Church leaders must fight relativism, Peruvian cardinal says

Lima, Peru, Jan 9, 2013 / 12:03 pm

Cardinal Juan Luis Cipriani, archbishop of Lima, Peru, said the role of the bishop is the lead people to Christ which includes taking a stand against widespread relativism in modern society.

"The bishop cannot take the most comfortable road, because he has to always seek after Christ, unity with the Pope, and manifest it with his example and his words," Cardinal Cipriani said on the Feast of the Epiphany on Jan. 6.

"For this reason, those who love Christ do not agree in many aspects with what others, turning their backs on God, wish to impose."

He noted that Church's pastors must understand the value of opposing ideas rooted in relativism. Such opposition entails defending life from the moment of conception to natural death and the traditional family based on marriage between one man and one woman.

"Sex, marriage, human life and the family are being played with in this world. And the bishop must lead the way, even though many people may not like it, by being faith to the teachings of Christ and in communion with the Holy Father," Cardinal Cipriani said.

He also encouraged Catholics to seek authentic freedom. "To be persons is to be free. For this reason, seek after the truth, use your intelligence and seek after what is good."

"What characteristics does the human person have? The person is free, in a freedom that is united to the truth. God doesn't tell you, 'Do what you want.'"  

"He says, 'Do what you ought.' God has given us an extraordinary way of being. We are free with a mission: we have the freedom to love others, to work, to help and to love God," the cardinal added.

He concluded by inviting the faithful to follow the example of the Magi and follow the star that leads to God. "And that star is Christ present in his Church in a special way in the Eucharist and in Confession," he said.