Plenary Council 2020: What is God asking of us?
As part of the preparation for the Plenary Council 2020, called by the Australian Bishops and ratified by Pope Francis, Australian Catholics have been invited to respond to the question:
“What do you think God is asking of Australia at this time?”
The question is an important one. It attempts to put God at the centre of ecclesial deliberations after the scandal of the child abuse crisis in the Church in Australia.
In the gatherings that have taken place to date, this important question is proving somewhat elusive. It seems it is easier to focus on what “we are asking” and wanting, rather than what “God is asking” and wanting.
It is not so much a “clash of wills,” I suspect, but rather the normal friction and tension that is part of being human – and Christian. St. Paul documents such tensions in the early Christian community and history records grand scale divisions.
As the process of consultation at the national level continues, all the responses that the faithful have made will be collated and presented to the Plenary Council. Clearly those that are not in accord with Catholic faith and morals will not be given credence. How could we contemplate the preaching of the Gospel in the 21st Century if we were to be found unfaithful to the gift Christ has bequeathed to us?
On the other hand, there is a growing awareness, both within and without the Church, that we must develop and mature in our practice of governance. Co-Responsibility between the faithful, priests and bishops will be fundamental.
Father Anthony Percy (Vicar General)
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- Pope Francis sends blessing as Plenary Council process begins
- On the journey to the Plenary Council
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I think God is asking us in Australia -to strengthen Eucharistic adoration, -to increase appreciation for and recourse to the sacrament of penance. -a TRUE Catholic presence in the aged care industry, so that the elderly can experience true love, and be given the time and active listening and accompaniment they need.
– a renewal of appreciation for the sacrament of marriage.
I think God is asking us in Australia to’ provvide an itinerari of faith were the people can be introduced and instructed how to become Christians. (Is not inaf to receive Holy communion and confermation has a formation to become Christians.) There is a lots of confusion between what the people believe and what is the teachings of the church. To many people believe that faith is only individualist relation with God. Not many people have the knowledge the the church is the body of Christ as the secon Vatican council explaining. The result of this is that some of the Christians don’t think that with their sin can hurt the whole church. In my opinion many priest has not delivered to the church the renewal that the holly Spirit has given to the second Vatican council