A devout Catholic friend of mine says the NZ Catholic Bishops’ Election
Statement has left him, as a voter, “more confused than ever”. In the mainstream
press the Bishops’ statement has been called “wishy-washy, touchy-feely and
handwringing”.
Let’s look at Pope Francis’ introduction: “Nothing else will change the
world but people who fight for justice”. Jesus Christ never fought, and never
advised fighting, except by proclaiming the truth – that is, by prophesying.
Jesus spoke the truth, because he was Truth - and he was crucified for it.
No
such fate awaits the NZ Bishops, but in quoting Scripture - “Where there is no
vision, the people perish” (Prov 29,18) – they do manage to shoot themselves in
the foot.
Because the NRSV and Douay version of ‘vision’ is ‘prophecy’. Political
government has gone madly awry, partly because our moral government has let it.
The Bishops state the obvious and avoid unpleasant truths such as the imperative
of self-denial to correct imbalances in our society and the planet, and the evil
of corporate greed, abortion and euthanasia.
But it’s mainly by understating our urgent need for prayer, as given by Our
Lady at Fatima, that the Bishops abrogate their role as prophets, called by God
to proclaim the truth to their people.
‘Nothing else will change the world’ but people who pray.
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