Benedict XVI and Freedom

April 20, 2005

John Paul II's pontificate left an unparalleled legacy of papal teachings. One key aspect of his tenure is the space he created for the work of other great theologians. The new pope, Benedict XVI, formerly Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, is one of them. Given Ratzinger's sharp focus on doctrine, many have seen only one side of this man: the protector of the faith, the leader of a new “inquisition.” Few have focused on his rich analyses of freedom.

Just over two decades ago, Ratzinger's office published a strong indictment of certain aspects of “Liberation” theology. This document dealt a huge blow to the most radical elements of the Church, a blow was compounded by the collapse of the Soviet atheistic utopia. John Paul II and Vatican theologians then focused on another enemy which affected East and West alike: the tyranny of relativism.

In his Encyclical Veritatis Splendor , the late Pope argued that the current culture “generates skepticism in relation to the very foundations of knowledge and ethics, and\.\.\. makes it increasingly difficult to grasp clearly the meaning of what man is, the meaning of his rights and his duties.” His goal was to provide the compass for the practice of virtue as the first step needed for a moral recovery of civilization.

Classical liberal and “moderate” intellectuals were concerned that after the forceful defense of objective truth in Veritatis Splendor , the Church would to revert to imposing this truth by promoting coercive legislation. Yet this wasn't the case. At the time of the encyclical, the Pope visited Sudan, a largely Muslim country, and argued forcefully that majorities do not have the right to impose their religious and moral views on minorities. The Wanderer , one of the most conservative Catholic newspapers, editorialized in favor of the “libertarian” slant of the Vatican Sudan statements.

Cardinal Ratzinger focused on teaching the importance of convictions, rather than force. On November 6, 1992, at the ceremony where Ratzinger was inducted into the Academy of Moral and Political Sciences of the Institute of France, he explained that a free society can only subsist where people share basic moral convictions and high moral standards. He further argued that these convictions need not be “imposed or even arbitrarily defined by external coercion.”

Ratzinger found part of the answer in the work of Tocqueville. “Democracy in America has always made a strong impression on me,” the cardinal said. He added that to make possible, “an order of liberties in freedom lived in community, the great political thinker [Tocqueville] saw as an essential condition the fact that a basic moral conviction was alive in America, one which, nourished by Protestant Christianity, supplied the foundations for institutions and democratic mechanisms.”

In his work as a theologian, Benedict XVI places freedom at the core of his teachings. He has a beautiful way of explaining creation, which according to him should be understood not with the model of a craftsman, “but the creative mind, creative thinking.” The beginning of creation is a “creative freedom which creates further freedoms. To this extent one could very well describe Christianity as a philosophy of freedom.” Christianity explains a reality that “at the summit stands a freedom that thinks and, thinking, creates freedoms, thus making freedom the structural form of all being.” This freedom is embodied in the human person, the only “irreducible, infinity-related being. And here once again, it is the option for the primacy of freedom as against the primacy of some cosmic necessity or natural law.” Human freedom pushes Christianity away from idealism.

Benedict XVI argues that freedom, coupled with consciousness and love, comprise the essence of being. With freedom comes an incalculability — and thus the world can never be reduced to mathematical logic. In his view, where the particular is more important than the universal, “the person, the unique and unrepeatable, is at the same time the ultimate and highest thing. In such view of the world, the person is not just an individual; a reproduction arising from the diffusion of the idea into matter, but rather, precisely, a ”person.“

According to Benedict XVI, the Greeks saw human beings as mere individuals, subject to the polis (city-state). Christianity, however, sees man as a person more than an individual. This passage from individual to the person is what led the change from antiquity to Christianity. Or, as the cardinal put it, “from Plato to faith.”

As a Roman Catholic, I and many others are already deeply grateful to Ratzinger and his teachings on creative freedom, that characteristic mark of the “infinity-related” human person. We can be sure that the newest pope will continue the legacy of John Paul II, placing freedom and dignity at the core of his teachings.

Comments

Masesa Simplicious: simpliciousmasesa@yahoo.com

It is indeed my desire to express my gratitude to the Pope for this enlightement. Many questions about the topic of freedom have been raised for many years but it is only if understand that I have a freedom that I realise that asking questions of the same topic justify I am free.

It's in understanding that the choices before are a manifestation of my freedom, thus the article is objectively approached.

indra mulala: indramulala@yahoo.com

I am avery happy advertist here in zambia.I would say that the pope is doing good things to blindford us ,so that whatever bad thing they will plan we will not belive it ,that it's them who did it.We are studying Reveration from the first chruch .I have learnt that when the chruch combines with state then it's a not a true chruch.They fulfilling the prophecy while they knowing.God bless us all amen .

Tina ureta: mtureta@msn.com

Dear Sir:

The Iquisition was"Torture", and it Was done by the Catholics, and it is Not exaggerated! It happened!
No Pope, who is merely a Man, will force people to "their way of Liberty. Force was NEVER Jesus's way.
I am sure the Catholic Religion, will fulfill Revelations 17 of the Bible. As they have proven that Force is what they actively use. They will try to change the Law again and FORCE PEOPLE TO ADHERE TO THEIR LAWS.
A SUNDAY LAW IS COMING, Force is coming.
A repeat of Inquisition? Absolutely yes.

CARDONIC MUCHUMA: muchumajnr80@yahoo.com

It is time every saint got prepared for eternity. Those who have been in spiritual slamber have no option but to awake to a realization of what the enemy of light is ready to accomplish through the Catholic church. Blessed are they who have access to this information. Thank you brothers

Chris D Johnson: annjohnson@Shaw.ca

Catholics tend to minimize the deaths or torture during the Inquisition. Non-Catholics usually exaggerate to an extreme.
Not millions, Michelle or Lita Ortilla, but more like thousands and most of them were in Spain.
Also, most of the instances of torture and death were not carried out by the Church, but by the civil authorities. However, since they were Catholics the responsiblity does end up there.

Lito Ortilla: jpo332001@yahoo.com

Dear Sir:

What do you mean by "the leader of the new inquisition"? It is a fact that there were millions of martyrs who died during the dark ages (time of inquisition)...
Will there be a new inquisition under Pope Benedict's reign? Is there a connection with the Sundal Law implementation?

colins oyamo: oyamo7@gmail.com

THUS SAITH THE LORD SHOULD BE THE KEY TO ALL OUR BELIEFS .I WOULD CHERISH A CHURCH THAT TEACHES THE BIBLE AS THE RULE OF FAITH

Michelle: polarworld17@yahoo.com

Dear Sir,
What do you do with the teaching of Rome herself that she never changes?
I ask about the Dark Ages that ended in 1798 and ask about the millions of people who perished on the rack, at the stake, and were tortured in every concivable way by the Roman Catholic Church.
I quote from your article that moral convictions need "not be imposed or even arbitrarily defined by external coercion.A They might not need to be if everyone agrees, but if there are those who chose the word of God above the traditions and teaching of Rome might there be a repeat of history?
Let us not forget the history of the Protestant movement to adhere to the Bible only as the rule of faith and practice and remember that mortal man cannot lift himself up against Almighty God. The time is coming when Jesus Himself will appear in the clouds of glory and we will then know who the true Padre is!

John Sly: #@654

Excellent article alex, I agree with all of your thoughts about catholicism. I admire you

Lucas Mayenga: mayengalucas@yahoo.co.uk

It is good to have a pope of such a wonderful vision and I think he is going to unite christianity especially passing the sunday law which will change the WORLD altogether! LONG LIVE POPE!!!!!!!
Please have a look in:www.endtime.net

Diane Aymes: diane.aymes@co.galveston.tx.us

Great article and very information for our Augustian priest to Pope Benedict XVI. Looking forward to his teachings and getting to know him better. Glad to be a Roman Catholic and seeing on tv, history in the making.

Peter Tate: tatepjjr@aol.com

Excellent and insightful article. While, I don't agree with the Cathlioc system, I have great respect for John Paul II and Benedict XVI nee Ratzinger, especailly on their views of freedom. Ratzinger seems to be on the cusp of something. The question I would ask is: "Are we worshiping the God of Aristotle or the God of Abraham?" I fear the Cathlioc Church and its Protestant offspring have been worshiping the God of Aristotle for too long. Constantine franchised the church and Augustine gave it its theology.
The new Pope and his church has much to paganist baggage to shed. Like wise, Protestants have Gnostic baggage to shed.
http://www.contraecclesium.blogspot.com/

May Christ help us all to do that!

Peter Tate
Stuttgart, Germany

Kathy Carroll: www.oneclearcall.blogspot.com

Wonderful article! With your permission, I would like very much to link to it and quote from it in my next blog posting.

Chris Vonesch: chrisvonesch@hotmail.com

Excellent article Mr. Chafuen. What a breath of fresh air! Indeed human freedom, and its relation to the creative freedom and love of God, is a discourse that we in the modern world need to hear a lot more about. May God bless our new pope.

Chris Vonesch
Ottawa, Canada

Evelina Sernaite: gurgutis168@yahoo.com

I couldn't be more proud of a pope's moral vision! His views have proven me that he is really the right choice! Morality can never be conservative and I hope Benedict XVI will continue to spread this message.

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