Politics and society in the context of Fratelli tutti

Catholics with political responsibilities, and clergy from Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean met in Casa Lago, the venue of the Mexican Episcopate Conference, from February 10 to 14, at an event organised by the Latin American and Caribbean Episcopal Council and the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. The meeting, entitled ‘Fratelli tutti: politics, dialogue, and social friendship’, aimed to promote the culture of encounter and reduce polarisation in the region, in line with the principles of Pope Francis’ encyclical. Neil Parsanlal, one of five representatives of the Antilles Episcopal Conference, reflects on the meeting.

Catholics do not have the luxury of passing on the other side, either feigning indifference or being bothered by the interruptions to our busy schedules caused by those we encounter on the Jericho roads of life. This is of particular importance in our modern society which has become even more globalised, making us neighbours, but not making us brothers.

This was the consensus emerging from a meeting of bishops, clergy and laity involved in politics hosted in Mexico recently by the Pontifical Commission for Latin America.

Utilising Pope Francis’ encyclical Fratelli Tutti as the base document, participants from Central America along with representatives from Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago, shared their experiences of painful encounter, and frustrations at their seeming inability to sustainably change the social and political circumstances of their respective communities.

Acknowledging the historical role played by the Church in providing services to the poor and dispossessed, the Conference noted that the Church had also, at different times, been both the Good Samaritan, as well as the enablers of the violence against the poor by her complicity with political regimes.

Noting that the composition of the Conference gathering included leaders of the Church, active and former politicians, as well as members of the laity who work closely with political organisations and NGOs, the Conference was reminded that we were the ones being entrusted with the opportunity to offer hope to those who fall victim on the Jericho roads of our own communities.

This required a dialogue born out of trust and respect for each other, and a willingness to listen with our hearts rather than our heads.

Participants agreed with Pope Francis that “The story of the Good Samaritan is constantly being repeated. We can see this clearly as social and political inertia is turning many parts of the world into a desolate byway, even as domestic and international disputes, and the robbing of opportunities, are leaving great numbers of the marginalised stranded on the roadside.”

It is precisely in such a world then, that the Catholic compulsion to act in favour of the vulnerable and dispossessed must be exercised. We are compelled more than ever to recognise Christ Himself in each of our abandoned or excluded brothers and sisters, not in a select few, for as Pope Francis says “the future is not monochrome; if we are courageous, we can contemplate it all in the variety and diversity of what each individual person has to offer.”

While acknowledging the importance of the role played by politicians in uniting their communities around an enduring vision of transformation and growth, the Conference noted how easily that could degenerate into unhealthy populism, when politicians exploit their people’s culture, under whatever ideological banner, for their own personal advantage or continuing grip and power. Politicians too, the Conference concluded, must be pilgrims of hope, articulating that vision of a new civilisation of love.

For their part, Caribbean participants at the Conference, led by Bishop Francis Alleyne OSB of Georgetown and Bishop Karel Choennie of Paramaribo, acknowledged the tremendous relationships that have existed historically between Church and State in the Caribbean, particularly in the provision of social services like education and health.

They noted the generosity of spirit that have often characterised the roles played by members of the laity who are involved in helping shape the political discourse.

The question remained though, as to how that generosity can be upscaled so that increasing numbers of persons could benefit, and more governments could be positively influenced by our efforts.

The success could only come with the realisation that all of us, politicians and priests, laity and lapsed, must become Good Samaritans, displaying a dangerous altruism on the Jericho Roads of our various countries. It is an altruism, we concluded, that ignored accidents of geography or religious affiliation, gender or political affiliation, age or educational accomplishments. It must always be the unconditional love of the Good Samaritan.