Bishop Warns Against Creeping Anti-Christianism
The Catholic Bishop of Leeds has warned against creeping anti-Christianism after revealing he was "appalled" by anti-Christian TV programmes over Christmas.
by Maria Mackay
Posted: Thursday, January 4, 2007, 6:19 (GMT)
The Catholic Bishop of Leeds has warned against creeping anti-Christianism after revealing he was "appalled" by anti-Christian TV programmes over Christmas.
Bishop Arthur Roche warned Catholics not to become complacent to the anti-Christianism infecting the nation's everyday life, reports Catholic newspaper The Universe.
In his New Year pastoral letter, the bishop said that he had been "appalled" at the abuse of Jesus' name on television over Christmas.
"It was as if my television set had been infested with anti-Christian and deeply disrespectful and derogatory sentiments," he said.
"Yet, as St Paul reminds us: God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
He added: "There is an ease and a carelessness today in which it is possible, without any resistance, to ridicule Jesus, his Church and his followers.
"The very first commandment teaches us not to take the name of the Lord in vain and Jesus himself taught us in the Our Father to honour the name of the Lord as holy.
But Christians themselves must also guard against encouraging the use of such language by ensuring that they themselves do not fall into the same trap.
"The blasphemous abuse of the holy name of Jesus is something that can infest our own vocabulary because of it is so constantly and so flippantly used in every day speech," he added.
"It is so easy to imbibe something that is poisonous to our own love for Jesus and the respect due to his name as if it didn't matter. We should do all we can not to fall into that trap.
"It would be a timely New Year's resolution if we were to resolve to resist in our own everyday speech any abuse of his name. When many of us were at primary school we were taught to bow our heads when the name of Jesus was spoken.
"It would be a timely moment to re-establish that practice of reverence for the name, which is above all names. It would remind us of the honour and love due to the Saviour of the world who heroically died that we might have life."
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The comments below are readers' personal opinions and are in no way intended to reflect the editorial opinion of Christian Today.
Added: Friday, January 5, 2007, 5:43 (GMT)
I Have Had Enough Of People Taking the Son Of GOD'S Name in Vain.
It seems to be Used as a Swear Word nowadays.
Movies Television No One Cares, This World Is Sick, Promoting Everything that Is Sick and Immoral and NOT Promoting GOD.
I Still Bow my Head at The Name Of Our Blessed Lord as I was taught at School.
Nola, sydney australia
Added: Thursday, January 4, 2007, 23:58 (GMT)
I agree with the Bishop of Leeds regarding the abuse of misusing Jesus name in everyday language, especially watching the awful TV shows that show how much hate and disrespect is out there for our Lord and Saviour. Everytime I hear someone using his name in vain, whether in the market, shoping mall or on TV, I make a silent prayer in reparation, like this: Jesus, I love you and I bless your holy name. Amen.
Hope H., Placentia, USA
Added: Thursday, January 4, 2007, 20:43 (GMT)
I wish that more bishops would speak up like this bishop. We definetely need to get going with evangelization. Jesus told us to go throughout the world and to share the good news. We need, more than ever, to get serious about our faith.
Jesus told St. Faustina that the Feast of Divine Mercy would be the "last hope of salvation". It has been an official feast in the Church since the Jubilee Year 2000.
Bob Allard, Port St. Lucie, Florida, USA
Added: Thursday, January 4, 2007, 17:44 (GMT)
The least we can do is in our own minds and hearts, whenever we hear the name Jesus said in an irreverent way, is to say the name prayerfully and lovingly ourselves, out loud if possible, or just in the inner mind.
Pauline Pavlick, Ypsilanti, MI
