Is the church becoming just another NGO?

[Adamek]

First Things article dealing with the Amazon synod has this to say : “One of the most striking things about the synod thus far has been its recycling of ideas from the 1970s, primarily in the form of liberation theologies of one sort or another, but now with an overlay of eco-theology that takes more cues from Greta Thunberg than from Karl Marx. This revamped and recycled liberationist perspective is as likely to prove evangelically sterile as its Marxist-inspired predecessors. Why? Because from an ecclesiological point of view, it turns the Church into another global non-governmental organization (NGO) whose primary purpose is environmental repair—much as the predecessors imagined the Church’s primary purpose as political advocacy, sometimes in the form of revolutionary violence.”

Is the synod trying to lead the Church down the politicized eco-marxist path? Is this similar to what the Jews at the beginning of our era expected from the messiah : political leadership and liberation theology? George Weigel, the author of this piece reminds us of what JPII, Saint John Paul thought about the future of our Church. The article, like it or not, is worth reading.

Letters From the Synod–2019: #5 | Xavier Rynne II | First Things

 

[abucs]

I think when we look around in any modern city we see wealth that is built on mining. Our church should extoll industries that bring so much goodness to mankind.

I think we can divide the world in many ways. One such way is the productive class and the talking class.

The productive class actually builds wealth and helps people out of poverty. Sure it can have it’s downsides, especially in areas where the level of production is low but it’s benefits are so good for people it is difficult not to call it Godly.

Then there is the talking class. This class also can have it’s pro’s and cons. One such con is a jealousy of the productive class and a false sense of it’s own importance.

I look at the great Church of the past who went out in the world built orphanages, schools, convents and monasteries, preserved culture and knowledge as well as greatly adding to it, created and ran universities, hospitals, cleared land, developed industries, discovered scientific and medical truths etc. etc. always with the Gospel of Jesus Christ as it’s focus.

This is very much a Church of the productive class.

I look at the Church today and I see large sections showcasing the worst of the talking class with Christ in the background.

Or to put it another way, large sections are seeking to become just another NGO.

 

[Adamek]

A published report from the conclusion of the synod raises the question:

At stake is the very nature of the Church: Is the Catholic Church a communion of disciples in mission, sacramentally constituted and hierarchically ordered, or is the Church to understand itself primarily by analogy to the world, as a non-governmental organization (NGO) dedicated to good works in aid of the poor, the environment, migrants, etc.?

The whole article appears in the Catholic Herald https://catholicherald.co.uk/commentandblogs/2019/10/28/letters-from-the-synod-october-28-2019/