The Synod of the Amazon explains why Protestants grow up and not Catholics

Among the various debates of the small circles of the Synod of Bishops of the Amazon, which takes place in Rome until October 27, we talk about the reason why Protestants are developing in the Amazon and stagnation or even the contraction of Catholics. his number.

In the briefing Information held on Friday, October 11 at the Vatican Press Office to summarize the work of the Synod raised the issue of the strong growth of churches and evangelical communities among the inhabitants of the Amazon at the expense of the faithful of the Catholic Church.

The specific issue that has been raised is that Catholic missionaries in the Amazon emphasize the social, while evangelical pastors speak of the gospel.

Cardinal Carlos Aguiar Retes, Archbishop of Mexico City, explained that in the small circle of the Synod in which he works, a fraternal delegate (member of a Protestant church) declared the bishops "they must keep in mind that people want the Word of God first and foremost"

Cardinal Aguiar said, "I believe that Pope Francis has already given us a very strong testimony in the Evangelii Gaudium, in the Laudato yesAnd in his various communiques, we must make the Word of God a priority so that people can enter into an internalization of their relationship with God and a strong life experience, and that they are already committed to the rest. .

For his part, Bishop Pedro Brito Guimaraes, Archbishop of Palmas (Brazil), pointed out that migration from one church to another is a complex religious phenomenon that can not be explained for one reason alone.

"There are a lot of reasons together. We call this "religious transit". Some studies show that some people have emigrated from the church not only once, but six times. It's a very complex phenomenon that requires more time for analysis, "he explained.

He insisted that migration from one religion to another "is a fact, but there is no single criterion, but only one reason: There are many reasons people to move from one church to another. "

In addition, he stressed that "internally, in the evangelical world, such a migration exists very frequently. It is enough that one person does not agree with the pastor's opinion to found another church. There are more churches than you can imagine.

In his opinion, this is a phenomenon that reflects people's vulnerability, which encourages them to "move away from their church". To understand this, we must understand that the people of the Amazon have material needs that can not always be met. They have problems with access to health, education, etc. and "these (evangelical) churches promise: they promise a good economy, marriage, happiness".

Likewise, Bishop Joaquín Pertíñez Fernández, Bishop of Rio Branco (Brazil), spoke of the difficulties of the Catholic Church in reaching the most remote places of the Amazon because of "the shortage of priests throughout the Amazon" . "We have neither personal nor economic conditions to be present in these places."

He explained that in the Work instrument The present Synod "speaks of existential or religious divides that we Catholics do not occupy and that others come to occupy them. Because our people are very religious, traditionally, and whoever comes to say that it is the word of God, our people go behind. "

He also spoke of the promises to cover basic needs "especially health", through which Protestant pastors manage to convince Catholic faithful to change the Church. In this sense, he mentioned a training problem: "lack of knowledge, lack of culture".

In many parts of the Amazon, "there is no access to health for everyone", and if a person "needs to cure a headache or a stomach ache, the pastor promises then, through these promises, with this proselytism, Many adhere. And once they're gone, it's very difficult to come back. "

"There are a lot of people who, if they do not get it in one church, go to another one and go to another until they find somebody there." One to solve their problem, which is more physical than spiritual. We can not always solve the basic problems of health, education and all that our people have. Then other people promise basic things and people believe them and follow them, "he concluded.