Vatican: Forging Catholic identity in the Americas
(Vatican Radio) “We have a lot in common”, says Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore
USA. While recognising the different realities facing the Churches north and south
of the Mexican border, the chair of the USCCB Ad Hoc Committee on Religious Liberty
says the one great challenge that unites them is the challenge of re-evangelising
the continent. How? He points to the roadmap laid out in the post-Synodal exhortation
Ecclesia in America.
Speaking to Emer McCarthy on the sidelines of the International
Conference underway at the Vatican, as the 250 delegates trekked under a bright winter
sun from the Synod Hall to the statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe high in the Vatican
Gardens to recite the Rosary, Abp. Lori noted: “First of all I think its important
for us to recognise the common Christian identity of the continent of America, and
for that we only have to turn to our Lady of Guadalupe. That I think is an enormous
recovery that has to be made by the Church in America and by the collaboration of
not only of bishops but also of priests and the laity”. Listen:
“Secondly
with the advent of such rapid communications, trade, with the common problems that
we are facing such as the drug trafficking there is a great need for us to work together.
And as I observe the United States of America and as I see that all of the growth
in population is coming from immigration it is almost self-evident that we have to
work together, that we have to forge, strengthen those bonds of communion and solidarity
so that we can unite in re-evangelising the whole continent”.
Early Tuesday
morning the issue of Catholic identity in the Americas was addressed. Speakers, noted
that Latin nations are not immune to the rising tide of secularism. They also stated
that in order to strengthen the Catholic identity in wider society, the dichotomy
between the Churches social teaching and active solidarity, of organisations associated
with the Church, needs to be overcome.
In fact, in Monday’s small group working
sessions, the issue of Catholic education was frequently raised, the general consensus
being that in the Americas the New Evangelization must start from the re-evangelisation
of American societies.
This, they concluded, can only be brought about by
the active participation of a well-formed Catholic laity, capable of presenting the
benefits Christian anthropology within their particular cultural context.
“It’s
important for bishops and priests to give our people the tools they need to go forth
and evangelize the world, to build this civilization of love” concludes, Abp. Lori.
“So often I think there are missed opportunities when preaching becomes rather general,
when in fact our families our professional men and women our children are facing so
many challenges in our culture”.