THAT’S what Pope Benedict told African bishops recently as they closed their synod in Rome. The synod’s theme was “The Church of Africa at the service of reconciliation, justice and peace.”
It’s obvious that the assembly was meant to tackle a tricky and delicate situation where the Church, especially the bishops and priests, have to know how to strike the balance between the spiritual and political dimensions of Christian life. I can just imagine how things are in that volatile continent of Africa.
It’s a situation similar to ours, and I suppose to many other places. That’s why that piece of news immediately grabbed my attention, since I would like to know exactly how the balance is made, what requirements and considerations are kept.
Especially now when we are celebrating the Year of the Priests, and the clergy is agitated to sharpen the exercise of their prophetic role in social matters, clear guidelines from the Vatican would be most welcome and helpful.
We cannot deny the blatant fact that controversial interventions, confusing at the very least, by some of our ecclesiastical big shots in social and political issues have left many of us bewildered and even scandalized.
Many of the faithful have complained that some Church leaders are too condemnatory in their statements, with words and tone that are laced with a condescending know-it-all attitude and sarcasm.
They also observe that the leaders seem to speak more vociferously in areas where they do not have or have less competence, while almost being silent or weak in the media in questions they should be clear and loud about.
For example, a bishop told some priests in their retreat that contraceptives like condoms are ok as long as it is not abortifacient. Many were wondering what happened to Pope Paulś Ḧumanae Vitae” after listening to that enlightenment.¨
Also, the irregularities within the Church structure give the impression Church officials are remiss in their duties as they stray into matters they should not be.
In short, people think these leaders only manage to embarrass the Church and religion in general in the eyes of the world. Thatś why there is also a growing fallout of the faithful.
In that address to the African bishops, the Pope only hinted that the synod was successful in identifying the way to reach that balance, but no details were mentioned. I suppose we have to wait a little for the relevant document to come out. That should be very exciting!
Also the Pope pointed out the significance of a synod, saying that it is ¨a common journey,¨ referring to the truth that in serving God and men the Church has to go together, talk and discuss things together, especially to determine solutions and remedies to problems along the way. Beautiful idea!
Let'ś quote some lines of that address:
¨The theme "Reconciliation, Justice and Peace" certainly implies a strong political dimension, even if it is obvious that reconciliation, justice and peace are not possible without a profound purification of the heart, without a renewal of thought, a "metanoia" ("conversion"), without a newness that must come precisely from the encounter with God.
¨But even if this spiritual dimension is profound and fundamental, the political dimension is also very real, because without political realizations, these new things of the Spirit are not commonly realized.
¨Thus, the temptation could have been to politicize the theme, to speak less of pastoral work and more about politics, with a competence that is not ours.
¨The other danger was -- precisely to flee from the first temptation -- that of retreating into a purely spiritual world, into an abstract and beautiful but unrealistic world.
¨But the discourse of a pastor must be realistic; it must deal with reality, but from the perspective of God and his Word.¨
How I wish the spirit and flavor of these words become palpable every time we read and hear Church leaders' interventions in social and political issues!
Obviously we cannot discount the likely possibility of how media play up these interventions that distort and even annul their original intent. This has been happening often lately. It is also an area clamoring to be studied well and remedied.
In the end, I think it is a matter of continuing formation for all parties involved—clergy, the lay faithful, media, etc.
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