Another Church is possible
INTERNATIONAL
MEETING ON RENEWAL OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
From 19 to 22
September 2002
Universidad Carlos
III, Leganés (Madrid)
Organised by
Corriente Somos Iglesia
CLOSING STATEMENT FROM MEETING
Sunday, 22 September 2002
Message to communities
“All the faithful enjoy a true equality with regard to
the dignity and activity which they share in the building up of the body of
Christ”. - LG 32 c, 80 – The laity are brothers and sisters of the pastors,
with an equal call to mission - LG 33a ” (Vatican II).
Dear brothers and sisters,
We are writing to you
from Leganés, Madrid, where we met from 19 to 22 September 2002, for an
International meeting for the renewal of the Catholic Church. We are 500
Catholic Christians, men and women, lay people, religious and priests. We
belong to 200 base groups and organisations, from all parts of Spain, and from
more than 30 countries around the world. We had the pleasure at this meeting of
benefiting from the brotherly, humble presence among us of Bishop Tomás
Balduino, president of the Pastoral Commission for the Earth, in Brazil.
We all came to this
meeting driven by faith and the desire to see the Universal Church become a
true network of communities in the service of humanity, especially for the
millions of excluded poor in the world. We were pleased to learn of the
community experiences of the Church of God at Chiapas, México, among indigenous
people, exploited for five hundred years. We heard how the Church is born again
each day, through the power of the Spirit, amid the communities of the
campesinos and the poor in Brazil, Ecuador, Guatemala, and other Latin American
countries, as well as in Asia and European cities such as Brussels, Madrid and
many others.
We accept as our own the
petition made to the Pope for a new Council and a conciliar process,
participatory and corresponsible, signed by more than 30 Catholic bishops, and
which is collecting thousands of signatures of support from around the world.
We feel moved by the
Spirit to advance this conciliar process in which we find ourselves, as a path
of faith and solidarity.
We have some suggested
topics that today concern many communities and much of society; questions that
should be debated and calmly considered by all members of the people of God.
Among these, we would stress social issues such as the urgency of prophetic
action by the churches in the service of peace and against militarism and war;
firm action against hunger, which kills millions and on behalf of justice and
equality among all human beings, in communion with nature and committed to its
protection.
We also add that there
is urgent need for dialogue between those representing the Church and those
representing the scientific community, on the ethics of biotechnology to confront
the attitude that sees science as simply a matter for the markets.
If our churches are
always to be signs of the Reign of God, we believe it is important to:
-
Reflect
on our way of being and organising as Church in the world.
-
Open
our ecclesial communities to the poor, to the migrants and to those morally
marginalised, such as the divorced and homosexuals.
-
Comply
fully with human rights, in their internal relations and among all their
members.
-
Reformulate
our understanding and way of expressing ministry, opening it up to full
participation by women, and without celibacy being a mandatory requirement for
fulfilment of the presbyterial ministry.
These questions can only
be dealt with in depth in a church which has experienced renewal in the light
of the Gospel. May this conciliar process revive the ecclesial springtime of
the days of Pope John XXIII who asked for the Church what we all want today: a
new Pentecost.
May the peace of Christ
be with you,
Your brothers and
sisters at the International meeting in Leganés.
---o0o---
Annex
We, the 500 participants at the International meeting for renewal of the
Catholic Church, feel a prophetic indignation against the militarist,
interventionist and unilateral policy of the government of the United States,
which, despite international laws and treaties, is moving towards military
invasion of Iraq, further injuring a people who have already suffered so much
as the result of the embargo that has oppressed them for more than ten years.
We call on our own communities
and all Christian churches to raise their voices in favour of peace and
international justice, based on respect for the sovereignty of all peoples.
As Jesus said: “Blessed
are the meek for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are the peacemakers for
they will be called sons and daughters of God, or, in other words, peacemaking
is the work of God in the world” (Cf. Mt 5, 5. 9).
Another Church is possible
INTERNATIONAL
MEETING ON RENEWAL OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
Leganés (Madrid),
Sunday 22 September 2002
Corriente
Somos Iglesia
http://www.eurosur.org/SOMOS-IGLESIA