Defense of the Faith Building a Common Christianity Under Siege
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Fall 2012 | Volume 22 | Number 4 Religion Inside this issue Hearne First Citizen and Antilon: The Carroll-Dulany Debates • Barnett Still the Best Hope • Walker Rachel Carson’s Envi- Liberty ronmental Religion • Liberal Tradition Metropolitan Philip II of Moscow • Sirico & The Role of Profits Christianity under Siege: Building a Common Front in Defense of the Faith An Interview with Metrroopolliitan Hilarioonn A Journal of Religion, Economics, and Culture Editor’s Note He touches on the topic in this inter- The “In the Liberal Tradition” figure is view and how the surge of liberal Prot- Metropolitan Philip II (1507 – 1569). estantism is damaging Christian unity Philip, a martyred Russian Orthodox and cooperation with the Western monk, declared, “If I do not bear witness world. This too, is a topic that is given to the truth, I render myself unworthy far too little attention. of my office as a bishop. If I bow to men’s will, what shall I find to answer “First Citizen and Antilon” by Samuel Christ on the Day of Judgment?” It’s a Hearne is an important piece given the simple yet deep declaration for those in current rise of religious persecution by Church leadership to emulate today as civil authorities in America. The 18th some ecclesiastical leaders are pressured Christianity is the world’s most perse- Century newspaper debate between into bowing to the will and agenda of cuted faith today. Around 200 million Charles Carroll of Carrolton and Daniel contemporary culture. Christians are denied fundamental Dulany helped to advance religious free- human rights solely because of their faith dom, the rights of man, and the nature In light of the ongoing attacks on suc- in Christ. Metropolitan Hilarion of Volo- of government in colonial Maryland. cess in the private sector and private kolamsk, who is chairman of the Russian The debate also resulted in Carroll’s rise property, we offer an excerpt from Church’s Department of External Church in Maryland as an important figure for Rev. Robert A. Sirico’s Defending the Relations, is especially vocal against the American liberty as a signer of the Dec- Free Market on “The Role of Profits.” crisis of slaughter and persecution that laration of Independence. He was the Rev. Sirico asks, “if profits are morally has persisted after the “Arab Spring.” only Catholic signer of the document. dubious, are losses more ethical?” Sadly, this issue has far too few voices sounding the alarm, but the Russian Timothy J. Barnett reviews Dennis Prag- It is my hope that this issue gives us Metropolitan is an important defender er’s Still the Best Hope: Why the World Needs added insight into how we think about of religious freedom and the rights of American Values to Triumph and Bruce many of the problems that plague our Christians around the world. Edward Walker reviews Silent Spring at society, while equally offering encour- 50: The False Crises of Rachel Carson. That agement and motivation to offer truth Metropolitan Hilarion is also involved book was edited by Roger Meiners, to the world. in ecumenical relations with Roman Pierre Desrochers, and Andrew Morriss. Catholics and conservative Protestants. Editorial Board Contents Christianity under Siege: Building a Common Front Publisher: Rev. Robert A. Sirico in Defense of the Faith: Executive Editor: John Couretas Interview with Metropolitan Hilarion .................................... 3 Editor: Rev. Raymond J. de Souza First Citizen and Antilon: The Carroll- Dulany Debates: Samuel Hearne ................................... 4 Managing Editor: Ray Nothstine Still the Best Hope: Why the World Needs Graphics Editor: Peter Ho American Values to Triumph: Timothy J. Barnett .......... 7 Rachel Carson’s Environmental Religion: The Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty promotes a free society characterized by individual liberty and sustained by religious principles. Bruce Edward Walker ......................................................... 9 Letters and requests should be directed to: Religion & Liberty; Acton Institute; Acton FAQ ......................................................................... 10 98 E. Fulton Street, Suite 101; Grand Rapids, MI 49503. For archived issues In the Liberal Tradition: Metropolitan Philip II ................. 13 or to subscribe, please visit www.acton.org/publicat/randl. Column: Rev. Robert A. Sirico .......................................... 14 The views of the authors expressed in Religion & Liberty are not necessarily those of the Acton Institute. © 2013 Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty. Cover: Metropolitan Hilarion talks with Episcopal Bishop Daniel Martins at Nashotah House Theological Seminary, Nashotah, Wis., in October 2012. Photo credit: Nashotah House. 2 Religion& Liberty Christianity under Siege: Building a Common Front in Defense of the Faith An Interview with Metropolitan Hilarion In early January 2013, a United Nations worked to build stronger ties with other Chris- begin the process of reconciliation in that part special envoy reported that the civil war in tian communities but has also been outspoken of the world? Syria had reached “unprecedented levels of about what he sees as a lack of “fidelity to Metropolitan Hilarion: If we look at horror” with an estimated death toll of more Biblical principles in the realm of morality” in events which have been unfolding in the than 60,000 people. In the wake of the Arab progressive Protestant churches. Middle East for the last 10 years, we can Spring uprisings, the situation for Christians Religion & Liberty Executive Editor John see a tendency, which is noticeable in in Syria, and in many parts of the Middle East Couretas interviewed Hilarion in October 2012 many countries. And this has to do with and North Africa, continues to deteriorate. at the Nashotah House Theological Seminary the gradual extermination of Christianity The Russian Orthodox Church has been among in Nashotah, Wis. He was at the Anglican in the Middle East due to various political the most active witnesses against Christian seminary to receive an honorary Doctor of reasons, due to great political instability, persecution in Syria and other which is peculiar to many countries around the world. In countries of this region. I a statement about the Middle think if we look at the ex- East, the Russian Bishops’ ample of Iraq, for example, Council warned of “the vanish- we’ll see that 10 years ago ing of Christianity in the lands there were 1.5 million Chris- where it has existed for two tians living in that country. millennia and where the main Now, there are only 150,000 events of the Holy History took left. So nine-tenths of the place would become a spiritual Christian population of Iraq and historical tragedy.” was either exterminated or had to flee. The bishop in charge of external affairs for the Moscow Patri- The situation is also dire for Dr. Waynene Grudem giviviviingng a lecectctcturureu att PhPhoenenixx Semmininain ry.r archate, Metropolitan Hilarion the Copts. (Alfeyev) of Volokolamsk, has Photo Credit: ASSOCIATED PRESSS We see a very grave situa- compared the situation in Syria, Pope Benedict XVI greets Alfeyev Hilarion, Metropolitait n of Volokolamsk, upon hishiWilWilarlialiiarivalmWm WWilb forililbb erfa f priorcricvatebe bJbJhRibeyJy a Judienceohnhn Ri sinsing, i atg, t179he 00.Vattican. tion of Christians in Egypt after almost two years of fight- oto oto where thousands of Coptic ing, to Iraq, which saw a vir- h Music degree. A notedted composer as well as an Christians have had to leave the country tual depopulation of Christians following the Christian Commis- accomplished Orthodox Christian theologian, because they can no longer live there. We U.S. invasion in 2003. he delivered a talk at Nashotah titled, “The see a very difficult situation in Libya, in Hilarion has also been active in ecumenical Music of J.S. Bach as a Religious Phenomenon.” Afghanistan, in Pakistan, and now even relations with Roman Catholics and conserva- In the interview, the Russian bishop talks about in Syria. I was recently in Rome address- tive Protestants, including the Anglican Church the situation in the Middle East, the Balkans ing the Synod of Bishops of the Roman of North America which represents U.S. and and North Africa, and ecumenical relations. Catholic Church, and two senior Catholic Canadian congregations. The Russian bishop prelates from the Middle East region ap- ——————————————————— has described the Roman Catholic Church as proached me. One was a Maronite and “the main bulwark” in the West standing in R&L: What, in your mind, needs to happen in the other one was a Melkite. And both of defense of traditional moral values. He has Syria to bring an end to the violence and to them thanked me for the position of the continued on pg 11 Summer Fall 2012 2005 | Volume | Volume 22 15| Number | Number 4 1 3 First Citizen and Antilon: The Carroll-Dulany Debates and Their Impact on American Religious Freedom By Samuel Hearne In the current settings of the HHS mandate, the first town St. Mary’s City. The colony could only be said in private homes. Catho- some Catholics in America have come to was to be populated by both Catholics lic school houses were often destroyed. His feel as if there is no hope left; Bishop Daniel and Protestants. father sent Charles to be educated in France R. Jenky of Peoria said, “I am honestly at the age of 11 at St. Omer and later law at horrified that the nation I have always Fearing a repeat of the religious battles of Louie-le-Grande in Paris. St. Omer was a loved has come to this hateful and radical England, Baltimore implemented the Jesuit institution where English and Irish step in religious intolerance.” Intolerance Maryland Toleration Act of 1649, granting Catholics who were wealthy enough would or religious persecution is of course not all Trinitarian Christians the right to their send their children due to laws that prohib- new and the issue today brings to mind an faith; however, it also prevented citizens ited from educating Catholics at home.