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If Europe and the Christian West are to survive as Christian
and as Western in this new millennium, with any hope of
repelling the Islamization of European culture, the
reunification of Christians is necessary, so thinks
international Catholic apologist and EWTN host, Mr. Raymond de
Souza.
De Souza, who defines himself as ‘Brazilian by birth,
Catholic by grace and Australian by choice,’ has edited a new
millennium edition of a historical book written by King Henry
VIII titled, Defense of the Seven Sacraments.
In light of current de-populating demographic trends in
Europe, Defense of the Seven Sacraments takes on new relevance.
Secularization, moral decay, de-population and the explosion of
Islamic immigration to the continent are fueling the rapid
de-Christianization of Europe.
De Souza is not the only one who thinks along these lines:
Last year, the personal secretary of Pope Benedict XVI, Fr.
Georg Gänswein, alerted the international community about the
threat of the islamization of Europe. He declared to the German
paper Süddeutsche Zeitung (26 July 2007): “One must not ignore
the attempts to Islamize Europe, and the Catholic Church clearly
sees this danger. This kind of attitude may present a risk for
European identity.”
De Souza believes the first step to counter this trend is
Christian reunification. Ironically, King Henry VIII’s own pen
can ignite unity en route to save Christendom.
Most Christians identify King Henry VIII as a co-founder of
the Protestant Reformation, along with Martin Luther. However,
prior to his schism and persecution of Catholics, Henry was an
accomplished theologian and staunch defender of the Catholic
Faith. He was even granted the title, Defender of the Faith, by
Pope Leo X.
After Henry’s death and especially during the reign of
Elizabeth I, his treatise on the Sacraments was buried with him.
What followed was the systematic dismantling and destruction of
the Catholic Church in England, which not only separated
Englishmen from most of the sacramental life of Christ’s Church,
but also set in motion a Cultural Revolution that has, centuries
later, helped bringing about a profound moral relativism and
decadence in European society.
De Souza believes that Christians must reunite Christians and
counter the Islamization of Europe. This reunification is all
the more urgent since demographers forecast Islam to be the
dominant religion in Europe before 2050.
By the end of this century, Europeans risk becoming ethnic
minorities in their own countries, De Souza maintains.
It is clear from the book that Henry VIII believed the
Reformation of Martin Luther was a destructive force in
Christendom, spawning thousands of sects with competing
interpretations of Scripture. De Souza goes a step further,
believing that Luther’s Revolution led to the religious
fragmentation and gradual de-Christianization of Europe,
bringing about a dangerous apathy toward the rise of Islam
within its borders.
That fragmentation of Christianity continues today, racked by
doctrinal novelty and moral decay. The World Anglican Communion
appears to be crumbling, especially after more than 400,000
members, including bishops and priests, have already sought
reunification with Rome. Issues such as the ordination to the
episcopate of practicing homosexuals and women are seen as
totally irreconcilable with authentic Gospel teaching doctrine
and scandalous to the faithful, de Souza says.
The new Millennium edition of Henry VIII’s book is aimed to
reach concerned Christians in North America, the United Kingdom,
throughout the British Commonwealth and eventually in
German-speaking countries.
Throughout history, a Europe unified in the truth of the
Gospel was able time and again to withstand the menacing
attempts by Islam to subjugate all of European society. Now,
because of the vacuum created by de-population and
de-Christianization, Islam is rapidly changing the face of
European culture.
Thus, De Souza believes reunification of Christians is
essential for Europe’s survival as a Christian and Western
civilization.
Further information on this historical book may be found at
www.KeysofPeter.org and on the publisher at
www.SaintGabriel-International.com.
Raymond de Souza may be contacted for comments and interviews
at 570-788-5400 or Raymond@KeysofPeter.com
End.
