(Bishop of Brugge, Belgium)
Document no. 21 of Instrumentum Laboris pays tribute to "the work of the early missionaries, fathers in the faith". I read these lines with great joy.
a) The missionary pastoral work is a grace even for a diocese which happens to develop. I can bear witness for the diocese of Bruges.
b) Document no. 21 is prudently completed by an invitation to be equally careful about change "to avoid what may have been the errors of the past".
Here I wish to explicitly beg pardon and implore divine mercy for the abuses and errors which have spoilt and still tarnish missionary action.
Aware that we too have inherited, to a certain extent, negative effects of missionary action, we seek with much more ardour the most suitable mentality and approach. In certain environments there is an almost obsessive tendency towards purity. The Cathari heresy tends to reappear. Is mankind capable of living cleanly? Fear of committing mistake or being at fault in relation to real inculturation cannot in any way put an end to the impulse of missionary action.
c) Lastly I would also like to ask the question why the Church in Africa does not proceed to officially recognising certain tasks or ministries as the one of Catechist or Head of a community.
To conclude, I wish to say that I
came here in particular to listen.
Original
text: French
