THE RECORD
“Be indefatigable in your purpose and with undaunted spirit resist iniquity and try to conquer evil with good, having before your eyes the reward of those who combat for Christ.”
-Bishop Matthew Gibney
P. N. W.
www.therecord.com.au
Western Australia’s award-winning Catholic newspaper since 1874 - Wednesday October 8 2008
Perth, Western Australia $2
‘Christ always wins’
Tenor Andrea Bocelli and Oscar-winner Roberto Benigni headline ‘Bible-a-thon’ kickoff Scripture is essential to Church’s evangelising mission, Pope says ■ By John Thavis
ROME (CNS) - At a Mass to open the world Synod of Bishops on the Bible, Pope Benedict XVI said knowledge of Scripture was essential to the Church’s evangelizing mission in an increasingly godless society. “It is indispensable that the Church know and live that which she proclaims, so that her preaching is credible, despite the weaknesses and poverty of her members,” the Pope said on October 5 at the Roman Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls. “Only the word of God can profoundly change the heart of man,” he said. The need for such conversion is great in today’s confused society, in which human beings sometimes proclaim themselves “the only masters of creation,” he said. Following the papal liturgy, the Pope kicked off a marathon reading of Scripture on Italian television. The next day, at the first Vatican assembly of the three-week synod, about 300 synodal participants listened to a report outlining the main themes of discussion. Key topics included the need to strengthen religious formation and remedy “the ignorance of the Scriptures,” the improvement of preaching based on Scripture, and greater guidance on biblical interpretation - perhaps through a new papal encyclical. The Pope convoked the 12th general assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the theme “The Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church.” He was to preside over most of its twice-daily sessions and accept its conclusions as the basis for a likely papal document on the topic. He celebrated the opening Mass in the basilica dedicated to St Paul in part because the Church is marking the 2000th anniversary of the saint’s birth, and in part to highlight the connection between Scripture and evangelization. The Pope, dressed in gold and green vestments, processed into the basilica with bishops from around the world. Also in attendance were synod delegates from other Christian Churches. In his homily, the Pope said the purpose of the synod was to consider “how to render more effective
the proclamation of the Gospel in our own time” and to underline the need to “place the word of God at the centre of our life.” Like St Paul, who evangelised with enthusiasm and urgency, the Church today senses new opportunities for spreading the Gospel, he said. But it also recognises that in some parts of the world, Christians have fallen away from the practice of faith, he said. The Pope’s homily centred on the image of the vineyard in the day’s liturgical readings. The prophet Isaiah described the divine project of salvation as a vineyard that was planted and cared for with love, but which brought forth only “wild grapes.” In a New Testament parable related by St Matthew, Christ describes a struggle over a vineyard to illustrate unjust behaviour and the rejection of God, the Pope said. These images remain relevant today, he said, especially for Christians who have been given the gift of the Gospel. “If we look at history, we are forced to notice the frequent coldness and rebellion of incoherent Christians. Because of this, God, while never shirking in his promise of salvation, often had to turn toward punishment,” he said. The Pope noted that some flourishing early Christian communities have disappeared, and asked: “Could this same thing not happen in our day and age? “Today, nations once rich in faith and vocations are losing their own identity, under the harmful and destructive influence of a certain modern culture. There are those who, having decided that ‘God is dead,’ declare themselves ‘god,’” he said. The Pope, turning to a dominant theme of his pontificate, asked whether people who remove God from their lives can truly be happy, and really can build a just and peaceful world. “Is it not more likely - as demonstrated by news headlines every day - that the arbitrary rule of power, selfish interests, injustice and exploitation, and violence in all its forms, will extend its grip?” he said. The Pope then returned to Scripture, pointing out that the biblical passages promise that God “does not abandon his vineyard,” and that “if in some areas faith weakens to the point of vanishing, there will always be other peoples ready to embrace it.” Continued - Page 2 Cardinal Levada speaks on hoped for Synod outcomes - Page 11
Papal visit: Pope Benedict XVI arrives at the Quirinal Palace for a meeting with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano in Rome on October 4, the day before he opened the Synod of Bishops on the Word of God. The next day, Oscarwinning Italian actor Roberto Benigni, right, reads from the Book of Genesis for a live TV broadcast inside the Basilica of the Holy Cross in Rome. Pope Benedict XVI kicked off a Bible reading marathon that day on Italian television. The Pope read for several minutes from the start of the Book of Genesis live from his apartment at the Vatican while other speakers read in the Basilica of Holy Cross. PHOTOS: TOP: CNS/ANTONIO DI GENNARO/ITALIAN PRESIDENCY PRESS OFFICE, REUTERS, AND BOTOOM: ALESSANDRO DE MEO, REUTERS
BISHOPS’ CHALLENGE
MARIE STOPES EXPOSED
MORE VINEYARD WORKERS
The Australian bishops have urged a Senate Inquiry into not-for-profit agencies not to abandon the poor when considering changes to how the Page 4 agencies report their info.
USAID has denied funding to abortion organisation Marie Stopes - which has a Perth office - on the grounds that it is complicit in coersive abortions and Page 10 involuntary sterilisations.
Five priests have been ordained in Victoria in the past month, all in awe and excitement of their unique vocation to serve the people of God as Page 7 Persona Christi.