Where does the Church fail? Since Jesus isn't here to tell us what to do, should the church?

I heard an interesting interview on the BBC. You can get the podcast here:

Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor is interviewed by Carrie Gracie and introduced as being on the front line of the Pope's campaign to bring secular Europe back to God. Carrie Gracie asks Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor, President of the Bishop's Conference, for his views on contemporary Europe and Christianity.

In his opening statements, the cardinal positions the church as having a vital role in ordering, controlling, defining how life ought to be lived. In fact he says,

Carrie Gracie: What do you think Jesus Christ would make of contemporary Europe?

Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor: I think what he would make of contemporary Europe is probably what I would make of contemporary Europe, or Pope Benedict, namely, it's a place where the voice of Religion, and the voice of faith communities needs to be heard, and there needs to be a space in all the communities and people of Europe hear this voice which is good news, and why we say, you know, this is a Secular continent, Europe, my instinct and understanding is there are a large number of people that really want to hear this voice.

Carrie Gracie: And you say the message is Good News, just very briefly, what is the message?

Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor: Well, the message quite simply is that, the God of Jesus Christ, exists, He is a personal God who loves us, who accepts us, who forgives us, and who has communicated the way we ought to live in order, to live according to what He's made us for by his son Jesus Christ, that's the Good News, and because of that, we have hope and meaning in our lives.

Carrie Gracie: And just sticking with the idea of Jesus Christ and what He would make of things, which of the Christian churches do you think he would feel most at home in, I mean you were talking about faith communities, is there a particular one where Jesus Christ would feel comfortable?

Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor: [polite chuckle]

I think that all Christians, I'm talking particularly about Christians now, would feel that they are being Jesus Christ for the world and particularly the Catholic church would say it continues the teaching and promoting the way and the life of Jesus Christ in our world today, so I think the Catholic church has a particular role, as it were being Christ in our world today.

It's seems that the Cardinal would define the Church as having an authoritarian position in our lives to tell us what to do. Could he really be saying that? Someone please explain to me how that possibly can be correct, because I just can't see that being correct. In fact, I see all the religious conflict and strife as a direct result of that. Who's right? The Christians? The Muslims? How is this not flaming the flames of anger, and stealing life and liveliness in the name of the Good News?

If we define religion as the rules of faith, then that would explain why many (including me) react to 'all the rules'. It's unbelievable to me, but I really do think the Cardinal is on a mission to put Europe under the control of the church, so Europe can hear the Good News. But isn't that somehow completely backward? How can you teach people to trust, in a system of rules? Is there any doubt why Europe is fleeing in droves?

I don't think you can talk about being 'inclusive' and 'tolerrant' while you say that the Christian Religion is the answer. It's just rules, that may be helpful to some to point to truth, but rules to discard as soon as it thinks it's right, justified, in authority, the answer or replacing Christ himself. I think that perhaps is the first clue that something is amiss.