QUESTION: Why are the turmoil of historical and social processes becoming more and more divorced from the Christian subject that Christians are apathetic to social evils and evil tendencies? – Tom Vadakan

ANSWER: Jacob Parappally MSFS

We have saints and prophets in the Church who have challenged political powers, tyranny, exploitation of the poor and all kinds of social evils. Certainly, there are some individuals whom God raises in the history of the Church for such heroic works. However, the system whatever that be, would not tolerate prophets who challenge the systems that perpetuate injustice, inequality and the marginalization of the poor. It would, certainly, eliminate them. But the prophets must go on shouting even when they know that those who hold powers do not hear them or pretend not to hear them. It would certainly have an effect in the thinking of the people around.
Saints and prophets are exceptions. Their way of life and view of Christian commitment is different from a large majority of the members of the Church and its hierarchy. Unfortunately, the Church as an organization has never been consistent in its oppositions to the evils in the society. History is replete with instances where the Church could have but did not challenge the existing political and economic power centres that were inhuman in their decisions and their execution concerning the lives of the poor. Certainly, there were powerful interventions of the Church authorities. But they were few and far between. One can think of many reasons for this general apathy of the Church as a whole and its leaders for this unholy indifference.

Church’s Commitment to the World
The Church claims to identify itself with everyone who experiences pains and sufferings in this world. The opening words of the Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, Gaudium et spes states the self-understanding of the Church as one concerned with the pains and sufferings of all people. It says, “The joys and the hopes, the grieves and the anxieties of the men of this age, especially those who are poor or in any way afflicted, these are the joys and hopes, the grieves and anxieties of the followers of Christ. Indeed, nothing genuinely human fails to raise an echo in their hearts. For theirs is a community composed of men….That is why this community realizes that it is truly linked with mankind and its history by the deepest of bonds”(GS.1). The Church is affected by what is happening in the society because it is composed of humans with flesh and blood and the life of the Church cannot be separated from the lives of the people all over the world. Its claim is right. Its intentions are good. The commitment by those few members of the Church to the poor and the needy, the oppressed and the discriminated against are praiseworthy though they don’t get any publicity and they wouldn’t need it either.

“A Christian spirituality that
negates any prophetic
protest as Jesus did cannot claim to have the mark of
genuine Christian spirituality.”

Pope Francis’s strong statements about the capitalist exploitation of the poor and the resources of nature, his strong opposition to the war between Russia and Ukraine, his opinion about those marginalized in the Church and in the larger society, namely, the LGBTQ and so on are lauded by the entire world. The world will not forget Pope John Paul II’s support to the Polish Solidarity movement which eventually led to the breaking of the iron curtain and the end of the Soviet Union. These two Popes have taken radical steps to use the authority of the Church to change the thinking of the world for the better. However, throughout the history of the world the Church had its own history of too much involvement determining who would rule the people with disastrous consequences. Sometimes those in authority kept silence when terrible injustice was done to the people or were indifferent to it. When it was convenient for the Church it did not fail to enter into politics by supporting those powers who appeared to be advantageous to it. Church authorities were never consistent in their opposition to those political powers who trampled on the human rights of ordinary people. Its policies on many South –American countries were clear examples of such an attitude.
The official Vatican policies did not support the liberation movements of the ordinary people to free themselves from the tyrannical political power structures. They appointed even bishops who would support the governments rather than the people’s struggle . Archbishop Dom Helder Camara and Oscar Romeiro were thorns in the flesh for Vatican. Even Oscar Romero was elected as the one who would support the Vatican policies in El Salvador. When he had a first-hand experience of the exploitation of the poor and their victimization by the government he could not but raise his prophetic voice against the military junta. Eventually, he was eliminated by the same government he was appointed to support. The Church’s involvement in the socio-political issues of the world appears to be pragmatic, selective and inconsistent. It is clear that it has not always followed the Kingdom values or the gospel values to challenge any powers that dehumanize and exploit the poor whose cry falls on the deaf ears of those who have power even to eliminate them.

A Flawed Christian Spirituality
When we look for various reasons that can explain the general apathy of a large numbers Christians towards social and political evils in the society, one of the most important reasons may be the traditional spirituality followed by a large majority of Christians. It was a flawed spirituality that exhorted people to run away from the world or fuga mundi. The three evils a Christian soul must constantly avoid or the three enemies of the souls were the world, the flesh and the devil. The victory of a Christian is determined by his or her victory over these three evils. The Council of Trent, in its sixth session, in the decree on justification says: “Nevertheless, let those who think themselves to stand, take heed lest they fall, and, with fear and trembling work out their salvation, in labours, in vigils, in alms deeds, in prayers and oblations, in acts of fasting and chastity: for, knowing that they are born again unto a hope of glory, but not as yet unto glory, they ought to fear for the combat which yet remains with the flesh, with the world, with the devil, wherein they cannot be victorious, unless they be with God’s grace, obedient to the Apostle, who says; We are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh; for if you live according to the flesh, you shall die; but if by the spirit you mortify the deeds of the flesh, you shall live.” Any Christian spirituality that dichotomizes the vertical relationship with God and horizontal relationship with humans and while emphasizing the first negates the second cannot be authentic Christian spirituality. Even while recognizing both, seeing them in opposition cannot be true Christian spirituality. Such dichotomization and opposition leads to a passivity with regards to the social and political evils of the society. The faithful were never told or encouraged to fight against this corrupt world, its injustices, its oppressions and its ways of dehumanization. A prophetic stand against any injustice individually or collectively is not considered a virtue. If anyone is inspired to do so, he or she is told to be prudent. Those prophetic voices are sometimes stifled within the Church itself for fear of scandal. A Christian spirituality that negates any prophetic protest as Jesus did cannot claim to have the mark of genuine Christian spirituality. At best it can be called a harmless piety which has nothing to do with Jesus or his message of the kingdom.

A Symptom of Individualism
The Christian vision of life is communitarian. Both the origin and the destiny of humans is communion. Our sin affects everyone and our virtues too affect every human being because we are in a network of relationships whether we recognize it or not. The Church is the sacrament of the Absolute Communion of the Father, the Son and the Spirit. However, a large number of Christians limit their life to their families and or a small group. The wider the circle of relationship, the lesser the intensity of that relationship and lesser the seriousness of their concern for the other. Widening the circle of relationship consciously to include every member of the Catholic Church and then the other Churches and then other religions and ideologies makes a person truly a disciple of Christ.
For a large majority of Christians the membership of the Church means only fulfilling certain minimum requirements. They may fulfil the Sunday obligations and offer some daily prayers and practice the Lenten and other observances. Some may even practice some pious exercises intensely. They are worried about their own families and their private interests. They claim that they do not have any time or interest in matters concerning the society or their nation. When their private interests are affected by certain political decisions and policies they may come out in protest to protect their own interests. If another community or vital interests of others are affected they would not bother at all. I, me, myself and my own family seem to be their concern. Such crass individualism cannot find any space or any need to stand up for what is right or struggle with anyone who is affected by injustice or unjust laws. They certainly have no botheration about whatever evil happens in the society or in the Church. It does not concern them as they do not consider as their problem. They do not see it is an essential dimension of our Christian discipleship to be concerned about the evils in the socio-political situation of the society and do whatever one can do eliminate them and contribute to create a conducive climate for God’s plan for every human being.
Christian life is to be lived in solidarity with all humans of good will. Only in communion with the entire world consciously, can one feel the pain and sufferings of those who are condemned to a miserable life by those who have power and position. The world may continue to oppress the weak till the end of time but those who follow Jesus cannot remain unaffected by it. The more a disciple of Christ gets involved in the struggles of the people to secure their rights the more he/she becomes a true disciple of Christ and therefore truly human!