Cardinal Justin Rigali: Theology of the body combats secularist threats

 The theology of the body outlined 30 years ago by Pope John Paul II helps the world combat threats to the dignity of the human person and the sanctity of marriage, Cardinal Justin Rigali of Philadelphia said at a national conference.


The cardinal celebrated Mass July 30 for about 450 people at the National Theology of the Body Congress, held July 28-30 at Normandy Farm in Blue Bell. Participants came from 11 countries and 111 U.S. dioceses, while others who did not travel to Pennsylvania could see the keynote addresses live-streamed on the Internet.

In his homily, Cardinal Rigali said the theology of the body represents "God's plan for humanity," in which "authentic love, always and everywhere, takes the form of a gift of self, modeled on Christ's gift of himself to his Father."

He said society today has reinterpreted human sexuality as "the absolute right to satisfy every craving."

"Embracing consumerism, materialism, individualism, entitlement autonomy, relativism and hedonism, the one thing that the abiding secularistic culture appears unable to tolerate is religion," Cardinal Rigali said.

"The secularistic culture ... has paved the way for numerous errors and distortions resulting in promiscuity, cohabitation, divorce, contraception, direct sterilization, adultery, abortion, domestic violence, sexual abuse and the attempt to deconstruct marriage as the union of one man and one woman," he added.

He urged participants to continue the congress with "a campaign of human and catechetical formation," in order that "the next generation can continue to access and comprehend it."


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Comments

  1. Eric8/12/10, 4:57 PM

    I love this quote from Cardinal Rigali :"Embracing consumerism, materialism, individualism, entitlement autonomy, relativism and hedonism, the one thing that the abiding secularistic culture appears unable to tolerate is religion,"

    It's sad culture has developed to this way, but we must do all we can to continue to evangelize!

    - Eric

    http://voiceofsaints.blogspot.com/
    - Daily reflections on life by those who lived closest to Christ

    ReplyDelete

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