THE CLERGY MUST STAY OUTSIDE POLITICAL PARTIES SO AS NOT TO COMPROMISE THEIR MINISTRY

Having been falsely accused of being an activist in the political party opposed to the French government, Eugene clarifies and emphasizes his position.

…The code of conduct I hold, and that I instil in others, is that the clergy must stay outside political parties so as not to compromise their ministry.

Letter to Henri Tempier, 24 October 1833, EO VIII n 469

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2 Responses to THE CLERGY MUST STAY OUTSIDE POLITICAL PARTIES SO AS NOT TO COMPROMISE THEIR MINISTRY

  1. Eleanor Rabnett, Oblate Associate says:

    Arising this morning I looked out my window into the darkness. The snow storm continued leaving everything looking a little surreal. The storm had dropped the snow quite unevenly – very deep and wind-swept in some places and not so bad in others. The snow blew fiercely for a moment and then fell quietly, softly. And while I looked out and saw an invitation to walk in its silent beauty others might see only the necessity to move it out of the way, off to the side – to get rid of it.

    To what does God call me?

    I think of Jesus, the “Kingdom of God”. King of the Jews, King of us all -ruling not from a position of political power but rather from love of the poor – yes the monetary poor, but also the abandoned, the outsider, the betrayed, the least loved… Eugene asking ‘how Jesus proceeded to act’ – much as many of us look at how Eugene acted, how we might ‘walk in his footsteps’?

    “Disciples of Jesus, with the heart of Mary Immaculate,
    sons and daughters of Eugene de Mazenod,
    we are called to be Oblate missionaries in this time and place.
    As daring members of the prophetic Church,
    we stand with the voiceless, hearing and making heard their cry.
    In so doing, we risk finding ourselves among the marginalized of
    our community, our society and our church,
    taking our place among the poor and the powerless,
    walking with those who, like us, hold within themselves tremendous
    beauty, strength and gifts as well as weaknesses, brokenness
    and limitations, that together we may help one another experience
    the love of God, so we may be healed and give of ourselves
    in the service of the continuous unfolding of the reign of God
    within creation.”

    As it is with the storm outside I find God’s call and Eugene’s invitation impossible to ignore – it seems as if I was born for this. What immense grace and joy, the fullness of life that we are given when as members of the Mazenodian Family when we say “yes” and remain true to our ministries within the one same mission.

  2. Jack says:

    And yet he did not shy away from the social needs of the people. It is not easy path walk.

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