The possibility of creating a civil society on the basis of the revolution of the 1950’s no longer exists. In the presence of a multi-religious new immigrant society with a variety of cultural and ethnic roots, the presence of a significant secular minority which wants to rule out the active role of religions in the new developing Quebec society which is challenged by a plurality of those who wish to maintain its Christian roots and here I include Protestants and jews outside of the ultra orthodox the dream that French language alone is capable of creating a civil society is questionable at best.
So what does this have to with our long standing commitment to the sin business? Well, we have to acknowledge that the conversation in which we are involved is between good guys. We have to present our nation and its values in a language which is able to go beyond the terms and posturing that I want to call missionary. Those coming as immigrant[s] must be made aware that their move is not geographic but will require a re-examination of their cultural identity and practices. The church, here in the inclusive sense I just mentioned, must be prepared to step back to the extent its vision is of a multi-religious society and stated in a way which makes clear its role in the flourishing of the human enterprise. It needs to affirm the triumphant secularity of the founders of the revolution which I would add in an historical note is dramatically similar to that of the founding fathers of the United States. We need to accept that our belief in social values involves commitment and discipline that the sin business used to promulgate but can no longer deliver. We need to listen to the cries coming from multitude of quarters from those concerned that the current state of affairs is not sustainable….
Given the focus on Quebec, this post is poorly titled. This would be immediately apparent to most Canadians (French and English), but not so obvious to non-Canadians; thus the error is understandable.
As the judge on the Perry Mason series used to say: “Mr. Mason, if you have a point, please come to it quickly.” Maybe I’m just too numb to appreciate this guy’s erudition, but I can’t remember when I last read anything so poorly written.
Pax,
Chuck Bradshaw
Let me interpret.
“OK, All this sin stuff is just soooo not where we’re at any more. We gotta get on board with, well, what everyone else thinks, like being nice to people and stuff, and stop guilt-tripping people.”
I can’t see the point of it, either.