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VATICAN CITY (AP) -- Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday criticized ''materialistic'' ways of celebrating Christmas, pressing the Vatican's campaign against unbridled consumerism.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/worl...=1&oref=slogin

Spider

The article cited:

"VATICAN CITY (AP) -- Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday criticized ''materialistic'' ways of celebrating Christmas, pressing the Vatican's campaign against unbridled consumerism.

His brief comments, delivered from the window of his private studio to pilgrims below in St. Peter's Square, built on his dismay that ever younger boys and girls are caught up in consumer pursuits.

''The way of living out, and perceiving, Christmas unfortunately quite often suffers from a materialistic mentality,'' Benedict said.

Addressing English-speaking pilgrims, the pope said he was praying that the approaching Christmas celebration ''will fill your hearts with redeeming hope.''

On Saturday, the pope lamented that children and adolescents were being deceived by ''false models'' of happiness pushed by adults who lead them down ''the dead-end streets of consumerism.''

Benedict's predecessor, John Paul II, also cautioned faithful against the consequences of unchecked materialism on morality.

Benedict made the annual Dec. 8 papal visit to a 150-year-old statue of the Virgin Mary just steps from the holiday shopping frenzy on Rome's chic Via Condotti.

En route to pray at the statue, Benedict chatted with the head of a Via Condotti merchants association. "

I find the last sentence very amusing.

__________________
"Love never dies." The Beatles

matclone

Good for the pope. I must say, the Catholics seem pretty consistent in their principles most of the time--even taking unpopular positions some of the time. It hasn't always been that way, but in my lifetime it seems to have been so.

therick

On a similar note, I heard a homily once by a Bishop with a similar message.

The line that stuck out to me was this:

"Please, keep Christ in Christmas,but also keep Christmas out of Lent."