Cardinal Advincula urges priests: Be more open to the faithful’s opinions

A RANKING official of the Catholic Church is urging Filipino priests and clergymen to be more open to the opinions and suggestions of the faithful if they are to foster genuine communion in communities.

Speaking at the “National Meeting of Parish Priests for the Synod,” Manila Archbishop Cardinal Jose Advincula said the clergy must not stay within the “outdated conventions and unhealthy conveniences” if it hopes to reach out to all the faithful.

“Let us recognize and encourage their boldness as witnesses to our faith. Let us include such voices and contributions in the life of our parish communities,” said Advincula as quoted by CBCP News.

“If we keep saying ‘we have been doing it this way,’ we might be unconsciously pushing away the people who need our communion the most, people who often feel that they cannot fit in the Church, sinners, the poor, the marginalized,” he added.

The Cardinal said that in doing so, the clergy will be able to help in keeping the Church alive.

This, he said, is amid the claims of some sectors that the Church is dead or dying.

“The Church may appear to be sleeping or having some difficulty waking up, but definitely she is not dead. The Church is very much alive,” the Cardinal said.

“She is especially alive in our beloved poor, who touch us and challenge us with their simple yet genuine faith,” he added.

Over 250 priests from different dioceses in the country are currently in Manila for the National Meeting of Parish Priests for the Synod.

The four-day gathering for priests aims to provide opportunities to discern ways to rejuvenate their priesthood and parish life.