Let’s not be ashamed of the Gospel, says president of Pontifical Council for the Laity

Sydney, Australia, Oct 17, 2007 / 09:25 am

“Let us not be ashamed of the Gospel, let us not hold back because of fear, [do not have] absurd inferiority complexes before a world that always denies God.  Let us be brave,” said Archbishop Stanislaw Rylko, president of the Pontifical Council for the Laity.

The archbishop made his comments during a Mass concluding the second day of work at a preparatory meeting for World Youth Day 2008.  Addressing the more than 200 delegates from over 100 countries gathered at the event, Archbishop Rylko explained, “Not being ashamed of the Gospel means having the courage to speak of God to the people we encounter, even though they may live amidst indifference and superficiality.”

“We have nothing more precious to offer our young people who thirst for God,” he said.

“Evangelizing is not easy and it is not only a question of the language that is used or of communication, but rather of being credible and consistent witnesses,” the archbishop noted.

“Christ puts before us the contrast between a person’s exterior and interior life,” Archbishop Rylko emphasized.  “He who wishes to evangelize young people cannot limit himself to being a teacher but also must be concerned about being a credible witness so that young people can confront their contradictions. They ask to be continually in discussion,” he said.