, where it is seen as an opening to modernity and a way of approaching the contemporary world,” he added as he called upon religious to “overcome the egocentrism in which institutes are often closed.”
Cardinal Rode also described the post-Vatican II era of religious life as “rich in experimentation but poor in robust and convincing mission.”
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Feb. 05, 2010 6:32 PM ET USA
Hmmm. What to do? When there is a problem, there is usually somebody who you can report it to: who would that be? The bishops? They've know about it for decades and done little to nothing. The Pope? Ditto. Well, there is a visitation planned: we'll see if there is cooperation...and if not whether EFFECTIVE action is taken. After all, this is not a misunderstanding: it is utterly sincere rebellion.
