Pope to Swiss bishops: No picking and choosing on morals

Published: 2006-11-13

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The Catholic Church must do more to show people how values such as peace, justice and nonviolence are intrinsically tied to the values of respect for human life and committed self-giving in married love, Pope Benedict XVI said. "Modern society is not simply without morals," but the morality many have chosen to follow is selective, he said during a Nov. 9 evening meeting with the bishops of Switzerland and heads of Vatican congregations. The off-the-cuff speech was the pope's third address to the visiting Swiss bishops in a week; the Vatican released a transcript of the German remarks and an Italian translation Nov. 11. The bishops were concluding their 2005 "ad limina" visits to report on the status of their dioceses. The 2005 visits were interrupted by the hospitalization and death of Pope John Paul II. Pope Benedict said the Catholic Church must face the challenge of people being attracted to its spirituality, while rejecting many of its moral teachings and disciplines.

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