Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Buenos Aires (Agenzia Fides) - The Bishops of Argentina have gathered for the 93rd plenary assembly 23 to 28 April of which the central question for discussion is Education. The assembly opened with Mass presided by Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio Archbishop of Buenos Aires, who spoke of the martyrdom of St Stephen, the Church's first martyr said "the Church has always been persecuted". "She will be persecuted - the Cardinal said - not so much for her mediocre sons and daughters who compromise with the world... but by the others among the host of so many witnesses who choose to keep their eyes set on Jesus". That is "the Church will be persecuted the more she is faithful to the Gospel", because witness and loyalty is uncomfortable for the world. This persecution can be direct or subtle. In this situation the temptation for the Church is always the same "to avoid the cross, to barter with the truth, reduce the redeeming power of the Cross of Christ to avoid persecution ". But a Church which is tepid, which flees and avoids the cross will never bear fruit. Therefore the Cardinal prayed at the beginning of the Assembly for "the grace to never be ashamed of the Cross of Christ, never give in to temptation out of fear, convenience, comfort, never to negotiate the strategy of the Kingdom ".
The Bishops will discuss the new Education Law and the Programme for Sexual Education, as well as problems such drug addiction and betting. The Social Pastoral Commission presided by Bishop Jorge Casaretto of San Isidro diocese will present a report on "Drug addiction and betting ", in view of planning pastoral care in this field. Two other reports will regard a three year plan of the National Justice and Peace Commission and the question of Education. One whole day will be devoted to Education and the discussion of the new legal framework. On 26 April the Bishops will listen to pastoral experience of putting into practice the guidelines given in the document "Put out into the Deep ”, on Friday 27 there will be a report from the Bishops' Media Commission.
With regard to the new Education Law Archbishop Héctor Aguer expressed concern for the ideological process contained in the law. He said "these changes propose to transform reality by transforming first the mentality of teachers and then that of the pupils. To transform a mentality with a change of language is not an innocent change". Moreover "knowledge is considered a construction, an elaboration, a product. It is not the manifestation of the reality of human intelligence". Knowledge is presented as a power and objective truths or values in which to base ethics do not exist. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 24/4/2007; righe 35, parole 479)
