Vatican doctrine authority denounces secularism

ROME — Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the Vatican’s top authority on doctrine, denounced Nov. 19 the rise of what he called an aggressive and at times intolerant secularism in formerly Christian Europe.

The German prelate, who is prefect of the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and considered a possible successor to Pope John Paul II, said in an interview with the newspaper La Repubblica that while the state must not impose religion on civil society it must permit religion to play a role.

“There exists a secular ideological aggressiveness that can be worrying,” Ratzinger said. He made the statement in connection with the withdrawal of the candidacy of Rocco Buttiglione — an Italian who holds traditional church views on homosexuality and the role of women — for European Union justice commissioner.

“Laicism is no longer that element of neutrality that opens spaces of freedom for all. It is beginning to transform itself into an ideology that is imposed through politics and does not concede public space to the Catholic and Christian vision,” he said.

Ratzinger said that a correct lay position should provide for “freedom of religion.” Asserting that Christianity “has trouble making itself understood in today’s world,” especially in Europe, Ratzinger said, “In political life it seems almost indecent to speak of God, almost as if it were an attack on the freedom of the nonbeliever.”