The Cardinal was speaking, in a wide-ranging and personal lecture, at a packed Westminster Cathedral in the final week of his Faith and Life in Britain lecture series.
"I wanted this Cathedral to be a place for people to listen to matters pertaining to religion in the secular society in which we live here in Britain," he said.
"I wanted religion to be, and to be seen to be, open to the questions of those who do not believe detect among many people a sense of loss, of not being in touch with living sources that can nourish them. They want to live by shared values that can sustain our society but do not know where to find them. They want to find a context that can give their lives a deep meaning, but, again, are unable to find it. There are unspoken aspirations in people's lives that modern culture does not permit them to express."
Expanding on the idea of spiritual homelessness amid material and technological wealth, the Cardinal said religion had a particular and important role to play in society.
"My hope and prayer is that we will all continue to foster the witness of faith in Britain today. In this way we help to create a culture in which God is honoured and worshipped and all women and men cherished, valued and supported from the beginning of their lives to their end".
The Cardinal concluded his lecture with a reminder not to lose hope. The central message of the Gospels is God's unlimited love for us all, learned through families, friends and the communion of all believers.
The lecture will be available as a video download at www.rcdow.org.uk/lectures
"I wanted this Cathedral to be a place for people to listen to matters pertaining to religion in the secular society in which we live here in Britain," he said.
"I wanted religion to be, and to be seen to be, open to the questions of those who do not believe detect among many people a sense of loss, of not being in touch with living sources that can nourish them. They want to live by shared values that can sustain our society but do not know where to find them. They want to find a context that can give their lives a deep meaning, but, again, are unable to find it. There are unspoken aspirations in people's lives that modern culture does not permit them to express."
Expanding on the idea of spiritual homelessness amid material and technological wealth, the Cardinal said religion had a particular and important role to play in society.
"My hope and prayer is that we will all continue to foster the witness of faith in Britain today. In this way we help to create a culture in which God is honoured and worshipped and all women and men cherished, valued and supported from the beginning of their lives to their end".
The Cardinal concluded his lecture with a reminder not to lose hope. The central message of the Gospels is God's unlimited love for us all, learned through families, friends and the communion of all believers.
The lecture will be available as a video download at www.rcdow.org.uk/lectures
1 comment:
I would love to know what exactly is a secular society. I understand that a government may administer its policies within a secular framework. However can a person be in themselves secular? I have yet to meet a person who is indifferent to religion. Sure, many make up their own to suit themselves. Some very few are religiously anti-religious. I would welcome some insight as I find this concept of "secular society" very confusing.
Post a Comment