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Friday, April 18, 2008

Holy Father addresses United Nations

The Holy Father gave a very good address to the United Nations, grounded in hope. The Pope in his usual, spiritually mature fashion, spoke in a manner that was not condescending. While it is early to tell, I got the impression, by the standing ovation which followed, that Pope Benedict's words were well received.

Here is one quote:

The full guarantee of religious liberty cannot be limited to the free exercise of worship, but has to give due consideration to the public dimension of religion, and hence to the possibility of believers playing their part in building the social order. Indeed, they actually do so, for example through their influential and generous involvement in a vast network of initiatives which extend from Universities, scientific institutions and schools to health care agencies and charitable organizations in the service of the poorest and most marginalized. Refusal to recognize the contribution to society that is rooted in the religious dimension and in the quest for the Absolute - by its nature, expressing communion between persons - would effectively privilege an individualistic approach, and would fragment the unity of the person.


You can read the Holy Father's full address to the United Nations here.

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