Last Monday
(February 11, 2013) the whole world heard the shocking news about the
resignation of the pope as leader of 1.2 billion Catholics. As a Catholic, I am
saddened by the event. And after learning about the reasons of his immediate
resignation, I begin to understand humanely. His Holiness’ decision opens a
wide array of insights regarding the nature of power and service. And there are
a lot of ideas pouring in through social media.
One of the bishops’
emeritus of the Philippines explains the highlight on why the pope declares the
celebration of the faith since last year. One of them is the statistically decline
of the faith of Catholics especially in Europe, which is considered as the seed
of Catholicism, and other parts of the world. And I agree with his idea. And
expectedly there is mass exodus of Catholics whose faith is dwindling and
looking for steady faith. What is the usual cause of this phenomenon?
In one of the
discussions in my class on religion, a student raised this question whether a
person can still be saved without going to mass everyday because deep in that
person’s heart he has that lively faith in Jesus. I asked her for the reason of
the person’s not going to mass. And she said that he got discouraged to go to
mass because of people in the church who are not acting as religious for which
they are called for.
This is an example
of which many of our religious leaders not serious with their calling. They run
the church in accordance with the standard of the world. Sad to say, I have
been witnessing this act of theirs ever since. Running the affairs of the
church by using the standard of the world confuses their followers. What the
followers are expecting is seeing these religious people doing and continuing
the mission of Jesus with the laws of God as tool.
It is indeed a contradiction! There can be an
inch of compatibility between the law of God and the law of man. The laws of
God show the way in leading the people to righteousness. But the laws of man
seem to be the best option for them in running its affairs. I agree with the
opinion of another student that it is not the genuine love of God that is
present in their hearts but it is the love of money. I hope and pray that the
next pope of the Catholic Church will be someone who can reproach the religious
leaders to do their sacred duty and enforce to study theology, not on education
and other mundane disciplines, to better carry out their mission entrusted by
Jesus to them.
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