The problem with the world today is... education

So sayeth the wise and (not learned) Right Reverend Patrick O'Donoghue, Bishop of Lancaster (thats in England, for you safely uneducated folks out there). From the Telegraph on November 16th:

Bishop O'Donoghue, who has recently published a report on how to renew Catholicism in Britain, argued that mass education has led to "sickness in the Church and wider society".

"What we have witnessed in Western societies since the end of the Second World War is the development of mass education on a scale unprecedented in human history - resulting in economic growth, scientific and technological advances, and the cultural and social enrichment of billions of people's lives," he said.

"However, every human endeavor has a dark side, due to original sin and concupiscence. In the case of education, we can see its distortion through the widespread dissemination of radical scepticism, positivism, utilitarianism and relativism.

"Taken together, these intellectual trends have resulted in a fragmented society that marginalizes God, with many people mistakenly thinking they can live happy and productive lives without him."

I suppose the Bishop feels that the marginalization of a mythical figure is too high a price to pay for the "cultural and social enrichment of billions of people's lives."

The Catholic Church clearly deserves more deep thinkers like Bishop O'Donoghue. With more men like him I'm sure the Church can make itself even more obviously irrelevant to society.

[Image: Jan Luyken. Burning. Engraving. XVII.]