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IT’S ESSENTIAL FOR CHRISTIANS TO STAY
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- Creato: 19 Gennaio 2010
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It is “essential for Christians to atay in the Middle East and keep offering their distinctive contribution to the building of a fair, peaceful and thriving society”. It was said this morning by mgr. Nikola Eterovic, secretary general of the Episcopal Synod, as he presented in the Vatican Newsroom the Lineamenta of the Special Assembly of the Episcopal Synod for the Middle East, called “The Catholic Church in the Middle East: Communion and Testimony. ‘And the multitude of believers had but one heart and one soul’”(Vatican City, 10-24 October 2010). To prepare the meeting launched by the Pope, explained mgr. Eterovic, a pre-Synodal council has been set up to draw up the Lineamenta. It is composed of 7 patriarchs of the 6 Catholic Oriental Churches sui iuris and the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem; by 4 directors of the ministries of the Roman Curia that are most interested in the topic of the Synodal Assembly, and the presidents of the Bishops Conferences of Turkey and Iran. “Confirming and strengthening Christians in their identity through God’s Word and the Sacraments” and “reviving ecclesial communion between the particular Churches, so that they can offer a testimony of authentic, glorious and attractive Christian life”, state the Lineamenta, is the purpose of the Assembly. Three are the chapters of the Lineamenta, each one preceded by a foreword; they contain 32 questions to help, explained mgr. Eterovic, “the institutional recipients” “discuss their contents”. Their answers should arrive before Easter 2010, “which this year we Christians will all celebrate together”. A summary of such answers will compose the Instrumentum laboris, the working document of the Synodal Assembly that Benedict XVI will give to the leaders of the Catholic Oriental Churches during his visit to Cyprus from 4th to 6th June 2010. In the first chapter, “The Catholic Church in the Middle East”, the Lineamenta linger on political conflict in the region, freedom of religion, the evolution of Islam, and propose, said the secretary of the Episcopal Synod, “the education of Christians, so that they can live with even greater faithfulness their own faith in private and public life”. “Ecclesial communion” is the topic of the second chapter, which deals with “very concrete aspects of communion between Christians, such as, for instance, the enrolment in schools and advanced educational institutes, the possibility to receive health care from charitable organisations, such as hospitals, orphanages, homes for elderly people, etc. An important, practical aspect is the devotees’ attendance of other Catholic churches in the region”.
The third chapter, “The Christian testimony”, deals with the “testimony of the Catholics within the Church, especially through the catechesis and the deeds, and outside the Church”, stated mgr. Eterovic, who thinks that “dialogue with the other Churches and Christian communities does exist, but it needs to be increased”. “Dialogue with Hebraism is the peculiarity of the Churches of Jerusalem”, he explained; however, “relations with Hebraism are affected by the political situation that opposes the Palestinians and the Arab world on one side and the State of Israel on the other side”. Hence his reference to the Pope’s words about the “right of the Palestinian people and that of the Israeli people to leave in peace and have each one their own homeland within safe and internationally-recognised borders”. Relations with Muslims too take up a large part of the Document, which points out that in the Middle East, “due to the lack of distinction between religion and politics, Christians are in practice” “often in a state of non-citizenship”. Hence the need “to further promote dialogue, not least to get to know each other better. We must encourage the objective presentation of Christianity and Islam through the mass media”. As to a topic that can unite, that of human rights, the Document wishes for cooperation between Christians and Muslims.
CONFIRM AND STRENGTHEN CHRISTIANS IN THEIR IDENTITY
To “confirm and strengthen Christians in their identity through the Word of God and the Sacraments, and to give new vitality to the ecclesial communion between the individual Churches, so that they could bear an authentic, joyful and contagious witness to Christian life”. These are the goals of the Special Assembly for the Middle East of the Synod of Bishops (Vatican City, 10-24 October 2010) as stated in the Lineamenta presented today to the journalists by the Holy See Press Office. They were outlined by Mgr. Nikola Eteroviæ, Secretary-General of the Synod of Bishops, and by Mgr. Fortunato Frezza, under-secretary of the Synod of Bishops. A witness that “in order to be credible and authentic” must be ecumenical. The Synod also provides the occasion for the Oriental Churches to “take stock of the religious and social situation in order to make Christians clearly understand the sense of their presence in Muslim societies (Arab, Israeli, Turkish, Iranian), of their role, of their mission and of their witness”. A reflection on “the present situation, which is difficult, of conflict and instability” that will be guided by the Sacred Scripture, in which “one needs to rediscover the Word of God who is still speaking to us today and guides our daily decisions”.
The document consists of 3 parts, “the Catholic Church in the Middle East”, “Ecclesial Communion” and “Christian witness”, plus the introduction and the conclusions. Among the points discussed are political conflicts, religious freedom, ecumenical and interreligious dialogue, and emigration – true challenges for the Church in the Middle East. “Local Christians, both as citizens and as faithful, are being deeply affected by the conflicts in the region”, reads the document. “The Israeli occupation, the war in Iraq, the Christian division in Lebanon, increasing extremism in Egypt, the lack of full religious freedom in Turkey” – these are all issues that are giving rise to different reactions among Christians. There are those who “remain steadfast in their faith and commitment to society; those who feel disheartened and lose their trust in both society and the laws, and those who abandon all commitment and find refuge in the Church, living in a sort of estrangement from society”. All this, the Lineamenta pointed out, “requires a personal conversion on the part of Christians starting from the pastors committed to solidarity, justice, respect and honesty”. Another key point is represented by religious freedom, which in the East is regarded as freedom of worship”. “One cannot renounce their religion in order to adhere to another one. Conversion is seen as the fruit of a forced proselytism, it is not authentic”.
The massive emigration of both Christians and non-Christians “triggered by the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and by the Iraq war” is also analysed along with some (indeed difficult) solutions. Among them the Lineamenta suggest the creation of “an economy that may provide a fair living standard for all society” and help “Christians to become aware of the sense of their presence. Everyone is an herald of Christ’s message”. “The way in which a Christian lives his or her faith reflects their belonging to the Church, and to a deep faith corresponds a committed belonging” which is not only confessional. Ecclesial Communion as such is manifested both through “the Eucharist and the communion with the Bishop of Rome”. “The pastors, the clergy, and the ministers are those who bear the greatest responsibilities on the moral and spiritual plan”. “The faithful – reads the document – expect them to show great simplicity of life, true detachment from money and the world’s comforts, as well as a pure behaviour. The Synod is intended to carry out a sincere examination of conscience to discover the strong points, so as to encourage them, and the weaker ones, in order to correct them”.
As for interreligious dialogue, the Lineamenta reaffirm the need for “sincere religious leaders, servants of their people”, calling for the creation “of friendship groups among Jews, Christians and Muslims in order to bring down the wall of fear and mistrust”. The relationship with Islam is affected by the fact that for Muslims “there is no separation between religious and political life, and, as a consequence, Christians are placed in a difficult situation of non-citizenship”. “Christians have to work to secure for them equality of opportunity with all other citizens at religious, cultural, social, economic and political levels” despite “an ever-growing fundamentalism in a number of countries”. “Education to human rights and to freedom of conscience should be part of both human and religious formation. Knowing each other is the basis for dialogue and, accordingly, the proclamation of Christ’s Gospel based on the New Testament, in the local language, should be the task of all Christians in the region”. “We can improve our present and future situation in the awareness that global politics will influence the decision of Christians to stay or to emigrate”, reads the document. Christians are asked to show a “mature and trusting faith” although now it is “weak and tottering”. “We have to become the masters of our future, which depends on how we will be able to collaborate with men and women of good will in our society”.
© SIR - jenuary 19th, 2010
The third chapter, “The Christian testimony”, deals with the “testimony of the Catholics within the Church, especially through the catechesis and the deeds, and outside the Church”, stated mgr. Eterovic, who thinks that “dialogue with the other Churches and Christian communities does exist, but it needs to be increased”. “Dialogue with Hebraism is the peculiarity of the Churches of Jerusalem”, he explained; however, “relations with Hebraism are affected by the political situation that opposes the Palestinians and the Arab world on one side and the State of Israel on the other side”. Hence his reference to the Pope’s words about the “right of the Palestinian people and that of the Israeli people to leave in peace and have each one their own homeland within safe and internationally-recognised borders”. Relations with Muslims too take up a large part of the Document, which points out that in the Middle East, “due to the lack of distinction between religion and politics, Christians are in practice” “often in a state of non-citizenship”. Hence the need “to further promote dialogue, not least to get to know each other better. We must encourage the objective presentation of Christianity and Islam through the mass media”. As to a topic that can unite, that of human rights, the Document wishes for cooperation between Christians and Muslims.
CONFIRM AND STRENGTHEN CHRISTIANS IN THEIR IDENTITY
To “confirm and strengthen Christians in their identity through the Word of God and the Sacraments, and to give new vitality to the ecclesial communion between the individual Churches, so that they could bear an authentic, joyful and contagious witness to Christian life”. These are the goals of the Special Assembly for the Middle East of the Synod of Bishops (Vatican City, 10-24 October 2010) as stated in the Lineamenta presented today to the journalists by the Holy See Press Office. They were outlined by Mgr. Nikola Eteroviæ, Secretary-General of the Synod of Bishops, and by Mgr. Fortunato Frezza, under-secretary of the Synod of Bishops. A witness that “in order to be credible and authentic” must be ecumenical. The Synod also provides the occasion for the Oriental Churches to “take stock of the religious and social situation in order to make Christians clearly understand the sense of their presence in Muslim societies (Arab, Israeli, Turkish, Iranian), of their role, of their mission and of their witness”. A reflection on “the present situation, which is difficult, of conflict and instability” that will be guided by the Sacred Scripture, in which “one needs to rediscover the Word of God who is still speaking to us today and guides our daily decisions”.
The document consists of 3 parts, “the Catholic Church in the Middle East”, “Ecclesial Communion” and “Christian witness”, plus the introduction and the conclusions. Among the points discussed are political conflicts, religious freedom, ecumenical and interreligious dialogue, and emigration – true challenges for the Church in the Middle East. “Local Christians, both as citizens and as faithful, are being deeply affected by the conflicts in the region”, reads the document. “The Israeli occupation, the war in Iraq, the Christian division in Lebanon, increasing extremism in Egypt, the lack of full religious freedom in Turkey” – these are all issues that are giving rise to different reactions among Christians. There are those who “remain steadfast in their faith and commitment to society; those who feel disheartened and lose their trust in both society and the laws, and those who abandon all commitment and find refuge in the Church, living in a sort of estrangement from society”. All this, the Lineamenta pointed out, “requires a personal conversion on the part of Christians starting from the pastors committed to solidarity, justice, respect and honesty”. Another key point is represented by religious freedom, which in the East is regarded as freedom of worship”. “One cannot renounce their religion in order to adhere to another one. Conversion is seen as the fruit of a forced proselytism, it is not authentic”.
The massive emigration of both Christians and non-Christians “triggered by the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and by the Iraq war” is also analysed along with some (indeed difficult) solutions. Among them the Lineamenta suggest the creation of “an economy that may provide a fair living standard for all society” and help “Christians to become aware of the sense of their presence. Everyone is an herald of Christ’s message”. “The way in which a Christian lives his or her faith reflects their belonging to the Church, and to a deep faith corresponds a committed belonging” which is not only confessional. Ecclesial Communion as such is manifested both through “the Eucharist and the communion with the Bishop of Rome”. “The pastors, the clergy, and the ministers are those who bear the greatest responsibilities on the moral and spiritual plan”. “The faithful – reads the document – expect them to show great simplicity of life, true detachment from money and the world’s comforts, as well as a pure behaviour. The Synod is intended to carry out a sincere examination of conscience to discover the strong points, so as to encourage them, and the weaker ones, in order to correct them”.
As for interreligious dialogue, the Lineamenta reaffirm the need for “sincere religious leaders, servants of their people”, calling for the creation “of friendship groups among Jews, Christians and Muslims in order to bring down the wall of fear and mistrust”. The relationship with Islam is affected by the fact that for Muslims “there is no separation between religious and political life, and, as a consequence, Christians are placed in a difficult situation of non-citizenship”. “Christians have to work to secure for them equality of opportunity with all other citizens at religious, cultural, social, economic and political levels” despite “an ever-growing fundamentalism in a number of countries”. “Education to human rights and to freedom of conscience should be part of both human and religious formation. Knowing each other is the basis for dialogue and, accordingly, the proclamation of Christ’s Gospel based on the New Testament, in the local language, should be the task of all Christians in the region”. “We can improve our present and future situation in the awareness that global politics will influence the decision of Christians to stay or to emigrate”, reads the document. Christians are asked to show a “mature and trusting faith” although now it is “weak and tottering”. “We have to become the masters of our future, which depends on how we will be able to collaborate with men and women of good will in our society”.
© SIR - jenuary 19th, 2010