Pakistani Church; Poor and Oppressed but Full of Vitality and Courage
(19 June 08 - RV) The Catholic Church in Pakistan faces a grim reality as it struggles
to cope with unprecedented economic and political turmoil, the high cost of living
and limited resources.
That was the message of the President of the Pakistani
Bishop’s Conference today as he and his fellow bishops met with Pope Benedict at the
end of their Ad Limina visit.
There are over one million Catholics in the Islamic
Republic of Pakistan, less than 1% of the total population. Over 97% Muslim, Pakistan
has the second largest Muslim population in the world after Indonesia.
In his
discourse to Bishops Thursday Pope Benedict noted that Catholic formation, particularly
to religious life, strengthens the bonds of cooperation between religions: “Of
particular urgency at the present time is the task of preparing these men – and indeed
all catechists and lay leaders – to become effective promoters of interreligious dialogue.
They share a responsibility with all Christians in Pakistan to foster understanding
and trust with members of other religions by constructing peaceful forums for open
conversation”.
Pope Benedict’s words underlined the urgency of dialogue between
the religions in the Islamic Republic. A concern that was addressed by Archbishop
Lawrence J. Saldanha, of Lahore, President of the Pakistan Catholic Bishops Conference: “In
the past, our Church was held in high esteem for her educational and medical services.
But today we carry out our mission in a hostile and conservative Islamic milieu that
is increasingly extremist, intolerant and militant. There is growing pressure to enforce
the shariah or Islamic way of life. Islamic laws like the "blasphemy law" have brought
death and misery to many innocent people. There is also a trend of forced conversions
to Islam by certain religious extremist groups”. The nation’s original Constitution
drawn up after independence did not discriminate between Muslims and non-Muslims.
However, the amendments made have led to the controversial Hudood Ordinance or Blasphemy
laws and Shariat Court. These laws are considered to be relatively strict, and
have been the source of controversy in recent years. They mandate the death penalty
for anyone defiling the name of Muhammad, life imprisonment for desecrating the Koran,
and up to 10 years' imprisonment for insulting another's religious beliefs with intent
to outrage religious feelings.
“It is a grim reality that our country faces
unprecedented economic and political turmoil. Our church, a Church of the poor, faces
great hardships due to the high cost of living. With our limited resources, we Bishops
find it more and more difficult to make ends meet”.
Despite these obvious obstacles,
he and the other six bishops who lead the community there he said, "soldier on as
shepherds for their flock". A flock which he described as "simple, poor and oppressed
but full of vitality and courage".
Indeed Pope Benedict XVI had high praise
for the tiny Catholic community, its spirituality and it’s institutions that continue
to serve the common good of the Pakistani people, Christian and Muslim alike:
“They demonstrate that the love of Christ is no mere abstraction, but reaches out
to every man and woman as it passes through real persons working in the Church’s charitable
institutions. The Gospel teaches us that Jesus cannot be loved in the abstract (cf.
Mt 25:31-37). Those who serve in Catholic hospitals, schools, social and charitable
agencies respond to the concrete needs of others, knowing well that they are ministering
to the Lord himself through their particular acts of charity”.