A conversation with Bishop González
José Leopoldo González, is the auxiliary bishop of Guadalajara and the current secretary general of the Latin American Council of Bishops (CELAM). The 55-year-old prelate visited the Bay Area this past April 18 to preside over the confirmation of more than 80 youngsters at St. Matthew Parish in San Mateo. Catholic San Francisco talked to him about the Church in Latin America, immigration and the priest sex abuse scandal, among other topics.
Bishop González lives in Bogotá, Colombia, where CELAM is headquartered. CELAM is the episcopal body that gathers bishops from Latin America and the Caribbean for reflection, communion and dialogue.
What is your vision for the Church in Latin America?
Many are under the impression that Catholics are abandoning the Church, but this is not so. Since the fifth CELAM conference in May of 2007 there has been a great thrust for evangelization in Latin America and the Caribbean and we are witnessing a new Pentecost. If we fail to evangelize the baptized we will not have good disciples and it is possible that they can leave the Church. But if we evangelize them, we will have great witnesses.
What is your reaction to the scandal of sexual misconduct by priests – specifically the case of Father Marcial Maciel Degollado, founder of the Legionaries of Christ?
In the first place we must know the truth and face it as it is. The person is dead and it is not our role but God’s to judge him. It is painful for us as Church and we must ask for forgiveness but as the Holy Father puts it, this will serve to renew the Church, to purify her and to have a rebirth. We have a zero tolerance policy and those who commit the abuse will go to prison.
The Church is sinful because her members are sinners but it is holy because Christ is her head and He is holy. For the past 21 centuries the Church has survived attacks, scandals and human misery and it is during moments like these that great saints spring forth like St. Catherine or St. Francis of Assisi. I believe the message in moments of scandal like these is that we need to take whatever is positive and do what the Lord asks us to do, to be pure, to renew and to profound spirituality.
What do you think of the criticism of Pope Benedict XVI in regards to how he handled the crisis?
We can see that they are trying to strike the pope because it will be easier to strike the bishops, and that cascades into weakening the Church. This is a worldwide campaign to demean the Church. The attacks on the pontiff are painful to me as a Christian, as a Catholic and as a bishop because he is the Vicar of Christ on earth and we are in communion with him, but they will criticize this pope or any other pope. How great is the goodness of the missionary who spends 40 years in the missions or the nun who dedicates her life in a hospital? Do they make the news? People are beholding the noisy tree that falls in the forest but can’t see the other trees left still standing. Goodness is not noisy and the noise isn’t any good.
How does Latin America perceive the issue of immigration and what role does the Church play?
Hispanics are greatly contributing to the Church in the U.S. and bishops are aware of that. As a Mexican I know the problems in my country, the atrocities and abuse committed against those who cross the border to realize the American dream. This is a result of unemployment because government has ignored the needs of its citizens and the structures are falling short. Migration is forced and we expect the U.S. government will approve an immigration reform that was the great promise of (President) Obama’s campaign.
Every person has the right to migrate and thus it is the obligation of the government to accept anyone who immigrates into its country.
CELAM has an organization dealing with human mobility that meets frequently with bishops of all 22 countries that make up the conference, and in Mexico bishops from border states also meet to discuss the issue.
The Church’s social doctrine is the instrument of dialogue used to approach government agencies; we offer workshops and make suggestions but they are autonomous and they are free to take them or leave them.
We follow the proposed guidelines of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People in Rome and we apply those that are pertinent to Latin America.
Some parishes, especially near the Mexican border, have created homes for migrants and service centers for those who decide to travel north.
How does the Church confront the wave of violence in Mexico?
The Conference of Mexican Bishops published in February a book addressing the issue of peace and human dignity as the Church’s response to violence, insecurity and unemployment and the migration of those fleeing all of this.
The reality is that the social fabric is lost and each one applies the law as it pleases, and we lack values. When we have a fractured lawless society we end up having a society lacking in values and in chaos.
With this document we present the reality so that we can shine the light of the Gospels and the Church’s social doctrine on it. When we evangelize, we provide values and the person experiences conversion, lives differently and this will influence society. If we have good Catholics we will have good citizens.
The Federal District (Mexico City) approved abortion until up to 12 weeks of gestation. What does the Mexican Church think of this?
The Church always promotes the culture of life and it should be respected from conception through natural death, and therefore we don’t accept abortion or euthanasia.
In Mexico we talked against abortion and we succeeded in including in the constitutions of 18 states the respect for life. This generated criticism against local legislators and the Church.
What is your opinion on the approval of marriage between homosexuals in Mexico City?
It was first approved in the capital with the intention to approve it throughout the states. The people were not consulted, there was no plebiscite and the majority of citizens were against it. It was a rather capricious decision of the authorities that implemented it and a result of international pressure that offered millions of dollars in aid. But the Church is always faithful to the doctrine that affirms that marriage is founded on the relationship between a man and a woman. We respect other unions but they cannot be called a family, they cannot be called a marriage. The institution of marriage is non-negotiable.
What is your final comment for our readers?
We should give thanks to God and to all the many Catholics committed to many fields. The great challenge is to form lay people. When we have a well-informed laity it is like leaven all over the world.
This is not a time to be scared, the ship is not going to capsize. We need to remain positive and present the experience of all that is good in the Church. Who will give us hope? Catholics, and who among Catholics? The youth. People will not get near Christ through sermons but by attraction, by contagion of those who follow the Lord.
See more images: Mexico's Bishop José Leopoldo González at St. Matthew Parish
By José Luis Aguirre
From April 30, 2010 issue of Catholic San Francisco.
