Continuing the discussion on Deus Caritas Est, I am reminded that just in the past few days, the Pope asked for a review of Caritas, the umbrella Catholic charity, as some of the things being supported are not in keeping with the teachings of the Church. I am glad that the Pope finally decided to have this interior review.
In conformity with the episcopal structure of the Church, the Bishops, as successors of the Apostles, are charged with primary responsibility for carrying out in the particular Churches the programme set forth in the Acts of the Apostles (cf. 2:42-44): today as in the past, the Church as God's family must be a place where help is given and received, and at the same time, a place where people are also prepared to serve those outside her confines who are in need of help. In the rite of episcopal ordination, prior to the act of consecration itself, the candidate must respond to several questions which express the essential elements of his office and recall the duties of his future ministry. He promises expressly to be, in the Lord's name, welcoming and merciful to the poor and to all those in need of consolation and assistance.[31] The Code of Canon Law, in the canons on the ministry of the Bishop, does not expressly mention charity as a specific sector of episcopal activity, but speaks in general terms of the Bishop's responsibility for coordinating the different works of the apostolate with due regard for their proper character.[32] Recently, however, the Directory for the Pastoral Ministry of Bishops explored more specifically the duty of charity as a responsibility incumbent upon the whole Church and upon each Bishop in his Diocese,[33] and it emphasized that the exercise of charity is an action of the Church as such, and that, like the ministry of Word and Sacrament, it too has been an essential part of her mission from the very beginning.[34]
The emphasis on the role of the bishops is also key. In some countries, the bishops' conferences are very involved in fantastic ways in charitable activities. One hopes that these same bishops do not play footsy with either Liberation Theology, or socialism, or Marxism in their efforts to help the poor and displaced. Unfortunately, in too many dioceses, the bishops and individual priests have confused social welfare with charity, or socialism with caritas. Only the Church, through and in and with the Love of Christ can truly meet the needs of the entire person, the real individual, body and soul.
to be continued....
