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September 18, 2005
Pope's Envoy Struck by "shameful" poverty in "rich America."
It would be easy for Americans, particularly those of us who approach the public square from a more conservative perspective, to shrug off, explain away, or otherwise ignore the comments from Pope Benedict XVI's envoy to the US with respect to Hurricane Katrina, Archbishop Paul Cordes. Me, I think I'll let his words reverberate in my mind and consider what Jesus would say under similar circumstances. Here are the words. Reflect on them as you will. No need to worry about them unless you have an ultimate judgment awaiting you:
"Many were struck by ... poverty, at times shameful, in rich America," Cordes told Vatican Radio.
"I do not want to hide my personal fear -- that the superpower isolates itself and remains isolated even in dealing with the disaster," Cordes said. "In this dramatic emergency, the United States must not be abandoned."Cordes spent four days touring Baton Rouge and New Orleans in Louisiana, and Biloxi, Mississippi.
"The weakness experienced by the United States faced with this catastrophe" serves to "destroy all of our beliefs about self-sufficiency," the Vatican official said. "Thus, for me, in the bad part of this event there is also the hope, for many citizens, of seeing that the world is greater than the United States," Cordes said.
Humility is perhaps not the worst reaction that could come out of Katrina and these words. From our knees, we may very well see a better way. Indeed, it is my understanding that some even consider humility a virtue. Something to ponder.
Posted by Mark at September 18, 2005 01:45 AM