Gramsci lives and moves among us!
We might think that the Church would concern itself primarily with the Gospel of Christ, but it seems to be the words of the late Italian communist Antonio Gramsci that moves delegates at the World Council of Churches’ Ninth Assembly in Brazil:
PORTO ALEGRE, BRAZIL - Delegates to the Ninth Assembly of the World Council of Churches (WCC) here were invited February 16 to “take a firm faith stance against hegemonic powers” and “make ourselves accountable to the victims of the project of economic globalization.” These phrases were read liturgically in a plenary session of the WCC Assembly, as part of a document entitled “Alternative Globalization Addressing People and Earth (AGAPE): A Call to Love and Action.” The delegates were not given an opportunity to approve or disapprove the document, which had been adopted for their use by the WCC’s Executive Committee.
Some of the details of the debate seem puerile, and the trick of presenting dubious political arguments in the form of a litany is laughable, but these people have influence and power and - following Gramsci’s lead - they seek to subvert institutions such as the Church and the education system in order to promote radical Marxist doctrines. Hence the mainline churches find themselves wrapped up in numerous political campaigns, including (of course) extreme anti-Israel rhetoric and actions.
The divestment campaign is quite simply part of a political agenda that has little to do with faith and much to do with a Gramscian political strategy. Well meaning Christians who sympathize with the plight of Palestinians are being manipulated by doctrinaire activists who have an entirely different agenda. If you want to see what motivates the guardians of your faith, read the proceedings of this session and others at the Institute on Religion and Democracy website.
