The article is written in the social context of the Philippines but certain points made are universally true as well.
Full article, click: FOR THE CHURCH, MERCY FROM WITHIN
I live in a time where the Church is soaked in so many controversies. This is a time when my tentative decision to enter priesthood is being challenged. Even my belief, and maybe yours too, in my religion is being shaken.
The Roman Catholic Church has indeed committed acts contrary to what it teaches, I do not deny that. I can enumerate some but please do not ask me to elaborate each because it breaks my heart.The child abuse controversy was the concern of many communities and nations for a time. I see clerics uttering harsh words and name calling members of their flock in the public sphere in the context of the RH bill debate. We heard about the “pajero” bishops. I stop here. You might have a longer list.
I do not want to be misleading. I do not say that all the negative things we hear about the priests regarding these issues are all true. Of course, there are misconceptions, misunderstandings, misrepresentations, and exaggerations. Many of which are being fostered by our well trusted media. On the other hand, I see the wrongs of the Church not only in our contemporary time but in our history.
Some people have left the Church centuries ago, decades ago, years ago. Some have left recently. For those who stayed, many have lost or are losing their belief in our pastors.We might have religious leaders who have not been teaching us the act of love as Jesus would want it to be but there are things which we have to consider. Although there are bishops and priests we dislike because of their unloving acts in the context of the issues we face, there are still those who provide genuine light.
We have to recognize the multi-vocality of the Church. Our leaders share a common ground in matters of faith and morals but the way they interpret and relay these to the laypeople would differ in many measures as well as our own perception and interpretation of what they say.There are bishops who will be more aggressive, some silent, and others moderately engaged in each particular issue.Some extremely against, some will recognize the good in it while taking-out what’s bad. There is no one voice but their is a common spirit. The Church, though, is not a clash but a unity of differences. There can be no unity if there are no differences. Let us not focus our attention on the negative some but let us recognize that the Church and the hierarchy in particular can offer us different ways of approaching the issues we face, not necessarily different stands but also different ways of communicating a common and united moral point. Although there are bishops and priests we dislike because of their unloving acts in the context of the issues we face, there are still those who provide genuine light.
Our Church is part human. It is never perfect. We are in the process of becoming. We move and develop towards the the ideal. We should not judge the Church based on what we see in one or few facets of reality. More than this, we are part of the Church. The responsibility of building a community of love, fostering good values, of living the teachings of Christ is not solely for the hierarchical few.
All these I have said are not aimed to change your perception of the Church but our approach and response towards our individual perceptions of it. If you hate the the priests and the bishops because of their wrongs, go for it but do not commit the same mistake. We want our religious leaders to be tolerant of our stand on the issues we face, of the Good according to our own judgement. But shall we not be tolerant of (their) intolerance? This tolerance does not entail a passive acceptance but a constructive engagement in knowing the good to be done and a respectful recognition of the sincerity and truth of the other point of view.
It is not wrong to oppose our religious leaders but what the Church needs is a corrective opposition within, not a cursing and hateful opposition from outside. Christ is faithful to the Church despite all her shortcomings and so must we. In the Scriptures, we sometimes see an angry God. But God’s anger is not a condemning anger, not an act of abandonment. It is aimed to reform the sinner through His merciful response. It is an act of healing.
It is not only us individual laypersons who shall respond to this call but our religious leaders as well but on the insufficiency each other, we must show tolerance, compassion, and love.
Where do I find myself in all these? This question have been bothering me for a long time and I hope you too.
I choose to believe that there is still light in the Church. These controversies do not reverse my decision to become a priest someday or if not, at least a faithful servant of God through the Church. Like Christ, I choose to be faithful to the Church despite her tainted past and unpleasant present. I will embrace the Church in all her imperfections. This is not martyrdom, this is an acceptance of my Christian responsibility which we all have. I am not Christ, I am not the Savior but I am a Christian. I ought to follow the example set by Christ and that is to remain in a loving commitment to the Church despite all that happens.
I will not remain passive in all that happens, no, especially in the wrongs of our leaders but these lapses do not lead me towards a negative perception of the Church because she is not yet a finished product, she is in the process of becoming and I am part of that process. I may dislike opinions and views but not necessarily the person saying those. I might dislike particular individuals in the hierarchy but not all of them and not the Church as a whole. I recognize that the lapses of the leaders are not necessarily the mistakes of the Church. All that I hear about the Church are not necessarily true. I have to confirm things as much as I want to voice my opinion. I will look beyond exaggerations and misrepresentations.
When time comes that I will be on their shoes as a leader of the flock, you may keep a watching eye and you may even oppose me, sure. But please spare me your mercy, your tolerance, your constructive concern for the Church, your love. Because dude, I am not perfect. Even then, I will still be in the process of trying to live a truly Christian life. The Church is not perfect. It grows as much as we do. It sins as much as we do and it needs tolerance as much as what we ask from it.
