Pope Benedict XVI begins a four-day visit to England and Scotland on Thursday. It is the first papal visit to the United Kingdom since 1982. The highlight will be the beatification of the 19th-century cardinal John Henry Newman. Furthermore, the relationship between the relatively liberal Anglican Church and the much more conservative Roman Catholic Church will take centre stage.
From sociological research, it appears that only 14 percent of Britons really appreciate the papal visit. The rest complain about the church’s tough stance on abortion, contraception and homosexuality, and its refusal to allow women priests. All of these issues are also threatening to produce a worldwide schism in the Anglican community.
As he visits the United Kingdom, should Pope Benedict agree to honour the Netherlands with a visit too?
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Column by Antoine Bodar (see bottom of page)
Modified ideals
In the Anglican world, which takes a pragmatic approach to life, ideals are not maintained permanently, but must be adjusted from time to time when the people want it. The Church of Rome is more of the Latin persuasion, in which tensions between the ideals and reality, theory and practice, doctrine and life are all part of life itself. Ideals should always be cherished, even though they are rarely feasible. Britons cannot understand such a concept.
And the Dutch? Them neither. The Netherlands is maybe not Americanised, but at least it is 'Britishised'. It's no longer a society in which French, German and British culture meet. It has become intellectually deficient.
Rudeness and loutish behaviour
I recall the visit of Pope John Paul II to the Netherlands in 1985. The rudeness was not as far advanced as it is today, the loutish behaviour still the exception rather than the rule. Yet the Pope was offended by a filthy song called Popie Jopie, by empty streets in the capital of the province of North Brabant ('s-Hertogenbosch), which at the time was still mostly Catholic, and by a young mob throwing stones at the Popemobile in Utrecht.
And now?
Is there another country in western Europe where insolence is so much a part of the nature of the inhabitants? Is there another country that is so intolerant? Is there another country so hostile to culture? Is there another country that allows vulgarity as much as the Kingdom of the Netherlands? I don’t think so.
Whoever wants to see the Pope simply travels to Rome. The Netherlands is not worthy of a papal visit, because its citizens won’t behave themselves, as has been demonstrated in the past.
About Antoine Bodar:
Antoine Bodar (1944) is a leading Dutch Roman Catholic priest. He is a professor, art historian, writer and author of theological books. Father Bodar is known in the Netherlands for his strong opinions about the church and religion. He lives and works in Rome.
[The views expressed in this article are purely those of the author.]
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The Dutch remind me of a bunch of spoiled rotten little kids in adult bodies who are desperately in need of a reality check. What will they do when the scourge of war hits their homeland? America will probably end up ruling over them someday.
I would greatly appreciate a papal visit to the netherlands, there are many of us dutch who have become modernised and lost belief in the catholic church. but there are those of us who are strong catholics, Catholicism is still the dominant church of the netherlands and i hope and pray that one day the athiest's, angligans, etc. of the country will find faith in the the catholic church and we can be regocnised as a catholic nation. i can deferently understand the opinions of those who believe holland isnt worthy of a papal visit, i find the legalized prostitution, etc. to be terrible, but never the less i am very proud of my heritage, i believe that this is not the way of our people and that we will return to our roots and catholic beliefs and that something such as a papal visit would help the non-believers and would be a highlight experience for the catholics of the country (there are many of us) who would be forever grateful for having hope in our nation.
Most of the comments below prove Father Bodár's point. I rest my case.
Not Americanised? Britishised? Well now, don't trip on yourself while you look down your perfect nose.
What the Netherlands 'deserves' is the worlds respect and admiration as once of the most advanced and tolerant places in the world.
Many smart and fair people are livid with your church for reasons you know very well. Is there another Western church that is so hostile to change? To introspection?
The Netherlands may not want a visit, perhaps because it seems that the many Catholic priests and Cardinals can not behave themselves.
"...which a few centuries ago, was an example of tolerance, nowadays in this country young people were throwing stones in 1985"
Whoa. Three time periodes (centuries ago, nowadays and 1985) in ONE sentence. So wrong it's almost clever.
Anyway - regarding Bodar. There's nothing a papal visit would bring the people of The Netherlands. The guidance Rome professes to offer is dated, flawed and more often than not downright criminal. The visit wasn't needed in 1985 (hence the protests) nor wanted and warranted in the 21st century.
"Ideals should always be cherished, even though they are rarely feasible", says Bodar. What does this even mean? Religion is an ideal. It has proven through the century it cannot uphold the ideals. Unfeasible, indeed.
Intellectually deficient? We won't behave as citizens? If you allow me the incantation: SWEET LORD, get Bodar out of the fifties. We, as a nation, have moved on. You could argue that we were beyond what Rome represents in 1985.
Let's hope Benedict has a direct flight home.
What an irony of history! Holland, which a few centuries ago, was an example of tolerance, nowadays in this country young people were throwing stones in 1985 at the Pope John Paul II, himself messenger of peace, tolerance and inter religious dialog. And then someone even promised huge amount of money for killing the Pope. Definitely the present Pope shall not go to Holland.
"The rest complain about the church’s tough stance on abortion, contraception and homosexuality, and its refusal to allow women priests.........1. How can one call herself a Christian and then commit the act of killing one's baby? One can commit the act of killing one's baby and then become a Christian but why commit such a sin in the first place? 2. The use of contraceptions to prevent a birth is far better then not using a contraception, getting pregnant, and then killing your child. 3. Homosexuality! Anti-Christian lifestyle. 4. Women priests: The Christian bible clearly explains the role of women in the Church. In closing, Christians should not support and live the previous mention sodomite lifestyles.
Is Bodar refering to the behaviour of catholic priests in the Netherlands?
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