Kościół wobec dyktatury relatywizmu

Abstract

The Church, while fulfilling the mission of evangelization entrusted to her by Jesus Christ, does not act in an empty and sterile space, but in particular cirumstances of time and place. Transformation of civilization and passing from society of lot into society of choice influence changes in the Church’s role in society. This role is interpreted in a narrow manner and reduced to the compensation for social needs and assistance in overcoming fragility of human life. One of the greatest challenges the mission of the Church is facing today is relativism, which under slogans of dialogue and freedom, tolerance and respect for different views, in reality means resignation from the search for truth and from reaching it. In such situation proclaming the truth about uniqueness of salvation offered us by Christ, provokes accusations of fundamentalism and of putting limits on human freedom. An example, which well illustrates such attitude was the protest against Benedict XVI’s visit to La Sapienza University in January 2008, which eventually resulted in its cancellation. In the new socio-cultural situation the Church cannot close herself as in a beset fortress or in the name of corectness and fitting in, resign from proclaiming the whole message of the Gospel. She must learn instead to present and to witness in a new way the universal truth of the Gospel in the pluralistic society. Theology, theologians and priests play substantial part in this respect. Their task is to undertake the efforts of defining anew the Church-world relationship. The mystery of the Incarnation of Christ is a vivid sign of God’s continuous presence in human history.