Russian prelate says 'godless' West doomed to collapse
April 08, 2011
Russia represents the best hope for Europe's future, according to a prominent official of the Russian Orthodox Church.
"Russia has no future without conscience, morals and normal human relations and without faith," Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin told a Russian television audience. He said that Russia's abiding religious faith is the reason why the country represents "the best future" for Europe.
Other European countries, and the US, have lost their moral bearings because they have embraced secularism, the Russian cleric said. "The West is now that same godless system which has collapsed as Communism, it has collapsed as Nazism, and it will collapse as capitalism."
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Posted by: -
Apr. 10, 2011 3:33 PM ET USA
Hmm . . I think some of you have been drinking too deeply from the Marxist cocktail. "Archpriest" Chaplin (any relation to Charlie?) is quite right that a "godless" West is doomed, but that is in virtue of its godlessness, not necessarily its capitalism - Chaplin subtly slips from the former to the latter. Capitalism can be, but need not be, godless. It is no more and no less godless than the people who practice it.
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Posted by: frjpharrington3912 -
Apr. 09, 2011 11:46 PM ET USA
In his Encyclical Charity in Truth, the Holy Father says that economic systems which deny the "influences of moral character" are inherently flawed by the effects of original sin and are unable to deliver the goods and services of personal and social freedom which they promise. With out the aid of the supernatural virtues of faith, hope and charity man's fallen nature devolves into greed and self interests where the weak become the prey of the rich and powerful forces in society.
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Posted by: hartwood01 -
Apr. 08, 2011 11:22 PM ET USA
He is right on the money. He has described the U.S perfectly.
