Bishops told: Be open to change

MANILA, Philippines - Bishops have been urged to be open to change in order to remain relevant in a rapidly changing world and society.

Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president and Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas issued the statement during the start of the 114th plenary assembly at the Pius XII Catholic Center in Manila yesterday.

In his message titled “The Church at the Crossroads,” Villegas said a lot of change happened recently compared to 30 years ago.

“We are seeing a world in transition and the Church in transition with society. There are essential things… there are accidentals. Spiritual wisdom is knowing what we can and cannot change,” Villegas said.

He said churchmen should acknowledge change so their pastoral praxis can better answer the needs of the Filipino nation.

Eighty-two of 91 active bishops and nine of 41 honorary CBCP members attended the assembly.

Villegas noted the changes in the church and the family as institutions of stability and permanence.

“Families and religion have become shell institutions, but the inside has radically changed. We still carry the shell but the shell can be deceptive, illusory and fictitious.”

He said two generations ago, the authority of the head of the family, parish or diocese was never questioned.

“Today, leaders are asked by what authority do they demand obedience and oblige compliance? It happens in our diocesan chanceries. It happens in the CBCP. It happens to all who hold authority,” Villegas said.

“We issue pastoral letters but are we still understood and relevant to the struggles and visions of our people? Can we listen to gutter language without judgment? Are we not becoming shell institutions – lovely to see with nothing inside?” he asked.

The CBCP chief said transitions need the Church’s attention and the shifts in paradigms need shifts in pastoral approaches.

“A defensive Church will not inspire and ignite souls. I have many questions but I lack answers,” he added.

He urged priests, seminarians and lay leaders to seriously study theology and ask themselves if they could answer the vexing problems in human hearts, the agnosticism of many among the young and the indifference of those who think the days of religion have given way to the age of science.

Villegas said there have been changes in people’s habits, noting that before the night is associated with rest. Nowadays, the youth have to spend their nights working, apparently referring to call center agents.

“The home is no longer just for the family, but it could be a place for commerce and business.”

He said that before, the faithful needed to visit a church for the Visita Iglesia. Nowadays, it could be done online. Conversations need not be done face-to-face, and could be accomplished with the use of the internet.

“They get in touch without getting touched. Can we see a Church adapting to this ‘de-coupling’ of space and time? Our generation of young Catholics seeks Pokemon in our parish churches and accidentally finds God while window-shopping. The unconventional mass schedules at noon or late at night are attracting many young Catholics,” Villegas said.