Pope: Dissidents are Childish

Pope Benedict XVI closed the Year of St. Paul earlier in the week using the words of St. Paul to comment on those who disagree with Church teachings.

Citing Paul's letter to the Ephesians (4:14), the Pope said Paul meant Christians should not remain "children at the mercy of the waves, transported here and there by every wind of doctrine."

"Paul wants the Christian faith have a 'responsible', an 'adult faith," the pope explained.

"The word 'adult faith' has in recent decades become a popular slogan. It is often used to refer to the attitude of those who no longer adhere to the Church and her pastors, but choose for themselves what they want to believe and not believe - a kind of do-it-yourself faith."

Here's some words some local folks might want to heed: "Speaking against the Magisterium of the Church is presented as courageous. In reality, however, it does not take courage for this, since you can always be sure of audience applause."

Hmmm. I can think of a few such audiences locally.

"Rather it takes courage to adhere to the faith of the Church, even if it contradicts the 'scheme' of the contemporary world," the Pope said. "It is this non-conformism of the faith that Paul calls an 'adult faith.'"

When it comes to giving examples of "adult faith," he cited, "to commit to the inviolability of human life from the very beginning, thus radically opposing the principle of violence, in defense of the most defenseless humans." And, "to recognize marriage between a man and a woman for life as a law of the Creator, restored again by Christ."

According to the Pope, for Paul, "following the prevailing winds and currents of the day is childish."