In Theory:

Pope Benedict XVI last week issued an encyclical condemning atheism for leading to some of the “greatest forms of cruelty and violations of justice.” His “Saved by Hope” document also argued modern Christianity has strayed from its roots of caring for others to focus on individual salvation. Benedict says it’s wrong to try to eliminate the world’s troubles. “We must do all we can to overcome suffering, but to banish it from the world is not in our power. Only God is able to do this,” he wrote. What do you think of the Pope’s views on injustice?

The relentless vision of hope that Pope Benedict XVI gives in his encyclical, “Spe Salvi,” is a predominant theme of Christians who are observing this season of Advent in preparation for Christmas.

A principal character in the Advent drama is the prophet Isaiah, who transmits God’s self communication of a promise of hope for a people living in the midst of struggle. Isaiah encourages his audience in announcing that a mere orchard will be regarded as a forest, the deaf will hear, the blind will see, and the poor will rejoice.

But what is the grounding for such reckless hope in the presence of injustice? The Pope replies that it is ultimately only God who can achieve justice.

We sometimes assert that in desperation: “only God knows,” “this would take an act of God,” and, after all, we are “only human.”

This is the Holy Father’s point. We cannot save ourselves. We are nothing without God. But, God is real and present, and He wills a new era of peace and reconciliation, of prosperity and harmony, of justice and mercy that only He can bring about. The coming of Jesus into the world, which is the event of Christmas, is His definitive act of saying that He desires to establish a kingdom of peace and justice. And He knows what He is doing!

Monsignor Lawrence J. Baird

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church

Newport Beach

It is absurd of the Pope to condemn atheism as leading to cruelty and injustice. If anything, the dogma of theism is what leads to that, as the Inquisition proved, while atheism is simply the absence of theism.

It’s wrong to say atheism is bad because Stalin was an atheist and did bad things. He was not about to share power with any theist organization, as had been common in Christian-dominated countries.