George Weigel on the Pope's Legacy
Excellent article from George Weigel in WSJ on the Pope, history, freedom and his life.
"That is why John Paul relentlessly preached genuine tolerance: not the tolerance of indifference, as if differences over the good didn't matter, but the real tolerance of differences engaged, explored, and debated within the bond of a profound respect for the humanity of the other. Many were puzzled that this Pope, so vigorous in defending the truths of Catholic faith, could become, over a quarter-century, the world's premier icon of religious freedom and inter-religious civility. But here, too, John Paul II was teaching a crucial lesson about the future of freedom: Universal empathy comes through, not around, particular convictions. There is no Rawlsian veil of ignorance behind which the world can withdraw, to subsequently emerge with decency in its pocket.
There is only history. But that history, the Pope believed, is the story of God's quest for man, and man then taking the same path as God. 'History' is His-story. Believing that, Karol Jozef Wojtyla, Pope John Paul II, changed history. The power of his belief empowered millions of others to do the same."
National Review interviewed Weigel as did Zenit, a news agency in Rome. National Review have a collection of articles that are well worth a read.
"That is why John Paul relentlessly preached genuine tolerance: not the tolerance of indifference, as if differences over the good didn't matter, but the real tolerance of differences engaged, explored, and debated within the bond of a profound respect for the humanity of the other. Many were puzzled that this Pope, so vigorous in defending the truths of Catholic faith, could become, over a quarter-century, the world's premier icon of religious freedom and inter-religious civility. But here, too, John Paul II was teaching a crucial lesson about the future of freedom: Universal empathy comes through, not around, particular convictions. There is no Rawlsian veil of ignorance behind which the world can withdraw, to subsequently emerge with decency in its pocket.
There is only history. But that history, the Pope believed, is the story of God's quest for man, and man then taking the same path as God. 'History' is His-story. Believing that, Karol Jozef Wojtyla, Pope John Paul II, changed history. The power of his belief empowered millions of others to do the same."
National Review interviewed Weigel as did Zenit, a news agency in Rome. National Review have a collection of articles that are well worth a read.
Labels: Catholicism
posted by Auds | 16:00
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