JPII: Church's Social Work Is Not Political, Gospel Message Must Accompany Aid

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[Polycarp]

Church's Social Work Is Not Political, John Paul II Says

Gospel Message Must Accompany Aid, He Tells Brazilian Bishops

VATICAN CITY, OCT. 21, 2002 (Zenit.org).- The social work carried out by the Church, especially among the poor, cannot be reduced to simple material or political work, says John Paul II.

When the Pope met Saturday with a group of bishops visiting from northeast Brazil, he reminded them that a bishop's first mission is to proclaim the truth of the Gospel, without which the work of the Church would be meaningless.

"As vicars and legates of Christ, you are called above all to offer a clear and vigorous proclamation of the Gospel," the Holy Father said.

He urged the Brazilian prelates not to have "reservations about associating the word of Christ to charitable activities by a misunderstood sense of respect for others' convictions."

"It is not an act of charity to leave brothers in darkness about truth," John Paul II stressed. "It is not an act of charity to feed the poor or visit the suffering by taking human resources to them but not communicating to them the Word that saves."

The Holy Father described the serious difficulties endured in northeast Brazil -- lack of employment, housing and health care; educational problems, social differences, and the presence of aggressive sects -- but he urged that pastoral action not be reduced "to the temporal and earthly dimension."

"It is not possible, for example, to think, of the challenges of the Church in Brazil by limiting oneself to some important but circumstantial questions, related to social policy, the concentration of land, the question of the environment, and others," he continued.

"To claim for the Church a participatory model of a political character, where decisions are voted on at the 'base,' limited to the poor and outcasts of society, but abstracted from the presence of all the segments of the People of God, would impair the original redemptive meaning proclaimed by Christ," the Pope warned.

On the contrary, "the fundamental mission of the bishop is evangelization, a task that he must carry out not only individually, but as Church," John Paul II stressed.

This mission is summarized in the triple mandate to "teach, sanctify and govern," he added.

The Holy Father acknowledged that the bishops of northeast Brazil must carry out the task of teaching in a cultural environment characterized by a high level of illiteracy, divorce, child violence, malnutrition, and superficiality promoted by some media.

In this ambience, the duty of the bishop is "to invite members of the particular Churches entrusted to him to accept in all its fullness the teaching of the Church in regard to questions of faith and morals," even if it means going against the current of the prevailing mentality, the Pope said.

In particular, this work must be done with young people -- a majority in Brazil's population -- promoting "the formation of a moral conscience, which must be respected as the 'sanctuary' of man alone with God, whose voice resounds in the intimacy of the heart," he added.

At the same time, John Paul II said, "remind your faithful that conscience is an exacting tribunal, whose judgment must always be conformed with the moral norms revealed by God and proposed with authority by the Church."

In this educational work, there must be a "return to the sacrament of reconciliation, unfortunately quite abandoned today, even in Catholic areas of your country," the Pontiff added.

In regard to "sanctification," the second mission of the bishop, John Paul II urged the prelates to highlight the two fundamental sacraments of Christian life: baptism and the Eucharist.

He said the living of the Eucharist, "source and center of the whole of Christian life," has two critical challenges in Brazil: on the one hand, the lack of priests and their unequal distribution, and on the other, the worrying drop in Sunday Mass attendance.

"It is evident that this situation suggests a provisional solution in order not to leave the community abandoned, with the risk of progressive spiritual impoverishment," the Pope emphasized.

"However, the incomplete sacramental character of these liturgical functions, carried out by persons who are not ordained, should induce the whole parish community to pray with greater fervor so that the Lord will send workers for his harvests," he said.

Lastly, the Pope focused on the bishop's mission to "govern." Above all, he must care for the priests, "especially when there is a delay in the fruits of pastoral work, with the possible temptation to discouragement and sadness."

"Many pastors do not have the feeling of working in an evangelical vineyard, but rather in an arid steppe," the Holy Father said. Yet, "the risen Lord walks with you and makes your efforts fruitful."

[RnMomof7]

Vade retro, satanas

Is this rebuke stronger in Latin?


I do not quake..I am covered in the blood of Jesus
They curse those that follow Christ
They spend a month (may) praying for our return
pathetic

[Irisshlass]

'You already are what you is', as they say in parts of the Southland.


I'm fixin to leave ...lol...Lets grab our bonnets and get on out of here!!!

[RnMomof7]

You have turned your back on the Gospel to convert to Judaism, yet RnMomof7 is your bud.
Strange.

LOL Ange and I have had our moments as he will gladly tell you..but just as I love you inspite of the fact you have turned your back on you salvation experience..I love ange and hope that he will find Jesus

This is not about ex Catholics it is about holding the church to what she says is infallible..

[Wrigley]

You will never quake, your Base is the Solid Rock.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Would you be willing to answer a question I have about your answer. Can you tell me why you think this is what the council meant? Is there some other document that clearly explains this explanation of yours?

Becky

[Siobhan]

I hadn't thought of it in terms of having an issue with you, angelo. I know you are an ex-Catholic who embraced the Jewish faith. I also have seen you appear on threads like this one where your posts, from my Catholic POV, put you squarely in the camp with other ex-Catholics. I don't think that is coincidental, but I also think it may have something to do with enjoying sparing with Polycarp. Perhaps you only intend to post with reference to particular Catholics or particular Catholic posts, but you might want to know that to me as a Catholic, it comes off as an ex-Catholic attacking Catholic views and also the Catholic Church. You aren't a completely disinterested partyj from my POV, and if I am mistaken, I do sincerely apologize to you.

I think in general a lot of Catholic freepers are fed up with what feels like unrelenting attacks on us, our views, our faith, and our very presence on FreeRepublic. It seems impossible (or nearly so) to have any thread with a Catholic title or theme without it devolving as this thread has devolved.

[RnMomof7]

You do not think that saying the gods of India will save you is at least as serious as Luther saying you can be saved by faith alone?

that is strange

ANYONE who believes that one can be saved without The Roman Catholic Church is  anathema!
Council of Trent

Only one thing can be true and therfore infallible..eithor Mother Teresa is an anathema or the council of Trent was in error..both things can not be true

[Siobhan]

This is not about ex Catholics it is about holding the church to what she says is infallible..

Wrong again.

[Catholicguy]

<> The Kotex Kid rides again....

Mom, Isaias 64:6, as I told you before, refers to acts of the Old Testament Law performed AFTER the Incarnation, Life, Ministry, Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus.

Your Eisegesis based upon the oral traditions of Luther are something entirely new in the 16th Century. They lead you to deny the efficacy of Grace.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all iniquity.

Iniquity is the antonym of righteousness. The Bible says that the Grace of Christ IS efficacious. His word goes forth and accomplishes the intent of the God-man, Jesus. Only one who reads into the Scriptures the doctrines of the 16th century heretics could dare say Jesus' actions are ineffective. But, that is what you claim.

Jesus says our iniquity is washed away. The Calvie Kotex says no. (Left unsaid is the oral tradition that the soul is a pile of feces covered with snow - thanks Luther) Jesus says that iniquity is washed away. The 16th Century heretics say sin REMAINS and is only "covered-up." Calvin, Luther and Zwingli, or Jesus? I choose Jesus. You have made your choice both obvious and sickening. You think yourself a Kotex. Good Lord, woman...look at what these monstrous doctrines have brought you to - boasting you are a Kotex, and no doubt telling your daughters they are Kotex also<>

[RnMomof7]

I think in general a lot of Catholic freepers are fed up with what feels like unrelenting attacks on us, our views, our faith, and our very presence on FreeRepublic. It seems impossible (or nearly so) to have any thread with a Catholic title or theme without it devolving as this thread has devolved.

You need to get out more..this forum is for apologitics...I was pinged here..and Mack and Becky and Ange and many others have regular doctrinal debate with each other on doctrinal issues so this is not a RC only thing

I have been polite. I have not called names or condemed anyone to hell. I have asked a serious question..you do not have an answer so you complain about Catholic bashing..You may do what Catholics have done for generations close your ears and trust Rome..or you may engage in the debate that poly desired and planned..probling hoping to have me banned ....but Mother Teresa is of too little interest to me to fight about..She has been judged by the one that sits at the right hand of the Father. All this is speculation nothing more

[Catholicguy]

<> You heap upon yourself the harvest of your false witness. I have posted what "anathema" means. It means what the CATHOLIC CHURCH says it means when it is used by the Catholic Church. It does NOT mean what you falsely claim it does.

It is time for the Kotex Kid to dismount, fall on her knees, stop the lying and repent<>

[american colleen]

Becky, sorry to butt in here, but you might try this Anathema and Excommunication .

It seems to me that Trent took what the Protestants cited as their beliefs, outlined the difference between the beliefs of the Catholic Church and said that whoever believed in other than what the Church proclaimed was excommunicated. It makes no judgement on the afterlife.

The way I have been taught is that Jesus is the head of the Church and we are the body (literally you can picture this as a human head and body) --- all Christians encompass the body. Some parts are further away from the "head" than are others --- but all are needed to make up the body.

I'm sure I'm not explaining this perfectly (I know I'm not), but maybe someone else can elaborate.

[malakhi]

but you might want to know that to me as a Catholic, it comes off as an ex-Catholic attacking Catholic views and also the Catholic Church.

I would seriously like to know where you have seen me "attack" Catholic views. I have certainly disagreed with them and debated them, but I don't think you would consider this an attack, would you?

For that matter, I have disagreed with and debated Protestants and Catholics alike on matters of interpretation of the Hebrew scriptures and some of the core doctrines of Christianity. Doesn't mean that I'm "attacking" Christianity, any more than I think a faulty interpretation of Isaiah 53 is an "attack" on Judaism.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

TKO...Its Over!!!

The ref stoped the fight at 2 min 36 sec into the 2nd round. The ref stated that Mom's opponant's (every single catholic on this forum) were taking too bad of a beating, they weren't defending themselfs, just taking blow after blow, the ref said he was afraid some brain damage had occured to many of Mom's opponant's, when the ref talked to them right before he stoped the fight, "he said they just weren't making any sense" so he stoped the fight.

Well there you have it fans, and here is our winner RnMomof7 with her new belt to add to her many other victorys.

Congratulations Mom!!!

BigMack

[Siobhan]

It is so much more than speculation. It is you taking out your apologetics boxcutters and slashing at people and beliefs that are sacred to them. Mother Teresa was someone I knew personally and loved greatly. When you toy and make sport of her, then you do violence to someone I love.

[Wrigley]

Hooray.

[RnMomof7]

Jesus does wash way our sin that is true,,but that does not mean that our works are all pleasing to him.Thaose that are done to "earn " his approval or to earn the approval of men are not of faith...and they are filthy rags to a Holy God....you need to learn to read scripture..

Rom 14:23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because [he eateth] not of faith: for whatsoever [is] not of faith is sin.

You may tear Romans out of your Bible if you like..that is still Gods standard...there is NONE righteous no not one

Ohh you may want to rip out Hebrews too

Hbr 11:6   But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

[Siobhan]

Don't celebrate to soon, bright eyes. The decision has been appealed to a higher authority, and you'll have to wait for the Day of Judgment to learn the results of the appeal.

[RnMomof7]

So Trent condemened Protestants but polytheism is fine..LOL Colleen if you can not see the faulty reasoning of that you have poor spiritual vision

[RnMomof7]

LOL Thanks Mack may I now return to my hiding place?