From: "las" 

On Mar 24, 8:20 pm, "Sound of Trumpet"
 wrote:
> http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1806213/posts
>
> Pope: Europe Losing Faith in Its Future
>
> AP ^ | Mar 24, 2007 | FRANCES D'EMILIO
>
> Posted on 03/24/2007 2:58:27 PM PDT by Anti-Bubba182
>
> VATICAN CITY (AP) - Europe appears to be losing faith in its own
> future, Pope Benedict XVI said Saturday, warning against "dangerous
> individualism" on a continent where many people are having fewer
> children.
>
> "One must unfortunately note that Europe seems to be going down a road
> which could lead it to take its leave from history," the pontiff told
> bishops in Rome for ceremonies to mark the 50th anniversary of the
> signing of the Treaty of Rome, a major step toward the creation of
> today's European Union.
>
> Benedict said he was concerned about Europe's "demographic profile"-
> though he did not describe the trends that have alarmed the continent
> for decades.
>
> In countries like Italy, where many married couples have one or no
> children, the population is expected to shrink dramatically in a
> generation or two unless fertility rates quickly increase.
>
> Benedict expressed concern that Europe's population trends, "besides
> putting economic growth at risk, can also cause enormous difficulties
> for social cohesion, and, above all, favor dangerous individualism,
> careless about the consequences for the future."
>
> "You could almost think that the European continent is in fact losing
> faith in its own future," Benedict said.
>
> A recent Eurostat survey showed Poland's fertility rate to be the
> lowest in the EU, at 1.23 children per woman.
>
> Sociologists and economists blame the economy, particularly the
> unemployment rate-at 14.9 percent the highest in the EU. Worried about
> losing their jobs, many women in Poland put off having children, often
> until it is too late.
>
> Earlier this month, Polish Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski proposed
> a new program of tax exemptions and support for working mothers in the
> hope of encouraging births and ensuring that Poles "continue as a
> nation."
>
> Italy's fertility rate steadily plunged to a low of 1.25 children per
> women of childbearing age in 2001, with the last few years seeing a
> small turnaround, mainly due to births to immigrants.
>
> Italian experts cite Italian's desire for an easier lifestyle, but
> they also blame shortages of day care centers, expensive housing and a
> sluggish job market which sees many Italians living at home until well
> into their 30s as reasons for the country's relatively few children.
>
> Antonio Golini, an Italian demographer, told The Associated Press
> recently that unless the retirement age is raised, Italy will have
> more people drawing pensions than it will have workers in 2050.
>
> Spain also has a low fertility rate, while France, with family
> friendly policies such as cheap day care and generous parental leave,
> has experienced a baby boom.
>
> France had more babies in 2006 than in any year in the last quarter-
> century, capping a decade of rising fertility that has bucked Europe's
> graying trend. Its fertility rate in 2006 was 2.0 children per woman.
>
> A rate of 2.1 children per woman is considered the minimum necessary
> to keep a population from shrinking.

Ill listen to that fat rich prick when he produces just one miracle

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