Lonely Voice in Brazilian Episcopate Speaks Against Synod Document

Crux ^ | 10/14/19 | Eduardo Campos Lima

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SÃO PAULO - In Brazil, most of the criticism directed towards the Synod of Bishops for the Amazon came from the government, not from members of the hierarchy.

Bishop José Luís Azcona is among the minority of Brazilian prelates to raise concerns about the synod, calling the Vatican meeting’s preparatory document “weak and inconsistent.” Still, he has sought to distance his criticism from that of President Jair Bolsonaro, who he said wants to meddle in the Brazilian Church.

In the past few months, the Spanish-born Azcona, bishop emeritus of the Prelature of Marajó - located in the Amazonian State of Pará - has been vocal in his strong criticism of the working document, called the Instrumentum Laboris.

According to the bishop, the Instrumentum Laboris excluded the Crucified Christ when dealing with central themes such as the creation, cultures, dialogue, interculturality, pastoral dialogue, and hope.

“It’s a worrisome absence, pastorally and ecclesiastically cowardly, prostrated to the prevalent secularism and with an effect on the heart of the Church and of the synod,” he told Crux.

In one article, Azcona said the working document denies the uniqueness and the exclusivity of Christ’s path, putting it on the same level as “all religions and creeds and affirming there are other legitimate ways to salvation.”

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