Despite the public outcry that has arisen over bestowing Dutch politician, Lilianne Ploumen, with a medal and the title of Commander in the Equestrian Order of St. Gregory the Great last summer, the Vatican has stated that it has no plans to change the procedure of "exchanging honors" during historic official visits of heads of state to the Vatican.
A Church spokesperson states that the Holy See believes that the responsibility for any subsequent abuse of such decorations rests with the visiting delegation.
The Vatican and the Dutch government exchanged honors when Holland’s King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima made their first, historic official visit to the Pope and the Vatican last June.
Ploumen, a staunch promoter of abortion who started a fund called She Decides which has raised nearly $400 million for international pro-abortion organizations since July, took part in the delegation as a government minister.
Later, Ploumen stated the Pope had awarded it to her in recognition of her work in lobbying for abortion for girls.
The Vatican insists that this was “a very traditional procedure” for such an “historic occasion” and was really meant as a way of “honoring the king.” It is something that “has been done many times in the past for other visiting heads of state,” he said.
The Commander in the Pontifical Equestrian Order of St. Gregory the Great medal is normally given in recognition of “personal service to the Holy See and to the Roman Catholic Church, through unusual labors, support of the Holy See, and excellent example set forth in one’s community and country.”
This is the 21st Century.
Isn’t it about time the anachronisms of aristocratic customs of past centuries be put away and done with once and for all?
What do practices more in line with the trappings of royal courts have to do with the proclamation of the Gospel?
How contrary to the teachings of Christ all these silly aristocratic titles and trivial diplomatic gestures are!
Certainly, those who labor to defend the faith and provide noteworthy and excellent example of Christian virtue are to be rightly esteemed for their noble work.
To receive the the Pontifical Equestrian Order of St. Gregory the Great should be an honor earned for exemplary witness to the Catholic Faith -- Lord knows we need such witness in our secular world today.
But to reduce such honors to diplomatic gestures cheapens the really meaning of the recognition and demeans the credibility of the Church itself and insults those who have carried the rank of this Order with dignity and well-deserved recognition.
The Church needs to shed its European aristocratic and elitist apron strings, grow up and start living in the real world where every person should be respected and honor is bestowed for deeds and not on account of the accident of birth, heritage or political association.
When a political or secularist attitude is adopted in conducting its affairs, the Catholic Faith is always weakened and confirms that age-old accusations that Church courts the favor of the rich and powerful.
Such behavior needs to end.
Only by doing so will the Church in the future avoid the black eye it has inflicted upon itself in this and other debacles like this.
No comments:
Post a Comment