‘Steer clear’ of triumphalism, Belgian cardinal tells African bishops [Catholic Caucus]

Catholic World News ^ | 11/13/15

[markomalley]

In an interview with La Stampa’s Vatican Insider, Cardinal Godfried Danneels directed pointed words to bishops in Africa.

Advising “everyone to steer clear of all forms of triumphalism and claims to self-sufficiency,” the retired archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels said:

Some African bishops tell us: you are pagans. You wiped everything out. But I remember Belgium being full of vocations, there were huge seminaries and novitiates being built up until the 60s. Christian families did everything they could to give their children a sense of belonging in the Church.

But we started seeing the faith dwindling in boys and girls aged 17-20. This wounded them it caused great suffering. Is it right to say it was their fault and that the parents were not good Christians? No, that’s not the case. The act of becoming Christians and persevering in the faith remains a mystery and is not the result of some educational or sociological mechanism. It seems to me that all the talk about “robust” Churches that should save the rest of Catholicism, is for the purpose of ecclesiastical politics. The abstractness of it is striking.

Cardian Danneels added:

European Churches have been overrun by the effects of secularization that have also led to rising individualism. But this very individualism could reach Africa sooner or later: that phenomenon that sees people thinking of themselves as individuals rather than as members of a group, a community, or a mass. It is possible that the crisis we have had will spread there too, with all that this entails. Africans may also experience a situation similar to ours. Then they might call us up to see how we dealt with it. To get some useful tips.

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References:

• Church reform and Francis’ “apostolic sufferings” (Vatican Insider)

[markomalley]

And in other news, African bishops to Danneels: Steer Clear of Pedophiles and Pedophile-Enablers.

[maryz]

But I remember Belgium being full of vocations, there were huge seminaries and novitiates being built up until the 60s.

Geez, IOW until the impact of the "spirit of Vatican II" began to be felt in force. Must just be a coincidence, I guess.

[niteowl77]

"Then they might call us up to see how we dealt with it. To get some useful tips."

Mind-boggling!!! Enough hubris to cover the Vatican and not leave even the pinnacle of the dome of St. Peter's visible.

I had no idea how bad the rot had gotten. I'm on the outside of the tent looking in, but the last couple of years has revealed an appalling situation.

Mr. niteowl77

[vladimir998]

“The act of becoming Christians and persevering in the faith remains a mystery and is not the result of some educational or sociological mechanism.”

Well, it’s certainly a mystery to you, Cardinal. For the rest of us it’s not so much a mystery.

[marshmallow]

Danneels spinning the disaster that he helped create.

[BlatherNaut]

In Praise of Triumphalism

"...I suspect that the enemy of triumphalism has a deeper problem, though. Triumphalism presumes there is something to be triumphal about. That would be the immense treasures of our Faith and its attendants: the good, the true, and the beautiful, wherever they are to be found; for these come from the Author of nature, who authored the supernatural order, too. Triumphalism also presumes that there exist evils over which we ought to triumph: the bad, the false, the ugly; sin, death, Satan; and their attendants - namely, whatever in the created order refuses to conform to God's holy will. These ought to be hated, opposed, and combated, while God and all that stands on the side of God ought to be loved. There is no middle position, no compromise: Love of God implies hatred of evil and the will to triumph over it..."