CELAM secretary general says bishops see reality through the eyes of a pastor

Aparecida, Brazil, May 21, 2007 / 09:14 am

During a press conference on Saturday, the Secretary General of the Latin American Bishops’ Council (CELAM), Bishop Andres Stanovnik, said the bishops gathered for CELAM’s 5th General Conference see reality “as pastors” seeking out “whatever is good, whatever is of God, in reality.”

“The pastor strives to see through God’s eyes.  All believers strive to see with God’s eyes because that comes from the personal experience of an encounter with Him.  Therefore a pastor’s view is one that is optimistic.  Consequently it’s a view that moves others to praise, to gratitude,” he said.

Bishop Stanovnik noted that an optimistic outlook is not incompatible with healthy criticism.  “The more our outlook is of God, the more critical it is of reality,” he said.

Commenting on the issues discussed by the bishops at the 5th General Conference, Bishop Stanovnik said the prelates have been following the themes laid out by the Holy Father.  “We should see each other as disciples and missionaries of Jesus Christ.”  “This serves to identify the major themes we should carefully study and discuss next week,” he stated.

“The drafting committee will work intensely and on Monday morning will present an outline to the assembly, which will later be worked on smaller groups that will offer suggestions and considerations.  The committee will then reformulate and present the outline to the assembly for vote.  The expectation is for the vote to go well and for work to begin on the themes next week and during the rest of our remaining days here,” the bishop explained.