Discussion 1 to Meditation 929
A reconsideration
by: JT
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I briefly considered that I might have been a trifle unfair* to the Bishop of Rome, Vicar of Jesus Christ, Successor of the Prince of the Apostles, Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church, Patriarch of the West, Primate of Italy, Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Roman Province, Sovereign of the State of Vatican City, Servant of Servants of God** last week in criticizing his comments in Germany. After all, I deliberately selected a period of time to make him look as bad as possible.***
It may indeed be possible to find a period of time immediately prior to the Pope's speech in which things indeed were not getting better - perhaps it lasted a few minutes - perhaps a few months - but certainly less than a few years.
The Roman Catholic Church - like nearly every other Christian Church - is selling eternity. Its focus is on the long run. So in considering whether things are getting better or not, day-to-day-fluctuations are not all that relevant. It's like arguing there is no climate change because today's weather is pretty much the same as yesterday's.
So if we consider the long run:
- How about 2,000 years - about the length of time the Catholic Church claims to have been in existence? (That relates to the Successor of the Prince of the Apostles part of the Pope's titles.) Things today are certainly better today than 2,000 years ago.
- How about half that period? Things today are certainly better today than 1,000 years ago.
- How about a half millennium? Things today are certainly better today than 500 years ago.
- A century? Things today are certainly better today than 100 years ago.
- How about since the birth in 1927 of Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger? Again, things today are certainly better today than they were in 1927.
- How about any point in time in the reign of Ratzinger's immediate predecessor? Once again, the world is better off today.
Quite simply, if we consider the overall trend over a meaningful period of time rather than random short-term fluctuations, the Pope was indeed wrong.
Note:
* Though as yet, no-one has accused me of unfairness.
** Yup - he has all those titles. Aren't we all impressed?
*** But in my defense, it was Blasphemy Day.