Christianity cannot be relegated to the private sector, says Archbishop

Madrid, Spain, Jun 24, 2004 / 22:00 pm

Archbishop Agustin Garcia-Gasco of Valencia, Spain, stated this week that Christianity “has a vocation to public witness and active presence in all aspects of life.”

“After two thousand years, Europe is a significant example of the spiritual fertility of Christianity, which cannot be relegated to the private sector,” said the Archbishop in his latest pastoral letter.

If Europe “prevents the religious and Christian sector from exercising its role of inspiring ethics and its social dimension, it will not only be denying the heritage of the past, it will also place in doubt the future of all Europeans, whether they are believers or not,” he said.

Likewise, the Archbishop said the divorce between one’s faith and one’s public life is not coherent and is “incompatible with the Christian spirit which has molded Europe.”

John Paul II “has shown a new way to Pope,” but he has also “contributed very effectively to the transformation of the world in the last part of the 20^th century,” said Archbishop Garcia-Gasco.

In his letter, he said John Paul II “is an extraordinary example of charity and faith,” pointing out the Pope’s “untiring willingness to bring the Gospel to all parts of the world, as a true apostle, despite his physical sufferings of recent years.”

He concluded his letter by inviting believers to pray for the Pope, “and after, to imitate his example of faith and generous service.”