The recent State visit of the Pope to these shores in September was marked by the comment he made when he urged Britain to maintain its respect for traditional values and cultural expressions that more aggressive forms of secularism no longer valued or even tolerated. This certainly struck a chord within the press and broadcast media and the politicians.
David Cameron linked the Pope's statements to his own vision for a 'Big Society'. Cameron said that religion was at the heart of 'the new culture of social responsibility we want to build in Britain'.
Personally, I think the Pope's visit was timely and sorely needed. We had the earthly leader of over a billion of the planet's inhabitants making a strong statement about the values which are foundational to the Roman Catholic Church. For those of us in the catholic (universal) church, the Pope's reference to protestant believers like Wilberforce and Florence Nightingale signifies a shift within ecumenical thinking.
You see the Head of the Christian Church is Jesus Christ Himself. Regardless of your church affiliation, whether Roman Catholic, Protestant or Orthodox your personal accountability, if you call yourself a Christian, is towards Jesus Himself which then enables you to work within imperfect denominations and imperfect leadership.
It is always the right time for those who have a faith in Jesus Christ to rise up and engage with the brokenness of our society. Whether in the church communities or without, we need to stop cursing the darkness, but instead light a candle of hope; to engage with those who differ from you with respect and 'walk the talk'.
GK Chesterton, the Roman Catholic journalist and author said, "Perhaps the principle objection to a quarrel is that it interrupts an argument," and Voltaire said this….. "I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll die for your right to say it…"
This is vital for a free and democratic society. Political Correctness gags personal and public opinion and is inherently unfair. Christians are being arrested today in the UK for 'silently protesting' on issues and values that they hold dear. When Churchill galvanised the nation by exhorting our forefathers to fight for the survival of Christian Civilisation, he was inspired to encourage a nation to fight for its core values against an evil ideology threatening our very survival.
A Big Society will require big people who are living for something (or Someone) who is bigger than themselves.
According to the last census in 2001, 37.3 million people in England and Wales consider themselves Christian, roughly 70% of the population. It was Christian values that formed the basis of much of what we regard as good in our society today – William Wilberforce was passionate and effective in the movement that brought about the abolition of slavery, moved by the value of the sanctity of all human life which his Christian faith inspired. Florence Nightingale had a 'call from God' and in following that call with compassion and courage, pioneered the nursing movement that we often take for granted.
And the Christian faith today is inspiring millions of hours of volunteer work in the UK, helping the vulnerable and needy in our towns and cities. In our own fair city of Plymouth, the results of a Faith Audit are expected to show the large contribution made by men and women of the Christian faith, and other faiths, to the welfare of those who are in need.
At the heart of the Christian faith is Jesus Christ, who told us to 'Love God and love our neighbour as ourselves' – this is such a profound teaching of tolerance and goodwill to all people that it is hard to see where some of the more extreme expressions of 'aggressive secularism' get their ideas that the Christian faith is not a force for good in our land.
Whether the Pope is our denominational leader or not, we should be encouraged that he has spoken out so clearly and bravely for the core values of the Christian faith - love in action, tolerance, the sanctity of life and so much more. These values are the bedrock of justice, fairness, mercy and a compassionate society where everyone is regarded with dignity and everyone has the right to his or her beliefs, and the responsibility to outwork those beliefs for the good of their neighbour.
