Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bogotà (Agenzia Fides) – From 6 - 11 July in Bogotà the Catholic Bishops of Colombia are meeting for their 87th plenary assembly focused on the theme of Life. Participants include about 90 bishops and archbishops representing the country's 76 Ecclesiastical Jurisdictions. In the opening address the president of the Conference, Bishop Rubén Salazar Gómez, said the theme of Life was a decisive element for analysing and discussing the political, economic, cultural and religious situation in Colombia. The Bishop said that in this epoch of change “ a new understanding of life which does not always bring positive consequences is emerging”. “In the context of generalised relativism we have lost the value,– hitherto considered absolute - of human life. Other values appear to conceal and deform the very meaning of life ” he said.
He recalled that the noun “life” has been given adjectives which limit it, making it irrelevant and indefensible and he stressed the need for "life to be worthy and worth living, whereas every day, ever more frequently limits are put on life and a culture of death is created”.
“The development of this plenary assembly – the president of the Bishops' conference continued– will be put as always before the country. We will never forget not even for a moment that the Church lives to serve Christ the Lord who came not to be served but to serve and give his life to save all humanity. This means we must not only identify the practical consequences of this problem regarding life, we must put our own life at the service of others”. Bishop Salazar Gómez concluded his discourse saying “we will keep before our eyes the cries of those whose lives are undervalued, violated, suppressed by injustice and widespread violence in our country. We will listen especially to those who have no voice and we will be their voice…”.
On Thursday 9 July during the assembly the Bishops made a pilgrimage to the city of Chiquinquirá, where a special Mass was celebrated to launch the Continental Mission in Colombia. The Continental Mission is a mission of evangelisation and the aim is to offer a message of Christian life to every social and culture group. It is addressed especially those who have never heard of Christ or who have rejected Him at some point in their life, or reduced Him to a habit, or doctrine or religious practice. This initiative aims to spread values to oppose anti-values, the culture of death which has no respect for the lives of others, especially the most fragile persons. The mission will strive to transform the culture of death into a culture of life.
In Colombia, the Mission is launched by the Bishops Conference and is co-ordinated by a team led by Archbishop Luis Augusto Castro Quiroga, Archbishop of Tunja. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 10/7/2009)
