New Pope and Evangelicals Share Concerns about Growing Secularism

Despite the basic theological differences, Evangelicals and the new Pope, Benedict XVI do share similar concerns regarding growing secularism. Conservative Protestants and former cardinal Joseph Ratzinger are united in their viewpoints on important ethical issues such as homosexuality and abortion.

The 78-year-old German theologian, was born in Bavaria, became Archbishop of Munich, and later on strict leader of the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith, and was elected by 115 cardinals in the forth ballot as a successor to the late Pope John Paul II. Pope Benedict XVI commented in an interview with the German daily "Die Welt" in November, that God is being pushed to the sidelines, and expressed his concern for the effects of spreading secularism in Europe.

Ratzinger mentioned the example of a Pentecostal pastor in Sweden, sent to jail because of preaching from the Bible about homosexuality. "A society without God will eventually destroy itself," said Ratzinger.

Emphasising the need for Christian cooperation to attempt to marginalise the Christian faith, he also sent greetings to the Ecumenical Confessional Convention in Freudenstadt, Germany. Evangelical missiologist, Professor Peter Beyerhaus, a former University colleague of Ratzinger organised the convention.

"Ratzinger has a clear theological profile and knows the ecumenical dialogue in the land of the reformation very well," said Bishop Wolfgang Huber, the leader of the mainline Protestant Churches in Germany. He wished the new Pope "God’s blessings in all his decisions, actions and his leadership."

Bishop Huber believes that the future of Christianity can only be an ecumenical one and also expressed hope for the Holy Community with Protestants.