AMERICA/MEXICO - Bishops' Assembly concludes with an appeal to the laity to “use creativity in developing new, more effective means to make Christianity present in the world.”

Mexico City (Agenzia Fides) - “The present Assembly can be qualified as being of historical precedence for its topics of discussion, its methodology, and its participants. Together, Bishops and laity, we have been able to reflect on the nature and importance of the most relevant challenges that call for the attention of the Christian conscience in the area of politics, the economy, culture, and mass media, in this dramatic hour of national life.” This is what is found in the Message from the Bishops of Mexico at the close of their 86th Plenary Assembly. In addition to the Bishops in attendance, there were also 118 lay men and women from 67 dioceses and several national organizations, all dedicated to the transformation of the world. Together, they reflected on the need to “give life to a new and courageous lay dynamism.”
In their Message, the Bishops observe that right now, “we are living in an authentic change of era, which implies serious crises in various dimensions of personal and social life, and great opportunities for building the Kingdom of God.” Thus, for example, they recall the problems of drug trafficking, violence, and delinquency, making an appeal to the Federal and State Governments, and Political Parties, to make “a pact of unity to fight delinquency, to eradicate corruption from the country, on all levels,” as “a political accord is more than ever a necessity, as what is at stake must count on the universal solidarity of all people.”
They also express their grief at the sight of “a Mexico that is wounded and disillusioned by problems of insecurity, kidnappings, overpopulation of jails, general corruption, starvation and marginalization, the breakup of the family, educational poverty, inefficiency in the quest for and application of justice, drug trafficking, human rights violations, and organized crime, which all shed light on the a lack of personal and social awareness in recognizing the inalienable dignity of the human person in every moment of his life.” Here, they also consider the decriminalization of abortion in several federal entities, which they describe as “the moment in which, in a more explicit manner, the foundation of the authentic legally constituted state breaks down and there is a lack of respect for the dignity of the most vulnerable and defenseless human beings.” There are also the deficiencies of the national education system, which have led many young people and children to be exposed to “a cultural plan with serious ethical, anthropological, and civil deformities.” With all these problems, there is also the global financial crisis, which “places Mexico in a difficult situation.” The concern of the Bishops and laity for this situation, “leads us all, as the Church, to a more convinced and coherent living out of our Christian identity” and a greater awareness of the need to evangelize, which always implies “to civilize, that is, to promote the authentic progress of man and all peoples.”
“We are convinced that the lay faithful are not only members of the Church in the fullest sense of the word, but that they are also a true sacramental expression of the Church's service in the world,” the text reads. Thus, the Bishops make a call to all the laity to “use creativity in developing new, more effective means to make Christianity present in the world.” The Bishops then remind the faithful of all the various activities that they can perform, where their commitment is most needed, for example: in promotion and defense of life, and the dignity and vocation of women; the strengthening of the family based on marriage; the promotion of an educational system that builds strong characters in both the faith and in terms of human development; the commitment to solidarity with all people; formation in the Church's Social Doctrine; positive reestablishment of the relationship between faith and reason, Christianity and culture; promotion and defense of human rights; formation of a new citizenship, one that is more responsible, participative, and capable of actively working for the common good.
As for the missionary need and its renewed launching, the Bishops say that they will “do all that we can to recognize and promote a new dynamism among the lay faithful in the Church and society, especially in terms of participation in politics and civil life.”
The Bishops conclude with a call to overcome all forms of mistrust that “have sometimes marked the relationship between the hierarchy and the laity, and starting anew from Christ, make new steps on the path towards a society that is more just, unified, and reconciled, through the restrengthening of the social fabric, in which the contribution of all Mexicans to the Christian mission may be seen.” (RG) (Agenzia Fides 14/11/2008)