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Christina Kheng, a laywoman from Singapore, teaches pastoral leadership at the East Asian Pastoral Institute in Manila. Her dream is for Asia’s Church to be more missionary, less frightened, and share responsibility for the journey with the laity.
The Latin American Church is treading the path of synodality. Gathered from all corners of the continent in an ecclesial assembly, the entire People of God participated fully thus ensuring the synodal way of the Church.
Pope Francis inaugurated the Synod in October last year. Dioceses around the world followed suit. It is a new experience because this Synod is held in a “way new,” as it is intended to be carried out at the local and continental levels and, finally, in the assembly of bishops.
The worsening economic and political situation, the Church’s resistance to dictatorship, the growing capacity of the underground and mass movements and the assassination of opposition Senator Benigno Aquino undermined the regime culminating in the ouster of Marcos in 1986.
As Filipinos mark the 50th anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law, there’s been an attempt to paint Ferdinand Marcos’ dictatorship as a golden age for the Philippines. However, numbers show a contraction of the gross domestic product and economic recession in the latter years.
In a divided world, we need an inclusive outlook more than ever. Only a sense of togetherness can heal our many conflicts and divisions. To achieve true peace, we must realize that we need each other.
We agree that the economy has its importance. However, economic success cannot become the ultimate goal in human affairs. When people are evaluated only in market terms, they become mere objects. The economy, on the contrary, must have a human face.
Social friendship is possible through a courageous and persistent dialogue, open to the truth, between generations which leads to a culture of encounter.
In his latest Encyclical Letter, Pope Francis challenges us all to reclaim the nobility of the political act: to take responsibility as members of one human family for the well-being of all.
We tend to misinterpret Jesus and His message because we have only a scant knowledge of the social and political environment of Palestine at that time. Let us have a look at the social reality at the time of Jesus; as this may help us to understand His words better.
