An aide to an Archbishop in England is in a bit of hot water for calling England a “selfish hedonistic wasteland” and the “geopolitical epicentre of the culture of death”. Media are tearing into him, members of Parliament have commented negatively, gay activists are criticizing the Church and it’s created a big brouhaha over there.
And I’m wondering if we expected the hedonistic wasteland to respond any differently? Hedonistic wastelands don’t do introspection. And they certainly don’t want to do redemption. No. Content to feed on the ashes of civilization, the hedonists defend the wasteland. That’s what they do. Like pigs in mud, the hedonists have convinced themselves they actually like it.
There might be an argument that other countries are slightly ahead on the path to out and out hedonistic wasteland status but certainly England is doing its jolly best to being the premier hedonistic wasteland of our time.
Look at our own country which is also vying for the role of foremost hedonistic wasteland. Those who simply say that marriage is between a man and a woman are marginalized and called bigots and homophobes.
Those who oppose President Barack Obama’s healthcare plan are racists for standing against the first African American President.
Those who espouse a culture of life for everyone from the unborn to the terminally ill are called religious wackos who should stay out of secular politics.
Was it smart for the aide to say these things on the eve of the Pope’s visit? Maybe. Maybe not. The Archbishop distanced himself from the remarks of his aide so clearly he didn’t think so. With Pope Benedict coming you should probably leave the messaging to him. But to me, whether it was smart to say it or not it’s still the truth.
But we know for the future that hedonistic wastelanders prefer to work in silence, without critique. All violators will be persecuted.
September 3, 2010 at 5:03 am
What's worse that the public reaction so far, is Archbishop Nichols' camp. It was essentially, "we do not endorse the preceding message". We, meaning Catholics, need leaders who will stand up. This is why so many in Europe and the US are gravitating to Mohammedanism. It gives a clear and absolute morality. We HAVE that in Catholicism, although it is not stated anymore.
September 3, 2010 at 6:25 am
As an Expat Brit, I tried to set out the Catholic position on the comments section of a left-of-centre British newspaper (see http://tinyurl.com/33epkg5) that covered this story. I'm never sure if doing so is of any use but if my comments cause just 1 person to reflect etc etc….
Mostly the 'hedonists' feel they have an easy retort to any pearls we Catholics throw before them, which is to refute the whole of Catholic teaching because of recent sex-scandals. I'm sure it's never been easy to evangelise, but it sure feels difficult now. Certainly, there was plenty of bile in the 500 or so comments.
September 3, 2010 at 8:02 am
If I am not mistaken, of all the Catholic bishops at the time of Henry VIII's apostasy, only John Fisher took the route to the crown of martyrdom. The others simply followed Henry and are, for the most part, forgotten shadows under late His Majesty's consummate hedonism and venereal waste.
September 3, 2010 at 9:10 am
"The Archbishop distanced himself from the remarks of his aide so clearly he didn't think so."
And therein lies the problem. Bishops who won't stand up for the truth. We had such high hopes for Archbishop Nichols but like his predecessor he is more interested in cosying up to the establishment and placating the secularists than proclaiming the Gospel.
September 3, 2010 at 10:17 am
I live in the UK and can confirm that Mr. Adamus' comments are fully appropriate.
The problem is that the Archbishop of Westminster, who has been rapid in disassociating himself from his aide's words lest someone might feel offended, is every bit part of the same culture.
Nichols is an old Sixty-Eighter imprudently sent to Westminster by Pope Benedict, no doubt to appease the pack of wolves of the English Clergy. That many considers him a "moderate" in the UK Bishops' landscape (which he is not, I assure you; merely a tad more intelligent than the average) says it all about the conditions of the Church in England.
In the US you can still say that you have the Chobys and the Chaputs. By us it is a wasteland in that respect too.
Mundabor
September 3, 2010 at 11:58 am
Well said. If you speak out against that darkness be prepared to be slandered especially be the Modernists in the Church. Arrested and martyred,there were hundreds of priests and Catholics killed along with Saint John Fisher
September 3, 2010 at 3:03 pm
As for leading the way in wastelandomness, I would have to give it to the Netherlands (appropriately enough named) or the scandinavians. The rest are not far behind though.
September 3, 2010 at 4:42 pm
May we have more aids like this one, with the courage to proclaim the truth!
September 3, 2010 at 6:23 pm
I've met Mr Adamus, and he is, as far as I can tell, a wonderful, passionate, orthodox Catholic.
September 4, 2010 at 4:44 pm
Matt, I'm glad you finally realized that you're a Racist for Rejecting Obamacare. In the future, remember never to even think that the Emperor has no clothes because, sooner or later, the Thought Police will visit you. Got that?