By Stephen K. Ryan
Sitting in the Great Room A of the Edward J. Pryzbyla University Center at Catholic University in Washington, D.C. forty minutes before Cardinal Schnborn's much anticipated lecture, two young college women, almost looking over their shoulders, were deeply engaged in a hushed conversation of the still touchy subject of Medjugorje. The conversation ended quickly as Cardinal Schonborn, accompanied by a Dean of Catholic University and the Austrian Ambassador to the United States entered the room, but make no mistake, the presence of Medjugorje continued to loom large.
After a brief and pleasant introduction, Cardinal Schonborn, standing behind a modest podium, looked out at the standing room only crowd and jokingly thanked those without seats for their early standing ovation. It was a nice, light moment for the young Cardinal, whose demeanor and handsome looks remind some of the great John Paul II.
Though Cardinal Schonborn's delivery is engaging and sprinkled with self-deprecating humor the subject of today's lecture was anything but sunny. Cardinal Schonborn came to Washington D.C. to talk about the health and vibrancy of Christianity and Catholicism in Europe. After hearing the speech, one would have to conclude that the prognosis for Christianity's growth, particularly in Europe, faces many obstacles. His lecture, titled the "The Identity of Christianity - Alien Presence or Foundation of the West", presented a stark assessment of Christian faith in Europe and suggested that the revitalization of faith among its citizens would be arduous and uncertain.
From the onset, Cardinal Schonborn suggested that the creation of the European Union has been Christianity's clear villain and called out the E.U for "ignoring its Christian roots", failing to mention Christianity in its constitution, and referring to Christianity as a "foreign element". Cardinal Schonborn did not mince any words when he said the Europen Union was wrong when members of the E.U. said European values were superior to Christian values.
He went on to say Europe was now the least religious region in the world and attributed that dubious distinction to the rise of the culture of consumerism. According to Cardinal Schonborn the culture of consumerism has led to an alarming fall in birthrates and begs the question "Is Europe Dying". He said the population of Europe was "selfish" and he called the declining birthrates the moral equivalent of climate change.
The Cardinal said that the roots of Christianity in Europe are directly traced back to Paul's vision in Macedonia but now today the Catholic religion is facing, in his words, an emancipation by the European Union and Europe is close to losing its Christian "roots". He insinuated that with the decline of Christianity a potential rise in violence may be the result. He reminded those in the audience that the so called "dark ages" of mid-evil times were not nearly as violent and deadly as the 20th century had been.
He said a debate is raging in Europe between secular society and Christian believers as to the essence of the dignity of man, The Secularists claim human rights and the dignity of man were a result of the enlightenment and that turning away from religious faith has improved the "dignity of man".
At one point, Cardinal Schonborn offered a hopeful note, saying that despite the hostile environment towards religion in Europe, the region still had "ample spiritual resources" and that the times today remind him of early Christianity, a time when early believers were an unwelcomed minority but with a deep faith and a "revolutionary" spirit.
Towards the end of his talk, Cardinal Schonborn made an interesting concession by saying Christianity and the Catholic Church have leaned from secular society by listening to what he described, somewhat playfully, as their "nasty questions" He called this a "good thing", The dialog, he says, leads to a "credible Christian life" Despite the dark clouds in Europe, he ended his speech with a powerful expression of Christian renewal by offering to the audience the hopeful words of Jesus Christ: "Remember I am with you always to the end of times"
After the formal presentation the Cardinal was kind enough to take questions. Questions ranged from the Catholic Church's position on health care reform in the United States to the presence of "Masons" in Europe, but most in the room were waiting to hear a question about the elephant in the room, about Medjugorje. It took about five questions and then the word "Medjugorje was finally spoken by a earnest young women with a microphone in her hand. After the question the room went quite but then with the timing of a seasoned stand up comic Cardinal Schonborn, with a big smile on his face said "Thank you for such an easy questions"
His answer was essentially verbatim to what he has said in the pas
