Some post Brexit thoughts on the future of Christian Europe
Rt Revd Dom Alistair Bate OSBA,
July 2016
As we approach the Feast of St Benedict, Patron of Europe, (11th July) it appears to many of us that Europe itself is fast approaching a crossroads of such magnitude that the choices her people make over the next few decades will determine whether she survives in a form recognizable to our founding fathers. It is my firm belief that Christianity in some form is essential to Europe’s survival, whether it be a nominal but firm Christian identity or a revival of Christian spirituality and church, or both, albeit in new forms. My hope is that the continent may rediscover its Christian roots and this in turn may lead to a return to spiritual practice. But is it a vain hope, one may well ask?
Undoubtedly, had Christianity continued as a persecuted house church movement in the fourth century, rather than ascend to greatness as the official state religion of the Roman Empire, it would have gone the way of many other pious fraternities in the ancient world, but thanks to Divine Providence, St Constantine was inspired to adopt it, and the rest as they say, is history. So, unlike many modern commentators I do feel that Christianity today requires the support of the secular arm in order to maintain a society based on liberal Christian values. On the other hand, state-sponsored churches on their own ultimately fail - the Church of England and even more so the state churches of Scandinavia, are classic examples - because they lack the spiritual power houses provided by those individuals completely dedicated to the spiritual quest. Those power houses - the monasteries - when the Roman Empire started to crumble, kept the flame of civilisation alight until the great flowering of Christian Europe in the Middle Ages. So today, we need both a clear Christian identity and a flowering of traditional mystical devotion to revive our vision of Christendom and save us from the twin evils of secular materialism and multiculturalism, which are merely clearing a path for islamisation and all its accompanying barbarities. We have no problem with those who follow the pre-Christian indigenous religions, or with those whose heritage is Buddhist, Hindu or Sikh, as by and large their views are compatible with liberal democracy, but unfortunately, the plain truth is actually that “multiculturalism in Europe is the mosque standing on the ruins of the church.”(Gatestone Institute)
Undoubtedly, had Christianity continued as a persecuted house church movement in the fourth century, rather than ascend to greatness as the official state religion of the Roman Empire, it would have gone the way of many other pious fraternities in the ancient world, but thanks to Divine Providence, St Constantine was inspired to adopt it, and the rest as they say, is history. So, unlike many modern commentators I do feel that Christianity today requires the support of the secular arm in order to maintain a society based on liberal Christian values. On the other hand, state-sponsored churches on their own ultimately fail - the Church of England and even more so the state churches of Scandinavia, are classic examples - because they lack the spiritual power houses provided by those individuals completely dedicated to the spiritual quest. Those power houses - the monasteries - when the Roman Empire started to crumble, kept the flame of civilisation alight until the great flowering of Christian Europe in the Middle Ages. So today, we need both a clear Christian identity and a flowering of traditional mystical devotion to revive our vision of Christendom and save us from the twin evils of secular materialism and multiculturalism, which are merely clearing a path for islamisation and all its accompanying barbarities. We have no problem with those who follow the pre-Christian indigenous religions, or with those whose heritage is Buddhist, Hindu or Sikh, as by and large their views are compatible with liberal democracy, but unfortunately, the plain truth is actually that “multiculturalism in Europe is the mosque standing on the ruins of the church.”(Gatestone Institute)
Church now a Mosque in Margate, England
The political elites know this, but because they’ve been bought off by rich Arabs, or because of some misguided sense of guilt for “colonialism” or just because they’ve no knowledge of history they are ready and willing to sacrifice what's left of our European Christian identity, often not realising that they are sacrificing our liberal values and freedoms along with it. Even the imposter presently occupying the chair of St Peter has sold out, saying, “When I hear talk of the Christian roots of Europe, I sometimes dread the tone, which can seem triumphalist or even vengeful. It then takes on colonialist overtones.” He would prefer to wash the feet of cultural jihadis and do nothing to prevent Christian genocide in the Middle East. ... Thankfully, however, other voices are beginning to be heard. Andrea Leadsom, a committed Christian, has put her name forward in the UK to be the Prime Minister who will preside over Brexit, though unfortunately she is also a homophobic Christian fundamentalist, which is certainly not ideal. Marine Le Pen in France, Norbert Hofer in Austria, Oskar Freysinger in Switzerland and of couse Geert Wilders in Holland are all politicians who are gradually gaining popular support and who also have the potential to help maintain and revive the identity of Christian Europe. In North America and Australia too, both facing some similar problems, a new anti-globalist political vision is beginning to take root. One thing is clear though, if we believe in a Christian Europe at all we must seek political allies because there is no point looking to any of the mainstream churches for support, as on the whole they have completely abandoned the idea of Christendom and are either ignorant, in denial or oblivious of their own impending extinction.
Ten years ago, the Pope bearing the name of St Benedict, who passionately believed in the re-evangelisation of Europe, gave us a warning in his famous Regensburg address when he quoted Emperor Manuel Palaiologos II of Constantinople: “Show me just what Muhammad brought that was new and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached.” And of course he was vilified by the political and religious establishment for his honesty, but he was right, and many are now waking up to the fact that time is now short. We indigenous Europeans need to stop Muslim immigration, start having babies and start going back to church, otherwise the jihad which our ancestors so vigorously resisted will have been welcomed in through the back door and our liberal Christian faith and values will be lost forever. Actually, it isn't even necessary that everybody "go back to church", because the Christian Europe I envisage is simply one which acknowledges that its liberal values and freedoms have grown in Christian soil. It is the ignorance of "progressive" church leaders and post-Christian politicians who assume that all religions are as benign as our own that is incredibly dangerous for the survival of our culture.
Protestantism unwittingly paved the way for the “Enlightenment” which in turn has led us down a garden path of blissful multiculturalist ignorance and today even the Roman hierarchy has little understanding of the need for extreme caution when dealing with Islam, so it will be left to those ordinary people who instinctively understand history and sense the danger, as well as an occasional ecclesiastical voice, such as our own, to raise the alarm and take the cross once more in defence of Christendom. Awareness raising is a thankless task, but if we do not do it who will? It is some comfort to know that we may be assured of the prayers of our ancestors and the saints: St Benedict, Patron of Europe; his spiritual son St Bernard, the Holy Templars and other Knights, and many more who worked and fought to keep Europe Christian through the centuries.
So, with the Rosary and the Medal of St Benedict as our weapons let us go forth and win hearts and minds, one by one. Our Lady of Victories and St Benedict pray for us!
Protestantism unwittingly paved the way for the “Enlightenment” which in turn has led us down a garden path of blissful multiculturalist ignorance and today even the Roman hierarchy has little understanding of the need for extreme caution when dealing with Islam, so it will be left to those ordinary people who instinctively understand history and sense the danger, as well as an occasional ecclesiastical voice, such as our own, to raise the alarm and take the cross once more in defence of Christendom. Awareness raising is a thankless task, but if we do not do it who will? It is some comfort to know that we may be assured of the prayers of our ancestors and the saints: St Benedict, Patron of Europe; his spiritual son St Bernard, the Holy Templars and other Knights, and many more who worked and fought to keep Europe Christian through the centuries.
So, with the Rosary and the Medal of St Benedict as our weapons let us go forth and win hearts and minds, one by one. Our Lady of Victories and St Benedict pray for us!
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