ZENIT, Daily dispatch
The World Seen From Rome
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VATICAN DOSSIER
* Pope Tells of His Need for Cardinals
* Holy See Sends Delegation to Annapolis
ANALYSIS
* Christianity's Contribution
WORLD FEATURES
* Patriarch Delly: Iraqis Are Sons of Hope
* A Silver Lining Is Detected in Modernity
* Cardinal Brady: Pope Honored the Irish
NEWS BRIEFS
* Venezuelan Bishops Warn of "Reform" Plan
* Prelate Says Mosul Christians Targeted
* Australian Bishops Hopeful About Rudd
INTERVIEW
* Fashion's Modest Twist
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VATICAN DOSSIER
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Pope Tells of His Need for Cardinals
Requests Prayers for Pastor-Pontiff Solidarity
VATICAN CITY, NOV. 26, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI says he relies upon the support of the College of Cardinals to carry out his mission as head of the Church.
The Pope said this today when he received in audience the 23 new cardinals elevated in Saturday's consistory, along with their families and other faithful who accompanied them to Rome.
"The consistory and yesterday's Eucharistic celebration," said the Holy Father, "have provided us with a unique opportunity to experience the catholicity of the Church, well represented by the varied provenance of the members of the College of Cardinals, gathered in close communion around Peter's Successor."
To English-speakers
Benedict XVI mentioned the six English-speaking new cardinals. There are two from the United States, and one each from Ireland, India, Kenya and Iraq.
"I am also pleased to have this opportunity to welcome their family members and friends, and all the faithful who have accompanied them to Rome," the Pontiff continued. "As the new cardinals accept the burden of this office, I am confident that they will be supported by your constant prayers and your cooperation in their efforts to build up the Body of Christ in unity, holiness and peace."
"The College of Cardinals," the Pope explained, "whose origin is linked to the ancient clergy of the Roman Church, is charged with electing the Successor of Peter and advising him in matters of greater importance. Whether in the offices of the Roman Curia or in their ministry in the local Churches throughout the world, the cardinals are called to share in a special way in the Pope's solicitude for the universal Church. The vivid color of their robes has traditionally been seen as a sign of their commitment to defending Christ's flock, even to the shedding of their blood."
To all present
After greeting the new cardinals in Italian, English, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese and Polish, the Holy Father gave them the assurance of his prayers and asked them always to accompany him with "your valuable human and pastoral experience."
"I place great reliance on your precious support in order to be able to carry out my ministry to the entire people of God," added the Pontiff.
Addressing the families and friends of the new cardinals, the Pope asked them to keep on praying for the cardinals and for him, "that communion between pastors and the Pope may remain solid, so as to present the whole world with the testimony of a Church faithful to Christ and ready to meet the spiritual hopes and needs of modern man with prophetic courage." "Returning to your dioceses, bear my greetings and the assurances of my constant prayers to the Lord," the Holy Father concluded. "Upon you, dear cardinals, and upon everyone present here, I invoke the protection of the heavenly Mother of God and of the saintly Apostles Peter and Paul."
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Holy See Sends Delegation to Annapolis
Texas Cardinal Encourages Perseverance in Prayer
By Marta Lago
VATICAN CITY, NOV. 26, 2007 (Zenit.org).- The Holy See is sending a high-level delegation to the meeting in Annapolis, Maryland, where Israelis and Palestinians will join with other world leaders to seek a Mideast peace.
The Vatican press office confirmed today that the head of the Holy See delegation to the Tuesday meeting will be Monsignor Pietro Parolin, undersecretary for relations with states at the Vatican Secretariat of State. Monsignor Franco Coppola, a counselor at the office of the nunciature, will accompany him.
Last Sunday, before praying the midday Angelus, Benedict XVI seconded an appeal from the U.S. bishops to pray for the success of the meeting.
In Annapolis, with help from the international community, Israelis and Palestinians will try to relaunch negotiations and aim for a just and definitive solution to the conflict that has bloodied the Holy Land for 60 years, the Holy Father said.
In his appeal, the Pope recalled the many "tears and sufferings" the conflict has caused the two peoples. He asked people to "implore the Spirit of God for peace for that region so dear to us and to give wisdom and courage to all the protagonists in this important meeting."
The day of prayer marked by the U.S. bishops' conference is another step in an ongoing plea for peace in the Holy Land, L'Osservatore Romano reported in its Italian edition today.
The Annapolis encounter "offers a lot of hope," newly elevated Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, archbishop of Galveston-Houston, Texas, told the Vatican newspaper. "I hope that those who are involved in this international conference dedicate themselves with diligence to a resolution that effectively assures peace in the regions of the Middle East."
Cardinal DiNardo said parishes and Catholics all over the United States "are praying, following the encouragement of the prelates, so that the prospect of peace between the Israeli and Palestinian peoples becomes a concrete reality." He added that even in a political initiative, such as the Annapolis meeting, prayer "has a great value, also for the future."
"We are called to persevere in prayer," the Texas cardinal concluded, "entrusting to God our hope for peace in the coming weeks and months."
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ANALYSIS
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Christianity's Contribution
Positive Effects of Religion Abound
By Father John Flynn, LC
ROME, NOV. 26, 2007 (Zenit.org).- The avalanche of books on the merits and demerits of God and religion continues. One of the latest works outlines many of the valuable contributions made by Christianity to society.
Dinesh D'Souza, a research scholar at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, authored "What's So Great About Christianity" (Regnery Publishing). One of the biggest problems, he argued, is that many are ignorant about the role played for centuries by Christianity.
A common belief is that, after the high point of civilization during Greek and Roman times, the world was plunged into darkness during the Middle Ages, rescued only by the return to classical sources during the Renaissance. The next major advance was supposedly the Enlightenment, which opened up the doors to the modern age.
The destruction of the Roman Empire was not the work of Christianity, D'Souza pointed out. It was a combination of Roman decadence and the invasion of barbarians. It was Christianity, largely through the contribution of Catholic monks, who preserved learning and science, and also converted the barbarians.
Western art, literature and music also owe an enormous debt to Christianity. For many centuries, even artists who rejected Christianity produced work that was shaped by Christian themes, D'Souza added.
We also have a lot to thank Christianity for when it comes to the development of politics in Western civilization, the book continued. The teaching of Christ, in Matthew 22:21, to render to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God, is the origin of the separation of Church and state.
Limiting state power
Not only does this separation help prevent the excesses of a theocratic state, but it also gives origin to the concept of limited government, by advancing the concept that state power has a limit and must respect the conscience of each person.
Secularists, D'Souza warned, wish to empty the public square of religion and religious-based morality so they can monopolize society with their own views. This process brings with it the consequence of making religious believers into second-class citizens. The separation of Church and state should not be used as a weapon against Christianity, but in such a way that it is the source of social peace and religious freedom.
Human dignity is another prized contribution of Christianity examined by D'Souza. Not only does Christian teaching maintain the dignity of the sinner and those who fail, but it also calls for respect for those who are poor and lowly. "Christ produced the transformation of values in which the last became first, and values once scorned came to represent the loftiest human ideals," explained D'Souza.
Through its defense of human dignity Christianity also provided the inspiration for campaigns to end slavery, achieve democracy and promote self-government, as well as the first attempts to formulate a doctrine of human rights. Many modern formulations of human rights owe a lot to Christianity.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations in 1948, D'Souza pointed out, is based on the premise that all human lives have worth and that all lives count equally -- not a teaching to be found in all cultures and religions, but one derived from Christianity. If the West abandons Christianity, it may well put in danger the egalitarian values that Christian teaching brought into the world, he warned.
Turning back to the political realm, D'Souza added that the Christian notion of leaders who must consider themselves as servants of others provided the basis for political and social accountability. As a consequence, the political leader, the merchant, and the priest are called upon to serve people by attending to their needs.
Elevating society
Another vital contribution of Christianity is the high importance given to marriage and the family. The premises on which family life are based were introduced by Christianity into society, the book continued. No longer was family life subordinated to that of the state, but it was elevated through the sacrament of marriage. Christianity also introduced the concept of consent by both spouses as being a prerequisite of marriage, a vital instrument in preventing people being pressured into marriage against their will.
The Christian precepts of mutual love and charity were also behind the development of institutions such as hospitals and orphanages, taken for granted today by many who forget their origins.
Christianity also played a major role in the development of capitalism, according to D'Souza. Theologians in the Middle Ages were the first to develop the basic rules of economics, and the monasteries spread throughout Europe were flourishing centers of business activity.
Science too owes a lot to Christianity, in spite of the frequent portrayals of an opposition between them. D'Souza cited Benedict XVI's Regensburg address of Sept. 12, 2006, in which the Pope attributed the development of modern science to Christianity's emphasis on the importance of reason.
In fact, added D'Souza, modern science is based on the Christian contributions during medieval times, and the greatest breakthroughs in science were largely the work of Christians. In both the universities founded by the Church during the Middle Ages and in monasteries, scientific knowledge was preserved and developed.
Force for good
Religion's contribution to society is not limited to the past. Iam Buruma, writing on Sept. 29 in the opinion columns of the Los Angeles Times, observed that recent best-sellers would have us believe that religious faith is a sign of backwardness and the mark of primitives. "Religion, we are told, is responsible for violence, oppression, poverty and many other ills," noted Buruma.
Religion is not perfect, he admitted, but in many cases it is a force for good. He cited the recent example of Burmese monks, who defied the security forces of an oppressive regime.
Similarly, he added, Christians have stood up for democracy in countries such as the Philippines, South Korea and China.
"In a world of political oppression and moral corruption, religious values offer an alternative moral universe," argued Buruma.
When religion is greatly weakened, as in the Canadian province of Quebec, many social problems result, declared the archbishop of Quebec, Cardinal Marc Ouellet. "The real problem in Quebec is the spiritual void created by the religious and cultural rupture," he said during a presentation made to a government commission last Oct. 30.
According to a report of his comments, published by the Catholic Register on Nov. 2, the tensions between religions and cultures in Quebec are largely due to a loss of the traditional culture, combined with a crisis in the family and in education. Citizens, the cardinal continued, have been left "disoriented, unmotivated, subject to instability and leaning on transient, superficial values."
The Catholic leader also criticized anti-Catholic rhetoric in the news media that portrays the province's religious heritage as a source of shame and contempt. Such an attitude, he said, "destroys the soul of Quebec."
A similar alarm was sounded by Ireland's bishop of Limerick, Donal Murray, in a Nov. 6 speech on the relationship between the religious and secular spheres. "We have passed from a society where faith and public manifestations of faith were the norm, to a society which is, at best, embarrassed by any public visibility of faith," he commented.
We live in a time of conflict between faith and the ideology of secularism, Bishop Murray observed. Secularism would have us believe that "there is no answer to the fundamental questions about the meaning and destiny of human life." Faith, however, recognizes that we do not live on bread alone and places us "on solid ground, free to pursue what we are really seeking as individuals and as a society." Arguments that provide a healthy antidote to the often-superficial rants against religion being popularized today.
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WORLD FEATURES
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Patriarch Delly: Iraqis Are Sons of Hope
Says He Will Try to Convince Emigrants to Return Home
By Marta Lago
ROME, NOV. 26, 2007 (Zenit.org).- The newly elevated cardinal from Iraq urged his people to be "sons of hope" and optimists, since God is a father who loves his people.
Patriarch Emmanuel III Delly of Babylon of the Chaldeans said this the evening before the Saturday consistory in which he was given the red hat. He spoke with a group of journalists near the Vatican, saying that the honor of being named cardinal was a dignity given through him to all Iraqis.
The archbishop of Baghdad affirmed that the Iraqi government was satisfied with his elevation. "This dignity should be useful not only for Iraq, but also for all our beloved friends in the world, for all humanity," he said.
Asked about the suffering in Iraq, the Chaldean patriarch said, "What happens in Iraq to Christians happens to our Muslim bothers, and what happens to our Muslim brothers happens to us Christians. We have lived together for 14 centuries, we have a relationship together [] it is true there are occasions in which Christians suffer more, for many reasons, but a car bomb equally kills Muslims and Christians."
He insisted on the need for love and for the building of peace. "I also invite the international community to help us in order to be able to achieve this peace," he said. "I invite the Iraqi people with the words of Our Lord: We should love one another, and not only the Iraqi people, but also the whole population; so I call on good will to be able to establish peace in all the world, and especially with these words, I dedicate all of my being in service to the Church and to my homeland."
Commenting on his new mission as cardinal, the patriarch said, "I came in order to serve, not to be served. [] at the service of the universal Church, not only of the Chaldean Church, of which I am patriarch, chief and father, but of all of the Church."
"All that I have given my people I will continue giving always," he said. "I love my homeland, I serve her: All Iraqis are equal for me, without distinguishing Shiites, Sunnis, Christians or Kurds."
The Iraqi prelate affirmed that the delegation accompanying him in Rome was formed by representatives of the many ethnic groups of Iraq.
A beginning
Noting the relative calm in some areas of the country, he said that in Baghdad, "some families have returned to Dora and its auxiliary [bishop] went a few weeks ago to celebrate Mass in a church which had been closed."
"It is a beginning that we hope will continue doing good for our people and for everyone, because not only have the churches been attacked," he pointed out, but "all places of worship," as in the case of 134 mosques.
The patriarch added, "The churches are being rebuilt and people are beginning to return to their homes. We are sons of hope. We should be optimists; the Lord will protect us, he is our father and he loves us."
The 80-year-old prelate discussed his plans as a cardinal: "I will return to Iraq and will continue serving my country," and "especially, also in my travels, I will convince those who have left the country to return, in order to be able to work and to build Iraq together."
Benedict XVI, in his homily during Saturday's consistory, mentioned the elevation to cardinal of the patriarch, saying it was a sign of the solidarity of the whole Church with the suffering Iraqi people.
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A Silver Lining Is Detected in Modernity
Cardinal Martino: We Must Not Demonize Globalization
ROME, NOV. 26, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Though modern times are marked by an "indescribable load of suffering," a Vatican official said he sees signs of "unique and very promising" opportunities.
Cardinal Renato Martino, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, made this reflection after the 2nd World Congress of the Ecclesial Organizations Working for Justice and Peace, sponsored by his dicastery. It concluded in Rome last Saturday.
The two-day conference, like the pontifical council's plenary assembly held just before it, was dedicated to the consideration of Pope Paul VI's "Populorum Progressio," on the 40th anniversary of its publication.
A concluding statement from the congress said, "The indescribable load of suffering caused by the new fratricidal wars, the bloody inrush of terrorism on the world scene, the persistent increase of scandalous inequality between the poorer countries and the richer countries should not bring a feeling of desperation and paralyzing powerlessness."
"These times also offer unique and very promising opportunities for the integral development and solidarity of humanity," affirmed Cardinal Martino. "We must not demonize globalization: It can represent a great opportunity, on the condition that it is oriented truly to global solidarity and social justice, in the perspective of the universal common good of the united family of peoples. "The development of science and of technology can help much as well, while the discoveries of medicine are able to confront successfully the problem of endemic illnesses and of pandemics.
"Besides, there is an ever growing awareness that development is above all a moral problem."
Referring to the encyclical about hope that Benedict XVI will publish this Friday, Cardinal Martino said, "Christian hope is the strength that God gives us in order to fulfill his plan of love for man and for history, in which integral development and solidarity are an essential element."
Social doctrine
Bishop Thomas Wenski of Orlando, Florida, gave the homily at Saturday's Mass during the congress. He suggested that the social doctrine of the Church could be summed up in one phrase: "No man is a problem."
"Any anthropology that would reduce the human person to being just a problem is simply a defective, an erroneous anthropology -- unworthy of man created in the image and likeness of God," the prelate said. "When we allow ourselves to think of a human being as a mere problem, we offend his or her dignity.
"This is why Catholic social teachings proclaim a positive and consistent ethic of life: No man is a problem. For us, Catholics, therefore, there is no such thing as a 'problem pregnancy' -- only a child, who is to be welcome in life and protected by law. The refugee, the migrant is not a problem. He may perhaps be a stranger, but a stranger to be embraced as a brother. Even criminals -- for all the horror of their crimes -- do not lose their God-given dignity as human beings."
Bishop Wenski said the mission of Christians is "to model what life looks like when God matters, when man matters."
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Cardinal Brady: Pope Honored the Irish
Says Red Hat Is Sign of Benedict XVI's Esteem for Nation
ROME, NOV. 26, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Cardinal Sean Brady says wearing the red hat is not so much a personal honor as a sign of the esteem the Successor of Peter has for the people of Ireland and their dedication to faith, family and fair play.
Cardinal Brady, archbishop of Armagh, said this Saturday in Rome on the occasion of his elevation as cardinal.
"Today has been a very joyful day -- a day of many graces and much happiness," said Cardinal Brady. "I am very honored and humbled that Pope Benedict XVI has created me a cardinal. I hope that people in Ireland will see in it an expression of our Holy Father's particular regard and affection for them and for the Church in Ireland."
The 68-year-old prelate expressed his gratitude for the prayers and congratulations that, he said, "literally come from thousands of people who are glad for the Church and for Ireland itself, at this joyful event." The cardinal made special mention of the best wishes from government officials, including Ireland's President Mary McAleese.
"I take this opportunity to ask people to pray that the peace process in Northern Ireland will continue to be a source of pride and joy and inspiration to peacemakers across the world," Cardinal Brady added.
Fidelity
The cardinal said that recent years have been difficult, "at times traumatic," for the Church in Ireland.
"Yet," he said, "in the midst of these challenges, the overwhelming majority of priests and religious have continued to serve their people, in humble patience, with quiet devotion and outstanding generosity."
"That is why I believe that today is, in some sense, about them," explained the archbishop of Armagh. "It is about the quiet acts of kindness, the supportive, prayerful presence in times of tragedy and disaster, the efforts to build community, and to bring dignity, comfort and hope to those in need."
Cardinal Brady continued: "Being created a cardinal is about strengthening the bonds of affection and unity between the See of Peter and the Church in Ireland. I have therefore no hesitation in saying to the lay faithful of Ireland today: Take heart! Today is recognition of your goodness and of your fidelity.
"Becoming a cardinal is not just an honor, it is also a responsibility. It implies a willingness to help the Pope to carry out the tasks entrusted to him of feeding the flock, strengthening them in their faith, leading back the stray and guiding them safely into the banquet of eternal life."
"I believe," the new cardinal concluded, "that the Holy Father wants us all to help him to proclaim the good news that God is love."
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NEWS BRIEFS
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Venezuelan Bishops Warn of "Reform" Plan
Country Prepares for Dec. 2 Referendum
CARACAS, Venezuela, NOV. 26, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Just a few days before Venezuelans vote on a constitutional reform proposed by President Hugo Chávez, the nation's bishops are reiterating their stance that the change is "unnecessary, morally unacceptable and a drawback for the country."
In a press release published today, the president, vice presidents and general secretary of the Venezuelan bishops' conference spoke out against a "yes" vote for the Dec. 2 referendum.
"Besides restricting many civil, social and political human rights protected by the Constitution, [the reform] establishes motives for political discrimination and introduces new fields of confrontation and polarization between Venezuelans," the bishops wrote.
"We reiterate," they continued, "that all citizens have the right to an opinion about the proposed reform, and to express it democratically. As a consequence, no one has the right to wrong or insult those who dissent from it. We reject the attacks, defamations and insults against Cardinal Jorge Urosa Savino, archbishop of Caracas, the bishops in general, and other peoples and sectors of the Venezuelan people."
The statement, signed by Archbishop Ubaldo Santana Sequera of Maracaibo, and the other officials of the Venezuelan episcopal conference, called voters to participate actively in the referendum and to "express themselves freely and consciously with the vote."
"We invite all Catholics, Christians, and all men and women of any religion, to pray intensely to God so that all of us contribute to construct a path to peace," the bishops concluded. "We place this intention in the hands of our loving mother, the Holy Virgin of Coromoto, patroness of Venezuela."
In part, Sunday's vote will determine if Chávez can remove presidential term limits. Reuters reported today that support for the proposal is waning, with one poll showing a "no" vote with a 10 percentage point lead.
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Prelate Says Mosul Christians Targeted
ROME, NOV. 26, 2007 (Zenit.org).- The bishop of Mosul, Iraq, said that in his city, as in other parts of the nation, there is an effort to force Christians and educated professionals to emigrate.
Bishop Faraj Raho, a member of the delegation that accompanied newly elevated Cardinal Emmanuel III Delly, Chaldean patriarch of Baghdad, to Rome for Saturday's consistory, spoke with AsiaNews about the continuing conflict in Mosul.
"Unlike Baghdad, the situation in Mosul is not improving," said Bishop Raho. "It is apparent that U.S.-led coalition forces have begun 'cleaning up' the country in the south where the influence of Iran and Syria is strongest: Basra, Ramadi, Baquba and Baghdad. As the United States moves up, so do the terrorists, who are now concentrated in Mosul."
"In Mosul," he continued, "religious persecution is more noticeable than elsewhere, because the city is split along religious lines. Unlike Kirkuk, where divisions are ethnic with Kurds, Turkmen and Arabs vying for Christian support, the division between Muslims and Christians is sharper in Mosul."
The bishop said there is a move to empty the city of its Christian inhabitants, though he said "such a plan does not target Christians alone, but the intelligentsia and the professional class as well, Muslims included."
"However, if Christians are only 3% of the city's total population, they represent 35% of those with a higher education. Forcing these people to leave means preventing the country from rising again. It means fueling ignorance, which is a support for terrorism," Bishop Raho explained.
He continued, "Such a plan is under way elsewhere in the country. Attacks target doctors, lawyers, professors, journalists. The plan is the brainchild of those who run international politics and Iraq's neighbors. No one wants a free and independent Iraq because it would be too strong. Together we would constitute a great intellectual and economic power. By keeping the country weak and divided, it is easier to dominate it."
And as Christmas approaches, Bishop Raho reported, "The main message of our prayers shall be peace [] which we have been trying to achieve despite threats and violence."
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Australian Bishops Hopeful About Rudd
SYDNEY, Australia, NOV. 26, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Australian bishops are hoping newly elected government officials will pursue policies that integrate prosperity with justice and concern for human dignity.
The bishops' conference offered its prayers and congratulations in a press release today to Prime Minister-elect Kevin Rudd and the Australian Labor Party. The prelates urged the incoming government to commit to be mindful of the interests of the common good.
Archbishop Philip Wilson, president of the episcopal conference, said voting results showed that there was a clear desire for change within the electorate at large. And, he added, "We can do well to take a moment to stop and reflect on where this change will carry us."
He continued: "It is our hope, and the hope of many, that the Rudd Labor Government will grasp the opportunity to pursue policies which integrate the pursuit of economic prosperity with social justice and an overriding concern for life and the human dignity of all Australians.
"The measure of this will be particularly evident in policies which affect the most vulnerable, including our indigenous brothers and sisters, refugees and asylum seekers, people with disability and their careers, and vulnerable employees in the workplace."
The bishops also paid tribute to outgoing Prime Minister John Howard, saying his was a long and dedicated service to public life in Australia.
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INTERVIEW
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Fashion's Modest Twist
Interview With Brenda Sharman
By Kathleen Naab
CUMMING, Georgia, NOV. 26, 2007 (Zenit.org).- The director of a new modeling group says that some girls have been finding it hard to spend hours at the shopping mall. Their problem? Clothes offered by retailers do not meet the youths' standards of modesty.
Brenda Sharman, director of Pure Fashion, explains in this interview with ZENIT that her group began when would-be shoppers could not find anything that was "pretty but not provocative."
Q: How did Pure Fashion begin and how does it work?
Sharman: Pure Fashion shows began in 1999, when several girls across the country decided to present modesty fashion shows to counteract the immodest fashions that were beginning to permeate local retailers. These moms and daughters were looking for ways to dress modestly, yet fashionably.
Word spread over the next five or six years through Challenge Clubs -- a Regnum Christi youth apostolate for girls ages 10-16 -- and modesty fashion shows began popping up all over the country. In 2006, the fashion shows were unified by establishing the apostolate of Pure Fashion, which is now in 24 cities in the United States, as well as Australia, Belgium, Italy, Mexico, Spain, France, Hungary and Canada.
From those modest beginnings, Pure Fashion has continued to grow, with professional shows such as one in Atlanta in April, attracting audiences of more than 2,000 people.
Pure Fashion's most important mission is to touch the hearts of young women with the love of Christ and to help them live out that love in all they do. The eight-month Model Training Program certainly includes segments on fashion, etiquette, hair and makeup, public speaking and the practical aspects of personal presentation. But these are only the tools used to open the hearts of the girls.
The young women also participate in a weekend-long retreat and in outreach projects of service to the community. Every aspect of the program stresses the dignity of the human person. Pure Fashion models learn to embrace their own authentic beauty and they learn that they, and everyone they meet, are children of God. It is our sincere desire that they will then become role models for modesty and purity in their Churches, schools and communities.
The grand finale of the Model Training program is a Pure Fashion show that rivals any fashion show in the industry. The Pure Fashion show itself is designed to reach any woman between the ages of 8 and 88. Our hope is that the Pure Fashion models will become role models for the young girls in attendance and set the bar high for fashions that are trendy but tasteful, pretty but not provocative.
Q: Did you look to any Church teaching, such as John Paul II's theology of the body, for inspiration in this apostolate?
Sharman: The Model Training Program, at the core of the Pure Fashion apostolate, does take its inspiration from the theology of the body. We definitely recognize that the integrity of the body and soul is very evident in how a young lady presents herself. So we emphasize the point that what a woman wears sends a message about who she is -- on the inside. She is not a disembodied "good person" who does and wears whatever with her shell/body. What she does and wears will affect who she is and becomes. So, just as our bodies speak a language about our Creator, so too does the clothing speak a language about the woman wearing them. This is obvious, but has been lost in our modern Western culture.
We see Pure Fashion as a practical application of theology of the body in this very tangible way -- in the clothes that a woman chooses to wear.
Q: Are young women interested in being modest?
Sharman: Unfortunately, our society is proving that no, many young women are not interested in being modest. Modesty is very often a forgotten virtue. That is why Pure Fashion was founded: To remind young women that our bodies are holy and sacred and that they should not be used in a way that leads others into unhealthy curiosity or lustful thoughts.
There is a portion of our society that has not forgotten about the virtue of modesty and many mothers and young girls are happy to learn about Pure Fashion and join the ranks of thousands who believe that we can change our culture one outfit at a time.
When young women realize their inherent dignity and choose to live in accordance with God's laws, they are released from the shackles of peer pressure: pressure to engage in premarital sex, to dress "minimally," and to have the perfect body, hair and face. They are free to recognize and unleash the radiant beauty within them.
Q: Why do young girls dress the way they do?Sharman: I think that mostly they are just following the trends that are set by advertisers, designers, magazines and celebrities. Teens are typically very self-conscious and want to "fit in" and be accepted. If they do not have strong convictions and a well-formed conscience, it is easy to "go along with the crowd."
In addition, a young woman's desire to get attention from boys is typically very strong -- the human heart always seeks love -- and they might see young men reacting to a girl who is "sexy," so other girls decide that they want to be "sexy" too. They want that attention for themselves.
It is also my opinion that with the breakdown of so many families, many parents aren't playing the role that they used to in the past. Girls used to hear their fathers saying things like, "You can't leave the house in that." And nowadays, many moms and dads are actually proud when their daughters look "hot" or "sexy."
Dressing immodestly can lead to having a casual attitude about the human body, its value and its purpose. It also invites more casual behaviors and attitudes toward sex. This casual attitude about sex that many teens have adopted has led to unhealthy, sad and tragic consequences.
Q: As you say on your Web site, modesty guidelines depend from one culture to another. How did you determine the guidelines you use for Pure Fashion?
Sharman: The Catechism of the Catholic Church says, "Modesty is decency. It inspires one's choice of clothing. It is discreet."
The laywomen, consecrated women and priests who have been involved with Pure Fashion since its inception thoughtfully and prayerfully considered the published modesty guidelines for Pure Fashion shows. The teachings of our Church, Scripture and the Catechism were considered when forming the guidelines.
We feel they are realistic in today's culture and are protective of the female body. In addition, they are in line with what most private Catholic schools recommend. We realize that different cultures have different expectations for modesty in women, and even in America, we realize that the idea of modesty and decency has changed over time. Remember when it was scandalous for a woman to show her ankles?
But given that today's typical teenager is involved in activities such as soccer, volleyball, softball, running, dance, gymnastics or ballet, we knew, for example, that asking a young girl to always wear a skirt below her knees would not be applicable to today's situations.
Our goal is to re-sensitize and form the consciences of young girls so that they can learn to make wise, informed decisions about how they present themselves in many different circumstances. We realize that different modes of dress are appropriate in different situations. What a young woman wears to the beach, to a picnic, or while playing sports should be different from what she wears to Mass.
We emphasize that when a woman gets dressed for church, her clothing should reflect the sacred solemnity of the occasion. Sometimes a casual attitude in our clothing can cause a casual attitude toward what we are doing, and we should never cultivate a casual attitude toward worshipping God when we attend Mass.
Our focus is to help young women become prudent and discerning so that they feel compelled to be modest young ladies in the many different situations and occasions in their lives.
Q: How can parents instill in their daughters the value of modesty?
Sharman: Parents can instill modesty by teaching their daughters the reality of their dignity.
Dignity is rooted in the girl's understanding that she is known and loved by God, that she was created for a mission to love and serve others and to know and love God.
Parents need to teach her that there is so much more to her existence than what she looks like or how others perceive her. They should instill in her the belief that she is a creature full of mystery and wonder, with talents that she can put at the disposal of God who gave them to her -- to use them to bring others to Christ. This is what will excite her and give her life meaning.
Wearing trendy, immodest clothing does not then have the attraction it otherwise would if she were not rooted in her true worth. Her self-assuredness and confidence are the armor she needs to protect her from the negative influences of the superficial pop culture.
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