Cardinal Felipe Arizmendi, bishop emeritus of San Cristóbal de Las Casas and responsible for the Doctrine of Faith in the Mexican Episcopal Conference (CEM), offers readers of Exaudi his weekly article entitled “New President and Church.”
***
LOOK
We are beginning a new six-year term in the federal government of our country. The new President has committed herself to continue, as she says, what was done by the previous ruler as if everything had been successful and beneficial for the majority. We ask God to inspire her, as well as her team, so that the common good is what moves them, and they find other more effective ways for the long-awaited social peace, which has weakened greatly.
Some people wonder what the President’s religion is. She has a Jewish family background, which could imply the basic principles of that religion, but that does not appear anywhere in her life. She said in her inaugural address that she is a scientist and a woman of faith, although she did not say which faith she was referring to, and she promised to respect and guarantee religious diversity. During her electoral campaign, she went to visit Pope Francis, made a presentation of her project before the full Mexican episcopate and agreed to sign our proposal for peace building, although she expressed her disagreement with some of our analyses of the national reality. I hope she has an open mind and heart to accept the collaboration that our religion contributes to peace and social justice.
In national history, especially from 1926 to 1929, we suffered serious religious persecution, because the government of the time wanted to suppress the Church; many Catholics died for defending our faith. We have had rulers with different religious options and attitudes, from some more indifferent and contrary, to others more respectful and even practicing. The outgoing President told us bishops that he was Catholic, but in his own way; he made allusions to Jesus Christ, when he wanted to pull him towards his political option, but he did not pay attention to him in many other things. For example, Jesus teaches us to love and forgive, and consequently not to hate, offend, or try to destroy those who think differently. Jesus orders us to love the poor preferentially, but not to use them in political campaigns. Jesus tells us not to lie; therefore, not to distort reality every morning.
In Nicaragua, the Church is suffering a very arbitrary persecution, with many arrests of those opposed to the ruling regime. Many people have been expelled and deprived of their nationality, including bishops, priests and nuns, even representatives of the Holy See, for the simple fact of not applauding everything the government does. The Church there is still alive, although suffering greatly. Sooner or later, that empire will fall. The simple people can be deceived and bought with gifts, but only temporarily; the obvious injustices open their eyes.
DISCERN
The Mexican episcopate sent a message to the new President of the country, in which, among other things, it says:
“As Pastors of the Catholic Church in Mexico, but also as Mexican citizens,
in addition to our congratulations, prayers and good wishes, we allow ourselves to express the feelings of hope that we have at the beginning of this new stage of government, trying to reflect what is in the spirit of millions of citizens.
It seems to us that reality speaks for itself and demands, immediately, public policies that guarantee citizen security, overcome poverty and inequality, and promote national unity and harmony among all. Never again the dominance of organized crime or delinquency in general.
We are convinced that Mexico must be a country where government and citizens respect the Laws, having as a frame of reference the Constitution with which we identify and that cannot be violated by social or political sectors that override the whole Nation. We are convinced that Mexico is called to return to living in a true Democratic State of Law, made up of a Federation of autonomous States, with a balance of powers, which makes us a Republic that is trustworthy for all. Without trust, there is no development, nor a stable future.
From the humanist thought of the Church, we recognize the dignity of every person as an inviolable principle and foundation of all human rights. We need to live in a democratic State that respects human rights for all citizens, strengthening the institutions that guarantee the full exercise of these rights and promoting a culture of mutual respect and citizen participation.
Mexico has great challenges that are an opportunity to grow in participation and dialogue, overcoming polarization, seeking reconciliation until reaching the necessary agreements with all political forces – without annihilating minorities – to build, through dialogue and consensus, the project of the common good so that Mexican society can live in peace. We reiterate our willingness to join this dynamic to live together with justice and solidarity for all.”
ACT
Let us pray that God enlightens and strengthens our new authorities, but let each of us do what we can to improve our environment, and let us not expect the government to do everything.
