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There the pontiff met young people with histories of drug addiction and other problems, who are following the "Alive" rehabilitation programme.
The name of the rehabilitation programme was the central focus of the Holy Father's remarks. He recalled Moses' words in the Old Testament: "'I set before you life or death, blessing or curse. Choose life, then, so that you and your descendants may live in the love of the Lord your God, ... for in this your life consists'.
"It was clear what they had to do", the Pope explained, "they had to turn away from other gods and worship the true God Who had revealed himself to Moses - and they had to obey His commandments. You might think that in today's world, people are unlikely to start worshipping other gods. But sometimes people worship 'other gods' without realising it. False 'gods' ... are nearly always associated with the worship of three things: material possessions, possessive love, or power".
"Material possessions, in themselves, are good. We would not survive for long without money, clothing and shelter. ... Yet if we are greedy, if we refuse to share what we have with the hungry and the poor, then we make our possessions into a false god. How many voices in our materialist society tell us that happiness is to be found by acquiring as many possessions and luxuries as we can! But this is to make possessions into a false god. Instead of bringing life, they bring death.
"Authentic love is obviously something good", the Pope continued. "When we love, we become most fully ourselves, most fully human. But ... people often think they are being loving when actually they are being possessive or manipulative. People sometimes treat others as objects to satisfy their own needs. ... How easy it is to be deceived by the many voices in our society that advocate a permissive approach to sexuality, without regard for modesty, self-respect or the moral values that bring quality to human relationships!"
"The power God has given us to shape the world around us is obviously something good. Used properly and responsibly, it enables us to transform people's lives. ... Yet how tempting it can be to grasp at power for its own sake, to seek to dominate others or to exploit the natural environment for selfish purposes!"
"The cult of material possessions, the cult of possessive love and the cult of power often lead people to attempt to 'play God': to try to seize total control, with no regard for the wisdom or the commandments that God has made known to us. This is the path that leads towards death. By contrast, worship of the one true God means recognising in Him the source of all goodness, ... that is the way to choose life".
Benedict XVI then referred to the personal life stories of many members of the community, who made "choices that led you down a path which, however attractive it appeared at the time, only led you deeper into misery and abandonment". And he acknowledged their "courage in choosing to turn back onto the path of life".
"Dear friends", he concluded, "I see you as ambassadors of hope to others in similar situations. You can convince them of the need to choose the path of life and shun the path of death, because you speak from experience. All through the Gospels, it was those who had taken wrong turnings who were particularly loved by Jesus, because once they recognised their mistake, they were all the more open to His healing message. ... It was those who were willing to rebuild their lives who were most ready to listen to Jesus and become His disciples. You can follow in their footsteps, you too can grow particularly close to Jesus because you have chosen to turn back towards Him".
VIS
Originally posted by ivanhoe"...because once they recognised their mistake, they were all the more open to His healing message."
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There the pontiff met young people with histories of drug addiction and other problems, who are following the "Alive" rehabilitation programme.
The name of the rehabilitation programme was the central focus of the Holy Father's remarks. He recalled Moses' words in the Old Testament: "'I set before you life or death, blessing o ...[text shortened]... because you have chosen to turn back towards Him".
VIS
Gotta know you're a sinner before you can get saved.
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Originally posted by AThousandYoungDon't be inane. Many of the people who spoke to the Pontiff yesterday told stories of how they were on the brink of suicide but, through their faith program, were able to recover. The pontiff was describing how, in their lives, each had to choose between death and life. This was not a theological treatise on the immortality of the soul and the consequences of spiritual death from sin.
False gods also cure AIDS, did you know that?
Spiritual AIDS.
They also feed the hungry! The spiritually hungry. And they show you how to make billions of dollars!
Spiritual dollars.
What nonsense.
Originally posted by Conrau KSo the fact that a few Catholics were able to avoid suicide because of counselling and support through the Church means that Odin forces people to suicide?
Don't be inane. Many of the people who spoke to the Pontiff yesterday told stories of how they were on the brink of suicide but, through their faith program, were able to recover. The pontiff was describing how, in their lives, each had to choose between death and life. This was not a theological treatise on the immortality of the soul and the consequences of spiritual death from sin.
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Originally posted by AThousandYoungYou ought to read the speech. The Pope explains that the "false gods" in this context are "material possessions, possessive love, or power". He claims that the "worship" of these, rather than God, was responsible for their depressive and suicidal state.
So the fact that a few Catholics were able to avoid suicide because of counselling and support through the Church means that Odin forces people to suicide?
Hearing some of their stories, I think the Pope has over-simplified the predicament some of these people faced. But the essential message of the guests and the Pope was an acceptable statement that faith in God can help people through adversity.
Originally posted by Conrau KNah, I don't read ivahoe's spam.
You ought to read the speech. The Pope explains that the "false gods" in this context are "material possessions, possessive love, or power". He claims that the "worship" of these, rather than God, was responsible for their depressive and suicidal state.
Hearing some of their stories, I think the Pope has over-simplified the predicament some of these peo ...[text shortened]... the Pope was an acceptable statement that faith in God can help people through adversity.
