In a major speech to the Vatican Diplomatic Corps yesterday, Pope Benedict XVI warned that selfish individuals who create new definitions of “human rights” to suit their personal agendas are causing an increasing intolerance of Christianity and of Christians who object to so-called “equality” laws.
Speaking to the foreign ambassadors at the Vatican yesterday, the Pope addressed new interpretations of human rights laws, such as those promoting homosexual rights, saying they have become nothing more than a vehicle for individuals to pursue selfish demands.According to the Daily Mail, he appealed for tolerance of Christianity and those who conscientiously object to these laws, warning that these revised ideas about human rights can lead to “intolerance or even violence towards individuals, symbols of religious identity and religious institutions.”
Instances of this dangerous new trend can be found throughout the world today, including the U.S. where people who oppose same-sex marriage are labeled as bigots and frequently find their businesses and, in some cases, even their lives, threatened by gay activists.
Militant atheism is also attempting to redefine human rights in order to rid society of any presence of God. Believers are being dragged into court for everything from erecting Christmas displays on public property to praying in front of abortion clinics.
Governments have also leaped into the fray by imposing oppressive laws on the faithful. For instance, in the U.S., the controversial birth control mandate and other policies enshrined in ObamaCare will force citizens to pay for health care services that violate their consciences.
In the UK, Christians are presently being tried in the European Court of Human Rights for “offenses” such as wearing a cross to work and for refusing to conduct civil partnership services.
The Pope condemned these distorted views of human rights which are being used by selfish individuals to trample the rights of anyone who opposes their views.
“Sadly, especially in the West, one frequently encounters ambiguities about the meaning of human rights and their corresponding duties. Rights are often confused with exaggerated manifestations of the autonomy of the individual, who becomes self-referential and absorbed only in seeking to satisfy his or her own needs,” he said.
“To be authentic, the defense of rights must instead consider human beings integrally, in their personal and communitarian dimensions.”
He also referred to scenarios such as the Catholic adoption agencies in the U.S. and Britain that were forced to close rather than obey laws that would have required them to place children with same-sex couples.
“Believers, and Christians in particular, are prevented from contributing to the common good. Outlawing individual and institutional conscientious objection in the name of liberty and pluralism opens the door to intolerance and forced uniformity.”
The pope went on to point out that while human rights were being redefined, recognized rights such as the right to life and the right to freedom of conscience were being eroded.
He criticized the use of this false concept of human rights to “expand legislation which decriminalizes abortion” and to marginalize religion in social life which has sometimes resulted in violence against believers.
“In order to effectively safeguard the exercise of religious liberty it is essential to respect the right of conscientious objection. This ‘frontier’ of liberty touches upon principles of great importance of an ethical and religious character, rooted in the very dignity of the human person.”
He called these rights the “bearing walls” of any society that wishes to be truly free and democratic.
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