Pope’s call for power devolution, reforms

The recent call by the Catholic Pontiff, Pope Francis, for devolution of power in the Church from the Vatican could not have come at a better time than now that the world is witnessing rapid political, socio-economic, cultural and religious changes. Pope Francis, in a mission statement for his papacy on Tuesday, said that some of the church’s historical customs could even be cast aside if they no longer serve to communicate the faith. The Pontiff, who harped on the need for the church to embrace change, said there could be moderation in norms “so as to not burden the lives of the faithful.”
The 85-page document entitled Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel) outlined how the Catholic Church and the papacy itself must be reformed to create a more missionary and merciful church that seeks out the poor and the oppressed. The Pope’s references to various documents from bishops’ conferences from around the world, in the mission statement,    indicate the importance he attaches to giving local churches greater say in church governance and decision-making.
The Pontiff, in the document, said he was open to suggestions on changes in the power of the papacy, and explained his most controversial remarks criticizing the church’s “obsession” with transmitting a disjointed set of moral doctrines. He stressed that in the church’s “hierarchy of truths,” mercy is paramount, proportion is necessary and that what counts is inviting the faithful in.
Francis, who cited Vatican II documents calling for a more decentralized church authority, said that he, too, must rethink the papacy to achieve the goals of spreading the faith. He made it clear that the church’s opposition to abortion is a non-negotiable doctrine that is at the core of the church’s insistence on the dignity of every human being. The Pontiff chastised Catholic priests for their complacency, gave them guidelines on how to prepare more interesting homilies and clearly stated that confession should not be “torture.” He also urged Catholics to get out of their sacristies, get involved in the lives of their faithful and not be defeatist.
While he ruled out women’s ordination, the Pope seeks a greater role for women in decision-making in the church. He also said that the faithful ought not to think that just because priests preside over Mass, they are more important than the people who make up the church itself.
We welcome the Pontiff’s move to devolve power from the centre in the church and introduce reforms to guide the institution and its faithful in the 21st Century. There is no doubt that the Catholic Church is long overdue for change. The ultra-conservatism of the Church is driving many faithful, especially the youths, away from the church to newer churches in practically all parts of the world. The number of the clergy is also decreasing due to low enrolment of prospective priests into the seminaries, especially in Europe and America. The celibacy of the Catholic priesthood is a disincentive to potential priests. Non-ordination of women priests in the Church also alienates many females from the fold. The church is also burdened with the problematic issues of homosexualism, divorce, abortion, contraception, lesbianism and abortion. These are some of the grey areas the Pontiff and the church should consider in this move to reform the church. The church in modern times must shed its orthodoxy and embrace change to reflect the modern times we live in. We commend the Pope for coming out with the proposal for liberalization and change in the world’s largest church. Since change is the only constancy in life, the Catholic Church must not stand against the winds of change.
In Africa, the church is also faced with lots of socio-cultural challenges including polygamy, native customs, modes of worship and insistence on the use of names of saints for baptism and confirmation. The Catholic Church in Africa should be in tune with Africa’s cultural sensibilities, norms and values. The best in these cultures should be preserved alongside the creed of the faith.
We enjoin Catholic faithful to be supportive of the changes being canvassed by the Pontiff. The church must also curb the excesses of some of its clergy. The important thing is for the church to take the gospel message to the people rather than sticking to its orthodoxy. There is no doubt that there is need for reforms in the Church. But in carrying out the reforms, the essence of Catholicism should not be sacrificed.