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The selfless commitment Christians of all denominations to live,
risk their lives and suffer for the gospel values, human rights and
to live out the mission of Jesus Christ to save the poor and the
oppressed from pain and exploitation inflicted on them by the
irresponsible rich and powerful, is at the heart of Christianity.
Hundreds of thousands of Christians are living this idea by serving
the poor, the sick, defending human rights and taking a stand for
social justice all around the world. They have given their lives
throughout history and do so today for these sublime goals that
raise humans to a level of nobility and spirituality.
They show that true Christianity is not a
religion of comfort and complacency but one of challenge and dynamic
transformation. That was the mission of Jesus of Nazareth. This son
of a carpenter was arrested, jailed, tortured and executed for his
love and solidarity with every individual, and chose to be
identified with those rejected, downtrodden and excluded from
society.
Jesus called all to repentance and service. He
showed the way. “I am the way, the truth and life ... I came to
serve, not to be served ...love one another as I have loved
you...There is no greater love than to lay down your life for
one’s friends. And you are my friends if you follow my words and
example...” So basic and straight forward, no mind boggling
theological mumbo-jumbo there.
His love of people was not a sentimental naivety
but a commitment that led him to fight for their dignity as God’s
children and to make the ultimate sacrifice, a goal we are called to
imitate as best we can.
Pope Benedict on his visit to Australia put it
well when he commented on how religion can be reduced to private
devotion and is shut out of public life. That he says is when it
becomes irrelevant to young people. “All too often, however, we
find ourselves immersed in a world that would set God “aside.”
In the name of human freedom and autonomy, God’s name is passed
over in silence, religion is reduced to private devotion, and faith
is shunned in the public square”
“Faith teaches us that we are God’s
creatures, made in his image and likeness, endowed with an
inviolable dignity, and called to eternal life. Wherever man is
diminished, the world around us is also diminished; it loses its
ultimate meaning and strays from its goal . . .”
We all need to grow in faith, honesty and purity
of mind and heart. There are those from all walks of life who have
seriously strayed and have given in to selfish passion, lewd desires
and have abused children and women. But they ought not to be the
reason to reject faith in Jesus, in the family, fatherhood, to lose
trust in friends and relatives because some of them have abused
children, or the reason to reject Christianity. It’s throwing out
the gold with the garbage.
The individuals responsible for evil deeds of
child abuse or being accessories to the crime must be held
accountable. All wrong must be revealed, all victims must be cared
for and healed and supported and the guilty brought to justice. Pope
Benedict said as much during his visit to the United States and
again in Australia this July 2008.
Here I would like to pause to acknowledge the
shame which we have all felt as a result of the sexual abuse of
minors by some clergy and religious in this country. “Indeed I am
deeply sorry for the pain and suffering the victims have endured and
I assure them that, as their pastor, I too share in their suffering.
These misdeeds, which constitute so grave a betrayal of trust,
deserve unequivocal condemnation. They have caused great pain and
have damaged the Church’s witness. I ask all of you to support and
assist your bishops, and to work together with them in combating
this evil. Victims should receive compassion and care, and those
responsible for these evils must be brought to justice. It is an
urgent priority to promote a safer and more wholesome environment,
especially for young people.”
preda@yahoo.com.ph
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