November 11, 2012
(Romereports.com) For Catholics to
actually strengthen their religious beliefs during the Year of Faith,
one critical issue needs to be addressed. Monsignor Carlos Aguiar says,
the Church needs to go out into society, instead of waiting only for the
laity to seek the Church.
MSGR. CARLOS AGUIAR
President, Latin American Bishops Conference
“The
Church needs to focus on initiatives that promote Christian values and
formation. That needs to be present in all sectors of society.”
The
Mexican bishop believes that for Christians to reflect their values,
they have to exemplify them not just at home, but at also out in
society. For that to happen, he believes the Church needs to work on
initiatives that make this easier for the laity, especially when they
are at work, since it's there that they spend most of their time.
MSGR. CARLOS AGUIAR
President, Latin American Bishops Conference
“In
areas like communication, or with those who work in the medical field
like doctors and nurses. Also lawyers, politicians, economists,
entrepreneurs, those on a fixed income. Teachers and schools. The Church
needs to have a dynamic presence in all these sectors.”
But
to make initiatives like these successful out in society, Aguiar
recognizes that the Church must also address challenges Catholics face
in society. Among those issues is divorce.
MSGR. CARLOS AGUIAR
President, Latin American Bishops Conference
"The
Church needs to remind all Catholics who are divorced and re-married,
that they are not excluded from the Church. They are not
ex-communicated. They may face an irregular situation, but this does not
stop them from living the faith.”
In Mexico, roughly 84
percent of the population is Catholic. But still, even in countries
where the majority is Catholic, he says other challenges arise. Among
them, having the religion become only something linked to tradition and
culture, and not purely based on faith. To prevent that from happening,
Aguiar says Catholics need to take the New Evangelization and the Year
of Faith seriously, so that concrete initiatives will follow.
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