AMERICA/NICARAGUA - CELAM Assembly continues with presentations from the seven departments of the Council on activities in the past two years

Thursday, 14 May 2009

Managua (Agenzia Fides) – The 22nd Ordinary Assembly of the Latin American Bishops' Council (CELAM), which is being celebrated for the first time in Nicaragua (in Managua), continues underway. The main theme is the state of the missions in the Americas. Archbishop Raymundo Damasceno Assis of Aparecida, President of CELAM, recalled in his inaugural address that “Aparecida placed CELAM on a wide path of closeness to the people and great activity not only in spreading the message of the Final Document, but in its living continuation in the Continental Mission.” This is a great ecclesial experience that should not “remain in a book or configured to a particular time and place, but should become a living reality throughout the Continent.” Thus, during this Assembly, there will be an analysis of what CELAM has done in the past 2 years since Aparecida, in its two-part finality: “first, in terms of fraternal relationships among our dioceses, and secondly, the collaboration in multiple services for the various Bishops' Conferences in the area.”
The President of CELAM observed that in the past two years, the Bishops have had various opportunities to care for the “situation of our peoples and their relationships, in which the Church also hopes to serve as a sacrament of unity, and we have placed these desires in the hands of major public leaders...” One of the main concerns in this regards is “the often blind search for new models of political institutions that claim to defend rights of the poor, but have also given way to ideological beliefs that are open to attitudes that infringe upon life, the family, and freedom of education.” In the social field, “these processes have been filled with tension” and have led to, in various occasions, the creation of a “large internal conflict in our society which makes situations even more difficult than they already are.” In a press conference held in the National Seminary in Managua, CELAM President Archbishop Raymundo Damasceno explained that a study was done by groups, of various programs that the entity carries out for four years. These reports were presented to each one of the 7 CELAM Departments, on the problems that have arisen in the last two years. Recommendations will also be made for programming for the next two years, to better respond to the needs and expectations of the Bishops' Conferences in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The former Executive Secretary of CELAM, recently named Archbishop Victor Sanchez of Puebla (Mexico), yesterday presented the assembly with a report on his work in the past two years as Exec. Secretary, showing that there have been positive advances in the 7 departments and three formation centers of CELAM.
Archbishop Damasceno spoke on the infiltration of the evangelicals on the continent and stressed the point that the Catholic Church's missionary labor should not be marked by proselytism nor does it seek confrontation with those who follow this doctrine. “We want to attract the people with the message of the Gospel, based on love for Christ and neighbor,” he affirmed. “We are aware of the situations of injustice in Latin America and we know that many people do not live in humane conditions. This is why we announce the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which should lead people to a more dignified life.” The Plenary Assembly of CELAM will end on Friday, May 15. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 14/5/2009)


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