Abp Thomas Menamparampil

And yet, the MarketWorld is‘Mater et Magistra’ today. Market theories have become like the dogmas of a new Religion (Osservatore Romano 25.1.19). Their missionaries are on the frontlines. They teach:

Money is what matters; be practical; get things done. Be realistic; make all the profit you can. All are selfish; you will never survive unless you too are equally selfish; others know how to look after themselves. Consume; consume now, consume all you can.

Meantime you are compelled to ignore those who are left behind, those thrown to the sides and abandoned: Insensitivity to others, Indifference! Pope Francis warns us against the globalization of this indifference that prevails in today’s society. And be sure, the Insensitivity and Indifference of the achievers arouse Anger…and accumulated Anger mounts! Worldwide Anger is a reality. It is rising today for a variety of reasons, but most of all for the Insensitivity and Indifference of the ‘Winners,’ and not just for their unfairness.

Here is where the Gospel is most needed today. A new set of values must come in. The Pope signing a document with the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar UAE called for “intellectuals, philosophers, religious figures, artists, media professionals and men and women of culture in every part of the world, to rediscover the values of peace, justice, goodness, beauty, human fraternity and co-existence…” (Osservatore Romano 8.2.19). MarketWorld values must change to human values, evangelical values…not only sensitivity, but attention to the others’ hurt feelings, creativity in being attentive to others’ socio-psychological needs.

John Paul II addressing the bishops of Italy, threw out this challenge, “Be ‘pioneers’ of new solutions to world problems (OR 27.10.04). Evangelization is about bringing Gospel-inspired solutions to human problems, beginning with those closest to us. Mahatma Gandhi defined Satyagraha as influencing and “educating public opinion” towards what is true. That is the Evangelizers’ mission.

9.    It is at a Moment of Pain that a Change of Mindset Becomes Possible, Change of Style
The task of Evangelization begins with oneself. A new set of values must take over our inner world. It often happens in a moment of pain, problem, anxiety. “There is no growth without crisis,” Pope Francis was speaking to his own confreres, the Jesuits. He said, there is constant need of pruning, of struggle (OR 3.12.18 ).

There is need of a change of mentality. If Market Philosophies have influenced our thinking, in the Church context Management Philosophies may have gone deeper. No one who has been long at the service of institutions, structures, administration, can claim to be unaffected. In January, writing to the bishops of the US, Pope Francis re-iterated the same idea (OR 4.1.19). He invited a change of attitudes, style, in addressing their problems….not just a few “stern decrees” or “new committees,” as though we were in charge of a “department of human resources.” Very strong words.

Our mission, he says, is not “mere administrative and organizational function” in the evangelization business. We can effect a change in the situation we are facing only by developing an ability to “forge bonds and create spaces.” Please note the emphasis on ‘forging bonds,’ the most forgotten art today. It leaves no room for insensitivity or indifference. The future will depend on our ability to bring people together and “get them enthused and confident about a broad, shared project that is at once unassuming, solid, sober and transparent.” Words like ‘unassuming, sober’ mean much to perceptive people.

What really matters is a Change of Mindset and style of functioning: “our way of praying, our handling of power and money, our exercise of authority and our way of relating with one another and the world around us.” Every word is well thought out. The Pope invites the bishops to “discern God’s presence in the history of his people,” and not to look at events in terms of winners-and-losers. In other words, notice God’s plan working out in the current events.

He insists on the “Affective communion with the feelings of our people, with their disheartenment…” Insensitivity and indifference must be thrown overboard. Others’ feelings must be respected. And knowing that hurt feelings are often about neglect of attentions and threats to the self-importance of people, the Pope quotes Jesus’ own words, who refers to prominent men in society who wish to lord it over others. “But it shall not be so among you” (Mk 10:43), he says.

He cautions us against the attitudes of “disparaging, discrediting,” or even “playing the victim.” ‘Playing victim,’ according to the sociologist Veena Das is another form of Power-Assertion; which means, having suffered, I have a ‘Right’ to inflict suffering on you. Here, there can be a tone of vindictiveness. This has nothing to do with the Gospel. In today’s world, this is the strongest form of self-assertion. Even the mightiest powers on earth go on the defensive, merely trying to explain. The storm has to pass on its own.

The Pope asks us to remember the Elijah story. God was not in the storm, earthquake, or fire. He was in “the gentle breeze” (1 Kg 19:9-18). Allow the storm to pass. He warns us against having recourse to recrimination or slander, but invites us rather to dialogue and discussion… not in order to claim success or win applause, but find solutions that will benefit everyone… that has a future (OR 4.1.19). What is really important is to be more human, sensitive and evangelical in everything.

10.    Self-Criticism Paves the Way for Change
Even long before the present crisis, Pope Francis was a strong promoter of internal criticism, self-criticism. It is precisely when healthy internal criticism fails or is ignored that external criticism gathers strength, and turns vicious.

Pope Francis was always critical of clericalism and a bureaucratic style. In Evangelii Gaudium he wrote that a bureaucratic style from the side of the Church leaders and rigidity of structures can create an unwelcoming atmosphere and lead to a ‘feeling of non-belonging’ in members. An administrative approach should not prevail over pastoral approach (EvangeliiGaudium 63). Here in the immediate context, he was referring to parish structures; but now in India, with the multiplication of Church institutions of gigantic proportions, the danger to which the Pope is referring has aggravated many more times.

Institutions, of course, are necessary. They are very effective instruments of service and spaces for dialogue with the larger society, highlighting the Message we have for humanity. However, if/when they project an image of power, prestige, and resources; when they develop an atmosphere of impersonality, coldness, distance from and indifference to the average person; when they remain culturally un (up)-rooted and socially unconcerned with the anxieties of the neighbourhood, they are bound to land in some troubles. Troubles, in fact, may be an invitation to change, the very change we are talking about.

Pope Francis says, “I prefer a Church which is bruised, hurting and dirty because it has been on the streets, rather than a Church which is unhealthy from being confined and from clinging to its own security.” Francis is not able to understand Church people’s eagerness to be at the centre, their obsession with procedures; their complacency within structures of false security, confined within rules which judge others harshly, within habits which make them feel safe (EG 49).

11.    Alienating Ownerships
In relationship to money he says, it dominates us and our societies. He fears the emergence of wealth as the new Golden Calf (Ex 32:1-35) and its worship as a new form of “idolatry” (EG 55). Elsewhere the Pope speaks about the “tyranny of money” (OR 3.2.17).

It holds people in its grip. Resources, of course, are required to accomplish any good work. But when they are associated with structures and buildings, even church buildings, that are out of proportion to needs, more for display than service, appearing like self-projections of individuals or groups, financed by quasi-forced collections…criticism are bound to come.

Burdens on the laity can accumulate. It can alienate. Today, mutual alienation among its members has turned out to be the greatest threat to the Church: since you do not belong to me, yours does not belong to me. There is a sense of mutual disownment. Mutual alienation can go to exaggerations.

12.    The Need to Avoid Exaggerations, and to be Open to All Persons and Perspectives
The letter of the Pope to which we referred, seems to emphasize the need to avoid exaggerations of all kinds, and to be open to all persons and perspectives. In times of troubled thinking and disturbed emotions, we need to work towards creating another atmosphere. This is the work of Evangelization.

We need to bring a bit of balance into everything we say or do. That is the only way to helpfully address all those who seem to differ from us from diverse points of view: authority level, gender, age, rite, ideological school, theological thinking, sociological position, financial independence, numerical strength, or any other way we differ. What we need to avoid most of all is an “accusatory style” (Pope Francis, OR 25.1.19), the “Pointed Finger” (Is 58:9). For, if we exaggerate, we are bound to collide, and all dialogue ends there.

And yet, Evangelii Gaudium laments, “How many wars take place within the people of God and in our different communities! In our neighbourhoods and in the workplace, how many wars are caused by envy and jealousy, even among Christians! Spiritual worldliness leads some Christians to war with other Christians who stand in the way of their quest for power, prestige and economic security” (EG 98). For the Pope, this is a matter of the greatest pain.

The Gospel message is that we give to each one his/her due, unto Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God; to give to every sphere of human activity what is its due and central attention to what is central to the Gospel. It looks beyond past mistakes of an individual or a community and present reasons for differences.

The danger is that, when we keep issues unresolved a long time, the contentious edge of our character develops, pressed hard by the compulsions of the situation; and that, abrasive individuals are forced into the role of leaders and spokespersons, who will not easily contribute to the solution. What can be more painful is if the Egos of leaders or the collective Egos communities get interlocked into a prolonged strife, pressure-groups on either side (and today, the social media) keep fanning the flame. Third parties benefit most. The duty of the Evangelizer in such situations is to sustain ‘hope’ and suggest a way forward, as Pope Francis has done.