Is The Catholic Church Being Hypocritical? Surely not!

[Katana]

I wasn't sure which sub-forum this should go in, but, since it's more about religious politics than religion itself, the politics sub-forum seemed most appropriate.

VATICAN CITY - Immigrants must follow local laws, including bans on veils covering the face, a Vatican cardinal said Tuesday, referring to debates in Europe about Muslim women and integration.

Immigrants from other religions “must respect the traditions, the symbols, the culture, the religion of the countries they go to,” said Italian prelate Renato Martino, who heads the Vatican’s office on issues about migrants, itinerant workers and refugees.
Hmm. I wonder what the religion of my country (USA) is.
Another Vatican official dealing with issues of immigration, Monsignor Agostino Marchetto, noted that Italy “rightly” has a law demanding that people in public keep their face visible. The law dates to Italy’s crackdown on domestic terrorists three decades ago.

Obeying it is “part of accepting the law of this country,” the prelate said.
Martino also pushed the Vatican’s campaign for Christians’ right to worship around the world. Referring to the non-Christian homelands of some immigrants in Europe, the cardinal said: “Their countries of origin don’t have the same freedom and do not make it easy for migrants, laborers, who come from Christian countries to profess their faith.”

The cardinal was presenting Pope Benedict XVI’s annual message on migrant and refugee issues.

The pope lately has lobbied for the right of Christians to worship openly in countries like Saudi Arabia, which forbid that.
So the need to respect local laws, culture, and traditions only applies to non-Christians?

[Pardalis]

I see your point, but I think there's a big difference between a law that forbids people from hiding their faces (which is a rather cosmetic restraint to personal freedom) and a law that forbids people to practice their religion altogether (which is a clear breach of human rights).

[Katana]

I see your point, but I think there's a big difference between a law that forbids people from hiding their faces (which is a rather cosmetic restraint to personal freedom) and a law that forbids people to practice their religion altogether (which is a clear breach of human rights).

I hear you, but Saudi Arabia doesn't forbid the practice of Christianity. It doesn't permit open worship, but it recognizes the right to practice in private. Necessary to add: I don't agree with such restrictions. Obviously, the Vatican isn't happy about it either, but, according to the U.S. State Department, the "overwhelming majority" of Saudis support an Islamic state and are against open, public worship of non-Muslim religions. What about the need to respect the religion, the traditions, the laws, and the culture of that country?

[ceo_esq]

Also, urging people to abide by laws doesn't seem inconsistent with lobbying to have them changed.

[Pardalis]

I hear you, but Saudi Arabia doesn't forbid the practice of Christianity. It doesn't permit open worship, but it recognizes the right to practice in private. Necessary to add: I don't agree with such restrictions. Obviously, the Vatican isn't happy about it either, but, according to the U.S. State Department, the "overwhelming majority" of Saudis support an Islamic state and are against open, public worship of non-Muslim religions. What about the need to respect the religion, the traditions, the laws, and the culture of that country?

Then I guess you're right, they should abide with the country's laws.

[Katana]

One thing I'm learning is that I'm not very good at picking thread topics. This story doesn't seem as controversial as when I first read it, so now I feel rather foolish.

It was just that I was struck by the fact that it was the Vatican calling for respect of other countries' traditions, symbols, religions, and cultures. Where is the respect for countries that decide to fund embryonic stem cell research, support gay marriage, legalize abortion? When was the last time the Catholic Church showed respect for anything that ran counter to its teachings?

[Cello Man]

When was the last time the Catholic Church showed respect for anything that ran counter to its teachings?

Well, they're not completely opposed to the teaching of evolutionary theory, which certainly runs contrary to the creation story of Genesis.

[brodski]

Well, they're not completely opposed to the teaching of evolutionary theory, which certainly runs contrary to the creation story of Genesis.

But the Catholic Church does not officially endorse Biblical Literalism, and especially does not endorse Biblical inerrancy.

[Darth Rotor]

I hear you, but Saudi Arabia doesn't forbid the practice of Christianity. It doesn't permit open worship, but it recognizes the right to practice in private.
By all means, force those Catholics into the closet. :rolleyes:

DR

[Katana]

Well, they're not completely opposed to the teaching of evolutionary theory, which certainly runs contrary to the creation story of Genesis.

Good example. Pope John Paul II said that Darwin's theories were sound but only as long as they acknowledged that creation was the work of God.

[Pardalis]

One thing I'm learning is that I'm not very good at picking thread topics. This story doesn't seem as controversial as when I first read it, so now I feel rather foolish.

I think this thread is a very interesting topic, stop being so thread-starting conscious. ;) :D

[brodski]

By all means, force those Catholics into the closet. :rolleyes:

DR

If the stereotype is to be believed, plenty of the Clergy are already there... ;)

[Beerina]

but, according to the U.S. State Department, the "overwhelming majority" of Saudis support an Islamic state and are against open, public worship of non-Muslim religions.

Do those of you who believe that if the people want it, it should be done, have a leg to stand on on this?

[Katana]

By all means, force those Catholics into the closet. :rolleyes:

DR
As I said, I don't agree with it. I pointed that out to respond to the post by Pardalis about preventing people from practicing a religion all together being a violation of their human rights. The Saudis aren't necessarily doing that. Whether a ban on public worship effectively does this, I don't know.
I think this thread is a very interesting topic, stop being so thread-starting conscious. ;) :D
:D Thanks, Pardalis.:)