Still Running Off at the Keyboard

THE Pope has issued a dire warning about the state of religion in Australia, saying mainstream Christianity is dying more quickly here than in any other country.

In remarks to priests in Italy, Pope Benedict spoke of a crisis for the main Christian churches as people in the Western world felt self-sufficient, with less need for Christ and Christianity.

"Certainly this is a suffering linked to the present historical moment in which generally one sees that the so-called mainstream churches appear moribund," he said. "This is so in Australia above all and also in Europe but not so much in the United States." He said the Catholic Church was not as badly off as the mainstream Protestant churches, which were in a "profound crisis" because of sects.

Many people felt Christianity was antiquated, he said. But it actually represented the future because it responded to socio-ethical problems that could not be handled by an approach based solely on a scientific mentality.

Pope Benedict made the comments during an improvised talk to priests on July 25.

The source of his information about Australia is not known although the largest denomination in this country has been struggling to reverse declining church attendance and dwindling numbers drawn to the priesthood. Rates of Mass attendance among young people are as low as in parts of Europe.