On The Brink Of Catastrophe

Anna Arco of the Catholic Herald has an interesting article on Vaclav Havel's speech at a conference in Prague.  The playwright and former president has some harsh things to say about the way economics have been conducted in recent years, and how society is developing.  He describes our western society as the "first atheistic civilization" and he is convinced that it is on the brink of a catastrophe, perhaps, methinks, even collapse.

Havel is one of those great European figures immersed in the culture and values of Christianity, though he is an agnostic, and yet he remains a venerable and respected statesman, whom few refuse to listen to.  His credibility, of course, is partly due to his suffering under Communism and his role in the Velvet Revolution which liberated the Czechoslovakia from socialism and led to the foundation of the Czech republic.  He is right in what he has to say, and his analysis of the current state of European civilization is very close to Pope Benedict's.  In his speech he blames the arrogance of individuals for the present malaise, and recommends a good dose of humility to get us back on track.

This is interesting in the light of the Holy Father's new Motu Proprio.  As followers of the humble Christ we believe it is when we imitate his virtues that we become truly human and are placed to build a just civilization.  As Europe attempts to throw off its Christian roots, she immerses herself more and more in that arrogance which has led to bloodshed down the centuries.  Havel's words should give us food for thought, and in him we have an ally as we attempt to bring Europe back from the edge.  He is one of those great thinkers who can help us as we discern how to proceed in the New Evangelisation.