Bishop José Ignacio Munilla of Orihuela-Alicante, Spain, described socialism as an ideology “enemy of the cross” at the Conference on Catholics and Public Life organized by the Catholic Association of Propagandists (Lawyers) last weekend.

During his speech entitled “Thinking and acting in times of uncertainty”, Archbishop Munilla stressed that “we cannot face this attack and this systematic imposition of a new society only through criticism and new political leadership , but rather a movement of converts is needed. We will only emerge from this crisis through a renewal of holiness.

He also argued that society needs a “change in worldview in which we move from being enemies of the cross to being people of the cross” because, he stressed, “without the cross, there is no glory; it is a serious error to make a dichotomy between the cross and happiness; the cross leads us to glory, and glory is complete happiness.

In this context, he described socialism as an “ideology enemy of the cross” whose sociological and political currents have become “the tomb of peoples, in which the ‘nanny state’ solves all problems”, without appealing to the sacrifice and commitment of individuals.

The result is an “anthropological crisis which elevates it to the rank of law and supreme precept, which seeks to rebel against the natural order, transforming wounds into rights instead of accepting emotional wounds, fruits of the disintegration of the family”. .”

The bishop added that “we try to compensate for the inner emptiness of man with consumerism and materialism; fleeing emotional commitment and openness to the gift of life; and suffering is treated as something incompatible with human dignity: this world suffers so much from not wanting to suffer, from escaping the cross of Christ.

Hadjadj: Facing uncertainty is a life and death challenge

For his part, the French philosopher Fabrice Hadjadj addressed the general theme of the conference, “Quo Vadis?” Thinking and acting in times of uncertainty”, calling on everyone to get involved: “Where are you going? Not “where is the world going”, because with this question you can be a spectator and just complain.”

Hadjadj emphasized that living in a time of uncertainty “is not just any challenge” but rather a challenge that is configured as a question “if not of honor, at least of life and death.” For this, one must “have a healed soul, accept having a body bruised by martyrdom”.

At the same time, he stressed that it is inevitable to experience “the least shameful emotion: fear. Not so much the fear of dying, but the fear of taking on the challenge, the fear of maintaining our reputation for being alive.

In postmodern Europe, this challenge is embodied in a continent, a society which “despairs of what is human and tends today to constitutionalize abortion and euthanasia; revise colonial history, putting the conqueror and the missionary in the same basket.

These are demands “that many imagine linked to the affirmation of individual freedom and, in reality, they emanate from the death of the aspirants. They correspond to the agitation of despair,” underlines the philosopher.

Ayaan Hirsi: The less Christian presence, the greater the crisis

The conference also benefited from the participation of human rights activist Ayaan Hirsi Ali, who stressed that “the less Christianity is present in society”, the greater the social crisis in the West.

In his presentation titled “Free to Seek the Truth,” Hirsi explained that multiculturalism and globalization are “two sides of the same coin.”

On the one hand, there is a “retribalization of society, with the growth of identity groups “who have no national loyalty to the country in which they live”. On the other, there is the evaporation of a set of shared values, the fragmentation of society and the ethnicization and racialization of all political issues.

Hirsi denounced the “atrocious restrictions on freedom of expression, religion, and the resurgence of (socially) acceptable and legitimate racism against whites and against Jews in Europe and America in the name of intersectional social justice “.

She also warned against the proliferation of “pseudo-religions that present themselves as equal to or superior to Christianity itself” as well as the appeal of “ideas that call reality into question” such as “the existence of genders multiple”.

She says these trends create increasing difficulty in teaching children the difference between right and wrong. At university, the search for truth is replaced “by the development of narratives”, while “the search for excellence through merit is presented as the enemy of diversity”.

“If this trend continues, it will mark the beginning of the fall,” she stressed.

Rediscovering a strong and reliable Christianity

For Hirsi, “we must rediscover a strong and reliable Christianity. Churches must stop adopting every new fad and revive the true message and teachings of Christ.

She also called for “resisting the current demographic decline” in Europe by making marriage and starting a family more attractive for young people. She also called on schools, universities and artistic circles to recognize “their role in promoting the Christian ethos that has led to the formation of the institutions that make the West extraordinary.”

“None of these changes can be achieved if we do not organize, participate and mobilize to achieve a strong majority that participates and acts. It is only by rediscovering a sense of unity based on common values ​​and not on differences that we can build stronger and more cohesive societies in these uncertain times,” she concluded.

Presence of young people at the conference

The 26th Conference on Catholics and Public Life sought to address young people in particular, offering specific opportunities, such as a round table with digital missionaries.

It was attended by 1,000 young people from different Spanish cities who heard the testimonies and encouragement of three evangelists on social networks: Carlos Taracena, Carla Restoy and Irene Alonso, among others.