The past week has seen a lot of chaos in the religious and secular press over comments Pope Francis made about civil unions. The comments appeared in the recently released documentary Francesco. While it now appears that the Holy Father’s comments were taken out of context, the issue of encounter — and how we speak to the marginalized — is no less relevant. I spoke to the issue on Twitter:
#CultureOfEncounter meet #CultureWarriors #Encounter. @Pontifex did not promote or endorse #samesexunions. First, it's important to encounter the Holy Father. His pastoral nature is obvious. I think he's responding to those who are wounded & on the margins. 1/13 https://t.co/9JSeDpUwvI
— Pia de Solenni (@PiadeSolenni) October 21, 2020
And Fr. Bob did this clarifying interview with Relevant Radio;
#civilunions and @Pontifex - @robertgahl
— Global Institute of Church Management (@GlobalICM) October 23, 2020
unpacks the issues with @relevantradio https://t.co/TfGbfxhHSb
At the heart of the issue is how we reach out to those on the margins. As Pope Paul VI writes, “Modern people listen more willingly to witnesses than teachers. And if they listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses.”
You know that GICM’s work is focused on stewarding the assets of the Catholic Church for the economy of salvation. This week gave us an opportunity to make some clarifications related to the economy of salvation, underscoring all the more why our work matters: the salvation of souls.
Earlier this month, we were fortunate to have a virtual retreat for our International Business Leadership Council (IBLAC). At the conclusion of the retreat, James Cardinal Harvey led us on a pilgrimage to the tomb of St. Paul. His comments are insightful and timely. I am happy to share the video with you here and invite you to take a few moments to reflect on what it means to be a missionary disciple. It will be the most peaceful 15 minutes you spend this week.
If you haven’t already, please reserve your spot for November’s webinar, The Management Lessons of St. Escrivá. Our webinars are free and a great way to join the conversation around strengthening the Church.
Pia de Solenni
President and Executive Director, Global Institute of Church Management
