Hope for a Nation and a Church

Photo Credit: National Catholic Reporter

Pope Francis has approved Hope as the theme for this Jubilee Year in the Catholic Church. Jubilee years occur every 25 years and are meant to inspire prayerful gratitude for the good that has happened these past 25 years as well as participation in events and occurrences that will generate enthusiasm for practicing the faith. A Jubilee Year always begins with the Pope ceremonially opening the doors of St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican followed by the same ceremony at the doors of St. John Lateran, Mary Major, and St. Paul’s Outside the Walls. But this year Pope Francis added as a ‘second door,’ the door to Rome’s Rebibbia prison where he wanted a door “to open to a person.” He did not use the homily presented to him instead going off script to talk with inmates that they should not give up on hope. Use it like an anchor, he said, “hang on to the rope of the anchor and have an open heart.”  His words reflected the speech he gave a month earlier when he said, “The forthcoming Jubilee can contribute greatly to restoring a climate of hope and trust as a prelude to the renewal and rebirth we so urgently desire.”

During a Jubilee Year Catholics are urged to go out of themselves and make the event spiritually significant in the life of the Church. We do this, says Francis, by promoting human life, working for peace and end to conflict, giving amnesty to prisoners, dignity to migrants, healing the sick, accompanying the elderly, forgiving debts. Some of the American Bishops are true leaders in these challenges but the organization of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops (NCCB) appears to be, on the whole, reticent to speak out. I remember that in preparation for a pastoral letter from the NCCB on war and nuclear weapons in 1983 the preparation for the letter included input from the laity to local bishops who, in turn, crafted a major pastoral letter for American Catholics titled, “God’s Promise and Our Response: A Letter on War and Peace.” It caused quite a flurry of debate, but we knew where our church leadership stood. And we learned of the immorality of war and creation of lethal weapons. Only one other letter do I remember since then and it is on racism, “Brothers and Sisters to Us,” 2018. 

It seems to me that major pastoral letters should be crafted as part of the Jubilee call for justice, for the balancing of the scales now so in favor of the rich at the expense of the poor. Why not a comprehensive socio-theological, biblically, and morally based letter on the Christian responsibility to migrants? Or, why not a Part II added to all the local diocesan pastorals on abortion and treat the moral depravity of the death penalty? The late Cardinal Joseph Bernadin of Chicago aptly demonstrated the term “the seamless garment,” applied to all of life from birth to death. Bernadin promoted the term in his many writings, a term he had learned from Eileen Egan, a Catholic activist. Where are the bishops on climate change? This an economic problem as well as a scientific one. Where are the diocesan workshops on Laudato Si, the Pope’s encyclical on the conditions of our climate and the need for reform?

I’m hoping bishops can make more daring challenges to power during this Jubilee Year and move away from topics from what at least one has done: the banning of Girl Scouts in Catholic parishes because of alleged connections to Planned Parenthood, birth control, and abortion. Really? Tangling with Girl Scouts is not very challenging! It only caters to the suspicious who cringe at anything with a national, presumably secular base. I realize things have changed since I was a Girl Scout maybe 75 years ago, but I think girls of that age are still interested in hiking, growing in social dynamics, learning new skills, but not how to remodel the kitchen that their parents are planning—which is their daughters’ idea of Planned Parenthood! We also need a refreshing examination of our seminary training. I do not want to belabor this argument, but a Jubilee Year means we all have to look at what to improve on and what to give up, not just the plebes in the pews.

Reflection

But I am very hopeful. Why? Look at what we have seen lately. Thousands of Californians helping others who are equally as devastated. I think God is moved to tears seeing all this. And the selfless volunteers in Gaza and Ukraine? And the many Americans sponsoring Ukrainian and other refugees? God is moved to tears. Our television news is full of these scenes. It heartens me. This past week my team at the retreat center led a group of over 40 women in prayer, reflection, and learning which moved me deeply. These women are ready to do something, to live a hope that will make their lives richer by helping others or advocating for them or simply praying for them. We were encouraged that Hamas, and the Israelis had come to a cease fire for which we earnestly had prayed. This gives me hope.

Perhaps you can reflect this week on what you might do for this Jubilee Year. Take a simple step. Pray every day for guidance in what you choose to do. I firmly believe God calls us to do things that demonstrate hope for others. Take this intention to joyful praise. Bring hope to others!

You are all my special readers. I love to pray for you.