In light of the New Age Movement, Globalism and Pope John Paul's desire for an "Ecumenical Millennium" starting January 1, 2001, I thought you would find this article interesting. It comes from Pro-Ecclesia, Volume XXXI, No. 1. This is a conservative Roman Catholic publication.
A Vision of the New Christendom
What will the New Christendom look like? What will living in the New Christendom be like? That's the question I am to try to answer for you today.
Definition
What is the New Christendom? The New Christendom is a Christian social order functioning in a system of Christian States. By "a Christian social order," we mean a social order that is founded on Divine Revelation, on the social principles of the Gospels and the Ten Commandments. It is a social system in which the Will of God is generally done on earth by government, by private institutions and enterprises, by families and individuals. It is what recent Popes have called "the civilization of tnith and love."
Such a social system - Christendom existed for over 1,000 years. But over the past 500 years, the enemies of Jesus Christ, His Church and His People deliberately destroyed it.
Importance
Why is a New Christendom important? Because the over-riding consideration in the New Christendom will be the salvation of souls. Today our present secular social order predisposes men toward eternal damnation. In the New Christendom men will be predisposed toward eternal salvation. Nothing is more important to human beings than the salvation of their immortal souls. Jesus Chr St tells us: "What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and suffers the loss of his soul?" (Mark 8:36)
What It Won't Be
The New Christendom will not be just a copy of the Christendom Past. It will not be a totalitarian system. It will not be the perfect society. It will not be a panacea for all social problems. The New Christendom will be a modem expression of Christian social principles, which are based on Divine Revelation and expressed in the Catholic Church's social teaching. A totalitarian system is organized idolatry of the State; the State becomes the be-all and end-all of human existence, and determines the criteria of good and evil to benefit itself. In the New Christendom, Almighty God is the Be-All and End-All of human existence. God wills that men and governments obey His Commandments, do justice to each other, and that men love one another. Just as in Christendom Past the Catholic Church will serve as a defender of the human person and a bulwark against a tyrannical State.
Original Sin
No human society can be a perfect society so long as men are infected with original sin. The New Christendom will have to deal with human beings who are still human. Although most men will obey the Commandments most of the time, sometimes they will sin. While many sins will not be tolerated in the New Christendom, such as abortion, sodomy, blasphemy, pornography, devil worship, it is impossible to suppress sin entirely among human beings. For that reason, the New Christendom will not be a panacea for all social ills. But it will immensely improve upon our present social system.
New Christendom's Legal Framework
The New Christendom will have the same fundamental legal framework as Christendom Past. The Christian State will recognize the Existence of One God in Three Divine Persons; that God the Son became Man as Jesus Christ; that Jesus founded the Catholic Church and entrusted to It His Divine Revelation and His Seven Sacraments, the keys to supernatural life and man's eternal salvation; that the over-riding consideration in human affairs is man's eternal salvation.
The Christian State will establish the Catholic Church and Catholic Religion as the official Church and Religion of the Christian State.
The State will recognize that the Catholic Church is sovereign in its field of action, with its own courts which have immediate jurisdiction over all its citizens; that the Church's clergy, religious and institutions are exempt from all public duties and from taxation; that the State's legislation must conform to Catholic morality; that the Church controls organized education (except that which other religions provide their members); that the Church handles public welfare: the care of the sick and needy.
The Christian State
The Christian State will 1) maintain law and order, and keep the peace; 2) administer justice; 3) organize the national defense; 4) handle international relations; 5) enact legislation to facilitate commerce, travel and transportation; and collect taxes.
How the government of the Christian State will be organized, and whether the State will be a republic, monarchy, oligarchy, etc., is not our problem; that will be the problem of the great men and women who organize the Christian State.