Buenos Aires, Argentina, Jul 28, 2005 / 22:00 pm
Bishop Juan Carlos Maccarone of Santiago del Estero, Argentina, warned the faithful this week against religious syncretism, which mixes “truth and lies” and incorporates certain aspects of the Christian faith in an attempt to recruit new followers.
The bishop exhorted believers to be more “missionary” and to “proclaim the Lord to all, especially to those whose life and faith are threatened by the temptation of esoteric rites of Afro-American origin...and by pseudo-philosophies or religions such as the New Age, which attempt to respond to the sometimes desperate search to suppress anguish and suffering.”
“We must take this very seriously,” Bishop Maccarone said, adding that Catholics who are confused by such movements must be reminded of their Baptism and that it signifies the beginning of a new life in Christ. “These brothers and sisters need to re-encounter Christ, His person and His action, and rediscover the contagious joy of being Christians.