BISHOPS ARE WATCHING ?

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[…] The world synod, for its part, has assumed a tone of doctrine that in reality is not its responsibility, given that there is not even an assembly reconcile, and the Popes have started a little dignity to do the taillights of the synods, with limited to validate and establish their conclusions, even if they do not say anything new from the point of view of doctrine nor could. This is not dignified for the Pope, which must take back their power driving towards the bishops.

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According to Rahner, the task of the Bishop It is to take note of the real "faith" or "effective" expressed by the people of God, as thematic or categorical expression and "aposteriorica" ​​of faith athematic transcendental and "priori", which is common to all men ("Supernatural existential") and then to non-Catholics and atheists themselves Explicit, from which the famous rahneriano concept of the "anonymous Christian" everywhere and always in grace, why all are saved and the damned in hell do not exist (gooders transcendental).

The bishop, according to Rahner, must strive to understand how can such faith and interpret it correctly, must approve and support, must then follow it as it evolves and nelle its historical expressions, dictated by the Holy Spirit, should translate into doctrinal faith, ufficial and institutional. But it is clear that the primacy is always for the existential faith of ordinary Christians with the common baptismal priesthood, infallible listening direct interpretation of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God, though the dogmatic concepts with which it is interpreted that the Word is in constant evolution and for the various culture in which express.

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The Second Vatican Council, as you know, has enhanced, promoted and stimulated the activity of the laity, of the religious, priests and theologians and made from fifty years, many have been and are the various initiatives, some of which excellent, others instead, Unfortunately, - and perhaps the most numerous - influenced by anti-hierarchical conceptions and populist or demagogic Church, a certain "church from below", a certa popular church, or some "spontaneous groups or" base "of the 70s, or "charismatic movements" of the 80s. So these initiatives have taken his hand to the bishops, which, or naively seduced or intimidated in front of such intrusive, powerful and sometimes threatening effervescence, does not deprive the rest of the good sides, have come to assume certain not everyone welcomes the role outlined above by Rahner, yielding to excessive indulgence or tolerance of mistakes and bad behaviors that were spreading.

The bishops, when there are "strong with the weak", they have become like notaries who limit themselves to registering and ad ufficializzare or at least tolerate the "faith" or should I say the tales that mostly circulate among the faithful particularly the most disseminated by the mass media and educational and cultural institutions, but then they treat hard those few who, faithful to the evangelical concept of the shepherd, dare to remind them of their responsibility.
At the same time the Council has increased the autonomy of the local church against Rome and established, as we know, le whatnferenze and episcopal synods of bishops worldwide to regular deadline.

Indeed, the Holy Father Francis He wants to make the bishops share in his doctrinal authority. This will mean then that the synod will become a kind of periodic Council fixed term and one wonders if it is not too artificial and impractical. The development of doctrine can not be programmed, but it depends on imponderables related to Divine Providence.

this institution certainly very important in itself was intended to strengthen the initiative and the pastoral responsibility of bishops individually or collectively, but unfortunately in many cases ended up creating a figure of bishop conformist and opportunist, without a universal vision of the Church, closed in his diocese or in his nation, ready to become independent from the Pope, so as not to upset their brethren the most influential or the most respected or their bishops' conference of the nationalist.

The world synod, for its part, has assumed a tone of doctrine that in reality is not its responsibility, given that there is not even an assembly reconcile, and the Popes have started a little dignity to do the taillights of the synods, with limited to validate and establish their conclusions, even if they do not say anything new from the point of view of doctrine nor could. This is not dignified for the Pope, which must take back their power driving towards the bishops.
The most serious drawback that is followed in all, without prejudice to the positive aspects, is that it has failed collaboration between the Pope and the bishops in teaching and defense of the doctrine of the faith. Of course, this function is not at all settled and we must recognize the great zeal with which such a man as the then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was acquitted at his office at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith over twenty years, much less can we ignore the numerous interventions of the Popes and of good bishops, not excluding synods and episcopal conferences worldwide.

As already noted, however, for many years, careful observers, the ecclesiastical authorities at all levels, by the Pope to the individual bishops, is not at all able to control a complex situation doctrinal and consequently moral, disciplinary and liturgical, is that it got out of hand and that has become ungovernable, with serious damage of the faithful. Often the data or the data theologian bishop or as prophet or seer take the place of the Magisterium, which is either ignored or ddespised. What do the bishops? Yes, of course, are watching, but with what mind? They can be happy? no cerly. It is not a pleasant sight to watch, ma, albeit in the midst of positive facts, a process of dissolution and disintegration of the Church, process that some will stop, because the Church is unwavering. However, God does not spare the trials and gives the means to overcome them.

The means are: necessary that the bishops with a humble and courageous leap of faith in their own charisma, resume control of the situation. At the bottom of the flock of Christ, bewildered by intriguers and rebels, can not wait. The shepherd is smitten and the sheep gone astray. But God will never miss the good shepherds? In no way!
The Catholic world has still, thank God, at least in democratic countries, numerous media, of teaching, of pastoral action, of preaching: from the pulpits to the conferences of all kinds, from the parishes to school, from print to the internet, from publishers websites, contacts with movements and associations to those with private, from conference rooms to the squares.
And the themes of possible and desirable interventions specific and exclusive jurisdiction of the bishop are numerous and urgent. I'm not even to list.

That a bishop to intervene at the party kiwi or the firework display or meeting with the Buddhists or the benefit concert can be certain sympathetic and bring the bishop to the people. However, it remains to bring people to Christ. How come the bishops feel or appear so little if only they would be the most qualified to speak? Do not just "be between people "; we need to see what is being done among the people. Why then let the laity, as competent and good will of the debate or even more the decision or judgment on matters of faith and morals where instead so important and irreplaceable, by the command of Christ Himself, is the word of the pastor?

Fontanellato, 1 April 2014

 

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