Archbishop Collins on the value of religion.

Toronto -- On May 31, 2007, Toronto's Catholic Archbishop Tom Collins addressed the Empire Club of Canada, the city's prestigious forum which regularly invites prominent personalities to share their views with its members. The Archbishop spoke on the value of religion, and its organizations, to society.

Religion, the Archbishop stated, enhances the local community with the framework in which human relationships can flourish. The idea of subsidiarity, whereby lower and smaller grassroots units can operate in the larger whole, is very important to the Church, which historically has promoted unions, co-operatives, credit unions, voluntary associations, self-help groups, etc.

Secondly, religious groups of all kinds have made great contributions to the common good by inspiring social assistance and deeds of charity. The preservation and encouragement of human relationships--especially the protection and support of families--have been a focus of their activities.

Third, religious communities bring to bear on current issues the wisdom of their heritage. Here the Archbishop distinguished between the underlying principles of faith and divine revelation on the one hand, and the reasoned analysis of social issues on the other. The latter allow the development of insights for everybody.

The archbishop's fourth point mentioned the major contributions in art, music, architecture and literature by members of faith communities. These endow society with beauty and wisdom, which are direct reflections and signs of God's presence.

"The heavens proclaim the glory of god, and so do the artistic creations of those who reflect through their art the beauty that is found in the harmony of creation."

"Religion," the Archbishop concluded, "offers to our multi-cultural society the essential gift of communities that provide a context for human dignity within the overwhelming and at times dehumanizing reality that is the secular state."