Institutionalized suspicion toward religion
In various countries in Europe, distrust of religion has become an accepted rule. In Spain, for example, sentences made in front of abortion clinics have been listed as ‘harassment’, and this new classification has found its way within the Criminal Code. The Vice President of the Government clearly expressed this perspective in a session in Congress, saying that ‘it is not freedom of expression’. In contrast, the violent actions of some pickets during the strikes are usually treated with more indulgence. This disparity reveals secularism that not only seeks to preserve state impartiality, but also penalizes the public expression of faith.
A new pope and the media image
After the death of Pope Francis, the election of Pope Lion XIV has changed the focus of media coverage, even in publications that are usually not religious. A holder of El Mundo, dated February 13, proclaimed: ‘The Church must accept times’, suggesting that the new pope could be a defender of progressive change. However, in his complete speech, he mentions ‘accepting the challenge of times’, moving from ‘accommodating’ to ‘giving the battle’, a nuance that is not trivial. This interpretation seems to be aligned with an editorial strategy that seeks to present a papal figure that resonates with the current agenda.
Feminist criticism and the church’s perception
Although most of the press houses the new pope optimistically, feminist voices rise strongly. Carlota Gurt, in his article ‘The Pope has not died’, accuses the biblical god of misogyny, drawing a direct thread from Genesis to the #MeToo movement as a continuity of oppression against women. On the other hand, Nuria Labari, in ‘The new pope will be anachronistic or will not be’, presents the Church as an ‘ideological state’ that is opposed to democratic values, accusing it of sexism and homophobia. This severe tone, different from other criticisms, indicates that contemporary feminism sees one of its main adversaries in Catholicism, which can lead to exaggeration of its positions.
Human science and well -being
In contrast to ideological debate, recent research offers a different vision. The global study Flourizing Study (GFS), which covers 207,000 people in 22 countries for five years, reveals that countries with the highest rate of ‘full life’ include Indonesia, Mexico and the Philippines, overcoming countries like the United States or Sweden. Interestingly, attendance at weekly religious services correlates with greater well -being in 21 of the 23 countries studied. In the Philippines, the difference is notable, with an increase of 0.86 points on a scale of happiness. Even in a society as secular as Sweden, this pattern remains. In addition, the data indicate that the marital status influences happiness, with married people and widows experiencing higher levels of well -being than those who are single or separated.
The dichotomy between politics, media and science
European secularism penalizes acts of peaceful faith while relativizes union violence, a situation that suggests that part of the establishment considers religion as a threat instead of a good for society. In the media field, headlines often distort the words of the pope, while feminist groups can exaggerate the sins of the Church to adapt to this distrust. However, the results of the GFS study challenge these prejudices: those who practice religion regularly and have stable family relationships are more likely to enjoy a more full and meaningful life, regardless of factors such as wealth or education.
A reflection on the future of faith and society
The challenge that Pope Lion XIV faces is not only ‘to become progress’, but also to accept the challenge of current times: to claim the evidence that faith and family are fundamental to real well-being. In a world that often ridicules or ignores these truths, secular society must consider if it can continue to despise, by dogma, what really contributes to the quality of life of its citizens. Science, in this sense, supports what the Catholic tradition has defended for centuries, offering a perspective that deserves to be considered seriously.