ROME, NOV. 22, 2006
Modern societies could learn a lot from a sixth-century monk, according to the Anglican archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams.
In a lecture delivered at the Pontifical Athenaeum of St. Anselm, Williams used passages from the Rule of St. Benedict to comment on the idea of authority in the world today.
He said that "what the Rule distinctively does is that it ... asks what is the style of authority that will enable 'faith beyond resentment.'"
Williams continued: "The pressing issue is how we sustain a civilization capable of asking itself questions about its purpose and its integrity; only a civilization that can do this will generate people -- citizens -- who can turn away from individual instinct and self-protection ... because they know what sort of beings they are, mortal, interdependent, created out of love and for love."
The Anglican archbishop said the Rule of St. Benedict both defended those in authority and provided a voice for those being governed.