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Vatican
City, Vatican, 2nd September 2004 (CNA) -
During an audience this
morning with bishops from Boston and Hartford, the Holy
Father encouraged Catholics in the U.S. to
persevere in their witness to the Gospel, citing the
“critical role” of the American church in “bringing
about a fruitful encounter” between the Gospel and
global culture.
“Throughout these
reflections on the exercise of the 'munus episcopale
propheticum', I have more than once drawn attention to
the importance of the evangelization of culture,” he
said to the bishops now concluding their quinquennial
"ad limina" visit.
“A fundamental challenge in
this area is surely that of bringing about a fruitful
encounter between the Gospel and the new global culture
which is rapidly taking shape as a result of
unprecedented growth in communications and the expansion
of a world economy,” he said.
“I am convinced that the
Church in the United States can play a critical role in
meeting this challenge, since this emerging reality is
in many ways the fruit of contemporary Western, and
particularly American, experiences, attitudes and
ideals."
"The Church in the United
States," he went on, "has long been committed to making
her voice heard in public debate in the defense of
fundamental human rights, the dignity of the person and
the ethical requirements of a just and well-ordered
society. “
“In a pluralistic nation
like your own, this has necessarily involved practical
cooperation with men and women of various religious
beliefs ... As the tragic events of 11 September 2001
have made clear, the building of a global culture of
solidarity and respect for human dignity is one of the
great moral tasks confronting humanity today."
John Paul II expressed his
"personal gratitude for the traditional generosity of
the faithful of the United States to the Church's
mission 'ad gentes' through the training and sending
forth of generations of missionaries and through the
contributions of countless Catholics to the foreign
missions. ... May the Church in your country discover
the sources for a profound interior renewal through a
revitalization of missionary zeal."
"More than once in the
course of these meetings," he remarked, "I have told you
of my admiration for the outstanding contribution which
the Catholic community in the United States has made to
the spread of the Gospel, the care of the poor, the sick
and those in need, and the defense of fundamental human
and Christian values."
The Pope then noted that
"the Church in your country has been chastened by the
events of the past two years, and much effort has
rightly been expended on understanding and addressing
the issues of sexual abuse which have cast a shadow on
her life and ministry.
As you continue to confront
the significant spiritual and material challenges which
your local Churches are experiencing in this regard, I
ask you to encourage all the faithful - clergy,
religious and lay - to persevere in their public
witness of faith and hope."
"In a particular way I
would ask you to be strongly supportive of your brother
priests, many of whom have suffered deeply because of
the much-publicized failings of some of the Church's
ministers,” he said.
“Convey my personal
gratitude for the generous and selfless service which
mark the lives of so many American priests, as well as
my deep appreciation of their daily efforts to be models
of holiness and pastoral charity in the Christian
communities entrusted to their care. ... In a word, tell
your priests that I hold them in my heart!" said the
Holy Father in conclusion.
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