Fr. Shay Cullen: The Selfless Commitment of Christians

By Fr. Shay Cullen

The selfless commitment Christians of all denominations to live, risk their lives and suffer for the gospel values, human rights and to live out the mission of Jesus Christ to save the poor and the oppressed from pain and exploitation inflicted on them by the irresponsible rich and powerful, is at the heart of Christianity. Hundreds of thousands of Christians are living this idea by serving the poor, the sick, defending human rights and taking a stand for social justice all around the world. They have given their lives throughout history and do so today for these sublime goals that raise humans to a level of nobility and spirituality.

They show that true Christianity is not a religion of comfort and complacency but one of challenge and dynamic transformation. That was the mission of Jesus of Nazareth. This son of carpenter who was arrested, jailed, tortured and executed for his love and solidarity with every individual, and choose to be identified with those rejected, downtrodden and excluded from society.

Jesus called all to repentance and service. He showed the way. “I am the way, the truth and life … I came to serve, not to be served …love one another as I have loved you….There is no greater love than to lay down your life for one’s friends .And you are my friends if you follow my words and example…” So basic and straight forward, no mind boggling theological mumbo-jumbo there.

His love of people was not a sentimental naivety but a commitment that led him to fight for their dignity as God’s children and to make the ultimate sacrifice, a goal we are called to imitate as best we can.

Pope Benedict on his visit to Australia has put it well when he commented on how religion can be reduced to private devotion and is shut out of public life. That he says is when it becomes irrelevant to young people. “All too often, however, we find ourselves immersed in a world that would set God ‘aside’. In the name of human freedom and autonomy, God’s name is passed over in silence, religion is reduced to private devotion, and faith is shunned in the public square”…… “Faith teaches us that we are God’s creatures, made in his image and likeness, endowed with an inviolable dignity, and called to eternal life. Wherever man is diminished, the world around us is also diminished; it loses its ultimate meaning and strays from its goal…..

We all need to grow in faith, honesty and purity of mind and heart. There are those who have seriously strayed form all walks of life whom have given into selfish passion, lewd desires and have abused children and women. But they ought not to be the reason to reject faith in Jesus, in the family, fatherhood, to lose trust in friends and relatives because some abused children, nor to reject Christianity. It’s throwing out the gold with the garbage.

The individuals responsible for evil deeds of child abuse or accessories to the crime must be held accountable. All wrong must be revealed, all victims must be cared for and healed and supported and the guilty brought to justice. Pope Benedict said as much during his visit to the United States and again in Australia this July 2008.

The Pope said, “Here I would like to pause to acknowledge the shame which we have all felt as a result of the sexual abuse of minors by some clergy and religious in this country. Indeed I am deeply sorry for the pain and suffering the victims have endured and I assure them that, as their pastor, I too share in their suffering. These misdeeds, which constitute so grave a betrayal of trust, deserve unequivocal condemnation. They have caused great pain and have damaged the Church’s witness. I ask all of you to support and assist your bishops, and to work together with them in combating this evil. Victims should receive compassion and care, and those responsible for these evils must be brought to justice. It is an urgent priority to promote a safer and more wholesome environment, especially for young people.” END

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Contact Fr. Shay Cullen at the Preda Center, Upper Kalaklan, Olongapo City, Philippines.
e-mail: preda@info.com.ph
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PREDA Information Office
PREDA Foundation, Inc.
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www.preda.org