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The
Church's social doctrine needs to be widely spread, known
and practiced. The common impression is that it's classified
information or that it's a subject proper only to those who
like to dabble in social activism.
We
have to redeem it from that predicament-quickly and relentlessly,
since the effort surely involves a long and even agonizing
process. It's also a never-ending activity.
Since
the Church's social doctrine brings the true spirit of Christ
into our social life in all its dimensions-from the family
to our business and politics and to the most global aspects
of our earthly life-it is indispensable and concerns us all.
In
fact, with our increasingly challenging times, it is imperative
that the social doctrine be systematically taught far and
wide, its corresponding virtues developed and its appropriate
structures and network built up progressively.
Given
that living the Christian spirit in our social life is most
tricky, it is necessary that the Church's social doctrine
be integrally learned and assimilated. Otherwise, we'll have
a terrible mongrel that can cause more evil than good.
That's
what we are seeing now. The few occasions when it's cited
by civil society leaders and even some Church officials show
bias, improper selectivity and reductionism. All sorts of
exaggerations and gratuitous assertions are made.
Thus,
even Church pronouncements can sound politically partisan.
And since they often lack interdisciplinary considerations,
they end up becoming cliquey, insular and divisive, easily
held hostage by the shenanigans of politicians, ideologues
and mob forces.
Valid
points in the smaller aspects of an issue often fail to reconcile
with the demands of a larger picture. They easily get dogmatized
and inflexible, powerless to flow with the streaming situations.
Many
times, they just show more emotion than practical wisdom,
indicating a reactive, not pro-active approach. Traces of
agitation, obviously restrained, are all over, causing unease
in many people. The net effect is confusion rather than relief.
The
fragile link between the social and the spiritual, the personal
good and the common good, truth and charity, justice and mercy,
etc., is not duly monitored and constantly readjusted. The
points come as a result mainly of reflex, rather than reflective
reaction.
Thus,
in many parts of the media today some statements of our Church
leaders have been roundly criticized, aggravated by the fact
that Church officials generally do not know how to handle
the media.
For
this difficult task, the Church's Compendium of Social Doctrine
says:
"The primary responsibility for the pastoral commitment
to evangelize social realities falls to the Bishop, assisted
by priests, religious men and women, and the laity.
"With
special reference to local realities, the Bishop is responsible
for promoting the teaching and diffusion of the Church's social
doctrine, which he should do through appropriate institutions."
(539)
This
is, of course, a tall order, extremely demanding but not impossible.
It requires nothing less than solid and authentic spiritual
life. Otherwise, the anomaly will just surface sooner or later.
The
teaching and spread of the social doctrine involves everyone
in his proper ways, with clear distinctions between those
of the clergy and those of the laity. The universal involvement
should not blur the specific roles of each one.
Subsidiary
institutions that can and should help are the families, parishes
and other Church structures, schools, media, governmental
and non-governmental agencies.
Continuing
education on the social doctrine, especially for those holding
positions of influence, is a must.
So
far, I have not seen any serious effort in this direction.
It's a neglect that certainly has very foreseeable tragic
consequences. It's like cultivating a crisis. This has to
be corrected.
We
should nurture the sense of constant vigilance and the skill
to integrate the different flowing elements of our social
life. This would enable us to read and foresee the signs of
the times as they come, promptly noting their positive and
negative features.
With
the social doctrine, we can manage to keep distance from the
predatory tendencies brought about by our own weaknesses,
failures and sins, not to mention the very subtle snares of
the devil and our world alienated from God.
**********
Fr.
Roy Cimagala is the Chaplain of Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise
(CITE) in Talamban, Cebu City. You can email him at:Email: roycimagala@boholchronicle.com | 
