.- After attending a Mass in which he received Communion, Bolivian President Evo Morales said he was Catholic but that he still worships Mother Earth (“Pachamama” in the Quechua language). He also added that he was “disappointed” that some Christian groups are questioning parts of the new Constitution that will be subjected to a referendum on January 25.
“I am Catholic but I am very disappointed at some leaders of the Catholic Church, not those of the base church,” Morales said during an interview on Erbol Radio.
The Bolivia bishops have said they are not opposed to the new Constitution, but have outlined ten sections that dangerously open the door to practices such as abortion and the loss of parental authority.
“I believe strongly in the rites and in Mother Earth (Pachamama),” Morales said. “But of course I am a Catholic and an admirer of Jesus Christ.”
yowzers
ReplyDeleteCan't even find the words for my disdain, disappointment and disgust.
ReplyDelete. . . . "an admirer" of Jesus Christ?????
Lord have mercy.
"...and an admirer of Jesus Christ.”
ReplyDeleteUh-huh. Noted.
We have a "cradle" Catholic in our RCIA class this year. Completely uncatechized to be sure.
ReplyDelete"Well gosh", she told me one night, "I'm so glad you cleared up this Purgatory thing. I thought Purgatory was where you went while God decided where you finally end up"
She does not see the problem with including the Hawaiian God Pele along with her "usual" prayers. As long as you recognize who the "grand poobah" is you can have other little gods too.
Oy vey!
Oh, it makes me sad to read this. It's very true, but it still makes me very sad.
ReplyDeleteMy father is Peruvian. I know that many Andean people continued to practice their pagan religion long after the Spanish conquistadors came in. In fact, it was done to spite them. Even when they did go to church and receive sacraments it was mainly done to placate the Spanish - they continued to be pagans underground. In the hard to reach highlands, many reject the Gospel because it's the religion of their oppressors. Won't even consider it. That's not to say that all the indigenous Andean people reject Christ. There are many who are faithful Christians. But the memory of the glory of the Inca Empire is still alive. And embracing the old pagan faith is part and parcel of the movement for equality for indigenous Andean folk in the various countries that cover the old Inca Empire. It's an identity thing.
For the record, I don't buy the Black Legend nonsense that completely demonizes the Spanish and the Catholic Church in their dealings with their American colonies. Nor do I buy the "Golden Legend" advanced by the Spanish to counter the Black Legend and absolves them of all their crimes. There was some really nasty stuff going on down there. And there was good and saintliness too. The truth is somewhere in between those two tales.
Pray for these people. They really need the Gospel.