Secularism and Secularisation in the World and in the Church

(06 Mar 08 - RV) The Pontifical Council for culture opened its Plenary Assembly on the theme of “the challenge of secularisation for the Church and in the Church”.

At the centre of discussions, secularised thought today and its roots in society, institutions and cultural and formational environs.

Participants will address the Churches response to the challenge of secularisation; its tendency to marginalise all references to the transcendent which is often accompanied by a spreading of sects and other forms of pseudo-religiosity.

Doctor Richard Rouse, is a Council member and Assembly Participant:

“The Pontifical Council for Culture distinguishes quite carefully between secularism and secularisation in order to give the just amount of autonomy to the temporal world. But at the same time we are very aware that secularism and atheism in particular are having very damaging affects on the way that the faith is transmitted from one generation to the next in our cultures today, because secularisation is turning into secularism. And so how doe we respond to this situation, how do we respond to this pastoral challenge? This is why we are bringing together our members and consulters; to look at this very issue. And we are looking at it over two levels. Firstly secularisation and secularism in the world, and secondly secularisation and secularism in the Church”.