Good News. Today Pope
Francis told the bishops of Puerto Rico, in Rome on their ad limina visit, that
the splendor of marriage between man and woman is in danger from the ideology
of gender. He therefore urged he bishops to stress family pastoral ministry in
order to counter serious social problems resulting from the attack on the
traditional family.
Observing that
"so-called gender ideology" is challenging the complementarity
between a man and a woman under the pretext of a more just society, the Holy
Father said, "Let me to draw your attention to the value and beauty of
marriage. The differences between men and women are not of the order of
opposition or subordination, but rather communion and generation, always as the
image and semblance of God."
"The sacrament
of marriage is a sign of God's love for humanity and Christ's commitment to His
Bride, the Church. Take care of this treasure, as one of the most important of
the Latin American and Caribbean peoples,” Francis admonished the Puerto Rican
bishops.
The pope bid the
bishops to focus more on helping families, which are “afflicted by serious
social problems: the difficult economic situation, migration, domestic
violence, unemployment, drug trafficking and corruption. These are issues that
give rise to concern."
The key to offset
these problems, Pope Francis said, is for the Puerto Rican bishops to continue
“facilitating the sacramental life of the faithful and offering them an
adequate continuing formation" which "enables them to fulfill their
mission” so that "they may continue along the path of a joyful adherence
to the Gospel, deepening the social doctrine of the Church and participating
lucidly and serenely in the public debates regarding the society in which they
live.”
Pope Francis counseled
the bishops in Caribbean countries not to become involved in ideologies and
political trends:
"Know how to
keep a distance from any form of ideological or political trend that may lead
you to waste time and your true zeal for the Kingdom of God," he said.
“Spend your energy
not in divisions and conflicts, but rather in building and collaborating. The
Church, by virtue of her mission, is not linked to any political system,
enabling her always to be a sign and safeguard of the transcendent nature of
the human person.”
“The bishop is a
model for his priests, and I encourage them always to seek spiritual renewal
and to discover anew the joy of ministering to the flock within the great
family of the Church,” Francis said.
“Before the upcoming
Jubilee of Mercy, I urge first you and then your priests to be faithful
servants of God's forgiveness, especially in the sacrament of Reconciliation,
which allows God's love to be experienced in the flesh and offers every
penitent the source of true inner peace,” the Holy Father concluded.
Comments
Post a Comment