NEWS & VIEWS
from a CATHOLIC perspective

      VATICAN CITY, 15 (NE) Proclamation of the Gospel and the witness of the true face of God the Father is "the most convincing answer to atheism," affirmed Pope John Paul II Wednesday during his weekly catechesis. The Pope reminded pilgrims gathered in Saint Peter's Square that "a person's religious orientation comes from their condition as a creature, leading them to long for God, who created them in his image and likeness."

      The contemporary era has known "particularly harmful forms of "theoretical" and "practical" atheism. Secularism manifests itself as particularly harmful because of its indifference toward the last things and faith," he said.

      Pointing out that although in Holy Scripture there is no mention to theoretical atheism, there is a rejection of practical atheism. "More than an atheism," he added, "the Bible talks about impiety and idolatry. The impious and idolaters are those who, instead of God, prefer things of this world, which are falsely claimed to be divine."

      "Atheism," he continued, "could become a form of an intolerant ideology, as history demonstrates it." The Pope reminded that the last two centuries have known currents of theoretical atheism that have rejected God on the basis of the search of an absolute autonomy of man, nature or science. "This systematic atheism has been imposed during decades offering the illusion that, by eliminating God, the person would be both psychologically and socially freer," he pointed out.