www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Queen angers gay groups

pol·i·tics (pl-tks)
n.
1. (used with a sing. verb)
a. The art or science of government or governing, especially the governing of a political entity, such as a nation, and the administration and control of its internal and external affairs.

Why wouldn't a King or Queen have the right to "wade into politics?"

In a constitutional monarchy, such as Spain's, the monarch and the royal family are expected to remain politically neutral at least in public. Thier role is that of a unifying symbol and ceremonial figure head. They can hardly be representing all Spanish citizens if they present a partisan political opinion that a significant number of those citizens disagree with it. Queen Sophia is free to hold opinions, what she may not do is express them in public. Considering she was a princess of both Greece and Denmark prior to her marriage she certainly knows the rules.

What's the point of being a King or Queen if one cannot express ones opinion. They might as well abdicate if they are not going to stick up for the truth.

Those who think that the Spanish royal family should abdicate are, obviously, entitled to hold that opinion. But they do not have the right to seek to force the royal family to abdicate - especially if the "abdicationists" are not Spanish citizens in the first place.

Me, I wish that King Constantine were back in Athens - but my wish is unlikely to be fulfilled.

Fr. Serge

I am a Monarchist, but if being King or Queen means shake hands, wave and shut up then what's the point? Even Miss America is allowed to voice her opinions (she's just not allowed to party- completely opposite of the Royals of Europe.)

Queen Sophia said herself the job is one of service.

"The monarchy is not all feathers and thrones. It is service." From the times online.

One might consider the outstanding example of the late Queen Frederika of Greece. She had been a Danish princess, and was well aware of the idea that the King and Queen are supposed to earn their keep while staying out of politics. Greece was in a terrible situation after World War II, and the Queen rolled up her sleeves and got busy. She herself - personally - not only visited institutions designed to care for orphans, for the wounded, for those who had been rendered homeless, and so forth - actually was not above nursing, cooking, and spending her time trying to comfort those in need. And that was just the beginning.

She had this sort of triangular program of charity. She would first go to Scandinavia and find people and organizations who had the skills and experience to deal with such problems. She then went to the USA and raised the money - largely from Catholics and from wealthy US Greeks - to pay the bills. She then, thus equipped, returned to Greece to oversee the work being done, keeping a sharp eye out for graft, and doing her best to make sure that no one in real need was ignored.

She was no lazy parasite, and, again, kept her nose firmly out of Greek politics. That is how it is done.

Fr. Serge

But then, if the Queen can't express her opinion in her biography,then why bother writing one at all? Isn't that why people read biographies;to find out what folks really think about things? Otherwise, you can read her bio online and have done with it.

Are most Spaniards mad with her or just the gay groups? They're always mad at anyone who disagrees with them,regardless of rank.

"The chief spokesman for the opposition conservative Popular Party was unhappy with the Queen's comments, saying the royal family should not wade into politics."

The Popular Party led the opposition to same sex marriage in Spain. Apparently it wasn't only gay groups who were upset at her statements.

hummmm...

why is it always like that "Catholic angers SOMEONE"?

I am always getting this feeling that the Christian community in general (And I am not saying Catholic, Orthodox Churches on purpose) is losing character.
Since when did we become the problem makers, the attackers, the offenders and the bad community of the world?

Well I have a new title people: "Gay community angers Christian community by defiling the Holy Matrimony, Holy Relation between genders, and Holy relation between God and man"

Cheers to the Queen for condemning gay marriage, gay pride marches and abortion. These are sinful things and you cannot be a Christian and support them. Christian witness is far more important than anything political. I reject DAVIDinVA's call for the censorship of those who espouse Christian values.

I agree with Helen.

People of societal status have a right to express their own private and personal thoughts on matters which pertain to their faith.

If 'Joe Schmoe' (pardon the New Yorkism)/aka: 'the man on the street' were to express his Christian opinion, no one would bat an eye or care...he would simply be looked down upon as 'old fashioned', 'extreme right', 'odd', 'unenlightened', 'intolerant', 'judgemental', 'not compassionate', or just plain 'stupid'.

With all the 'cool' celebrities of film and television as well as our new 'cool' celebrities of politics touting their anti-Christian messages and opinions, and because of them being idolized and some even being labeled as a sort of messiah of world hope (I always wonder what exactly it is that we are 'hoping' for?!? --My Messiah already came to give the world hope of life eternal), there needs to be some counterbalance and counter opinion somewhere for heaven's sake! It is only fair!

The collective world consciousness (though here, the followers of Islam might actually be thinking clearer than their baptized counterparts) on matters of moral values has become very confused...

Ofcourse, we Christians know who the master of confusion is; the one whose reign is becoming much, stronger daily than any Queen's or President's, as his 'royal subjects' bend to his every anti-Christian whim and work hard to promote his cause by confusing the masses.

Alice



Eli, I love it, but I think that anyone writing such a title will be tarred and feathered...

"gender" is a grammatical term - thus, those of us who done even one day of Latin know that a table is "feminine", but I really would not advise trying to breed them! And I strongly doubt that genders have much in the way of Holy Relations!

Most things in English are neuter (English uses masculine pronouns as neuter pronouns except for specific third-person singular); many other languages do not have a neuter gender.

Dear Alice: I might have known that you read the New Yorker!

Fr. Serge

Please point out where in any of my posts I said "I call for a censorship of those who espouse Christian values". If you look back to earlier posts on this thread other posters agreed with me re:the role of the Spanish monarch, so I don't know why you singled me out.

What I pointed out is that under the conventions of modern constitutional monarchy, such as Spain's, the monarch and the royal family are expected to remain apart and removed from partisan politics. This is part of thier role. I also pointed out that political party mentioned in the article was the main opponentof legalized same sex marriage in Spain. Also it was Sophia's husband Juan Carols who signed the bill into law.