Seoul (AsiaNews) A survey carried out by one of South Korea's main Catholic weekly shows that stopping the culture of death and engaging other religions in dialogue are the challenges facing the new Pontiff.
Seoul-based Catholic Times asked canvassed some 100 theologians from seven Catholic universities and asked them what they thought were the most important issues facing the Church over the next few years. The answers to the multiple choice questionnaire were quite clear.
For most of the respondents (40), two challenges stand above all else: the culture of death that supports abortion, euthanasia and human cloning, especially in the West, and mission and witness through inter-faith dialogue, above all in continents such as Asia and Africa, where Catholics are a minority.
For 20 the most important challenge in instead improving relations between the Universal and local Churches because in Asia, Africa and Latin America, local Churches want greater autonomy on issues such as bishop nominations, writing documents and translating liturgical texts.
For 22 theologians the Church's top priority is the lack of vocations, whilst 24 said the Church's top priority must be to encourage the laity and reinvigorate the faithful's participation in parish life.
Another 8 stressed the need to fulfill the spirit of the Second Vatican Council instead of envisaging a third council as some have called for.
The survey also asked respondents to consider John Paul II's legacy. For 60 of the 100 theologians contacted the late Pontiff's greatest legacy will be his indefatigable pastoral work as evinced by his numerous trips around the world in which he delivered a message of peace and reconciliation.
For 19 of them the Pontiff's travels in the five continents spread the right moral values to a divided and tormented humanity.
His role in the collapse of communism was the highlight of his pontificate according to 40 respondents; his commitment to inter-faith dialogue, for 41.
Unity among the Churches and defence of human rights stand out for 18 and 10 respectively, but for five theologians asking for forgiveness for the Church's past errors was a sign of the late Pope's courage and humility
Five theologians also appreciated John Paul II's defence of the Church's identity through his unwavering defence of Catholic doctrine and morality.
No one chose the growth in the number of faithful as the Pontiff's greatest legacy.
