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Reflections of Mexican bishops' Commissions for
Indigenous Peoples, Social Welfare
On 3 July, the Bishops' Commissions for Indigeneous Peoples and for
Social Welfare published a Message on the occasion of the Pope's fifth
visit to Mexico for the Canonization of Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin on 31
July and the Beatification of the Martyrs of Oaxaca, Juan Bautista and
Jacinto de los Angeles on 1 August. The Bishops speak about the task of
inculturation: "It is a great joy to celebrate the canonization and
beatification of our indigenous brothers, for we know that the
recognition of their person entails the recognition of the indigenous as
peoples. The inculturation of the Gospel brings out the riches of each
culture, of each people, in which we clearly see the work of God's
Spirit who acts always and everywhere". The Bishops also call for
the inclusion of the indigenous peoples in the social and economic
developments that are now underway in Mexico. "Nevertheless, on the
present national scene, we are concerned to see the exclusion of many
impoverished brothers and sisters, including the indigenous peoples. The
idea that 'outside the free market there is no salvation' is becoming
dominant. The forces that are changing the relationship of rights and
duties at the international level are the business or investment
treaties that grant ample rights to foreign investors without asking, in
exchange the same duties of the countries that benefit from the
investments. The long-term planning of development and investment
projects in regions with a strong indigenous presence such as the
south-east of our country, is sometimes done by international financial
organizations with no participation of local personnel or
companies, and with no consideration for the indigenous communities. The
Mexican nation owes it to the indigenous peoples to create a new
relationship between government, society and indigenous peoples, based
on respect and inclusion". Here are key sections of the Message of
the Bishops' Commissions translated from the original Spanish text.
To the People of God and to all men and women of good will.
1. We address to you words of hope and encouragement at this moment
that is charged with the grace of God because the canonization and
beatification of our indigenous brothers fosters the
evangelization process in our own country.
Evangelization, Inculturation
2. The fifth visit of His Holiness John Paul II, encourages us as Church,
People of God, to be confirmed in the faith and in following Our
Lord Jesus Christ in this land of Mexico, blessed by the special
protection of Our Lady of Guadalupe. She showed us her love by taking
our own dark features, thereby giving us "a great example of
perfectly inculturated evangelization" (Address to the
Bishops of Latin America, 12 October 1992, n. 24, ORE;
21 October 1992, p. 9).
3. It is a great joy to celebrate the canonization and
beatification of our indigenous brothers, for we know that the
recognition of their person entails the recognition
of the indigenous as peoples. The inculturation of the Gospel brings out
the riches of each culture, of each people, in which we clearly see the
work of God's Spirit who acts always and everywhere.
Need to recognize the emergence of the indigenous peoples
4. As part of the Church, which we are, we greatly desire that this
recognition also include the process in which the indigenous have
emerged as the subjects of their own history; for although Indios
peoples are ancient by reason of their existence, they are recent by
reason of their coming to the fore. With John Paul II, we affirm that
"in defending [their] dignity [the indigenous peoples] are not only
exercising [their] right; [they] are also fulfilling [their] duty to
hand on [their] culture to future generations, thus enriching the whole
of society" (Message to Indigenous Peoples, 12
October 1992, n. 4; ORE, 21 October 1992, p.
3).
Society has to appreciate indigenous peoples and their culture
5. The ecclesial event of the canonization and beatification of our
indigenous brothers fills us with joy, since their recognition by the
universal Church means that they are an example which can help us return
to our origins and the Indian roots of our people. We can all identify
with their experience and, like them, if we live as ambassadors of God
and of the Virgin in solidarity with the poor, we can reach Christ and
God.
6. The Guadalupe event is for all Mexicans a horizon for our culture
and identity as a people. Yet we must recognize that for the indigenous
peoples it has a special importance, since in the Message of Our Lady of
Guadalupe, it is the Indian who is the agent, he is the one she asks to
"speak in her name"; she tells him that he is
her "trustworthy ambassador" and that she wants her house to
be built where the people grieve, where she can "hear their
miseries, their sufferings and their sorrows", since she wants
"to remedy all this", her love is for all the dark ones of
these lands.
Guadalupe vindicates the place of the poor for a more just nation
7. The Guadalupe Message vindicates the place of the poor and
marginalized in building a more just and fraternal nation. God manifests
himself in the poor urging everyone to build a new society in which all
may be heard and included. This is the real emphasis of the Church
today: to build every community with ecclesial communion, solidarity and
brotherhood. In this task, many pastoral workers, especially Indios,
have played a leading role, and we express our gratitude to them since
it is they who keep alive their peoples' hope.
Social justice and economic progress
8. Nevertheless, on the present national scene, we are concerned to
see the exclusion of many impoverished brothers and sisters, including
the indigenous peoples. The idea that "outside the free market
there is no salvation" is becoming dominant. The forces that are
changing the relationship of rights and duties at the international
level are the business or investment treaties that grant ample rights to
foreign investors without asking, in exchange, the same duties of the
countries that benefit from the investments. The long-term planning of
development and investment projects in regions with a strong indigenous
presence, such as the south-east of our country, is sometimes done by
international financial organizations with no participation of local
personnel or companies, and with no consideration for the indigenous
communities. The Mexican nation owes it to the indigenous peoples to
create a new relationship between government, society and indigenous
peoples, based on respect and inclusion.
9. We therefore appeal to all society no longer to postpone the
delayed recognition of the rights and culture of the Indios peoples. We
must change our criteria and our way of thinking of them. We must change
from viewing them as a mere object of our generosity and benevolence to
begin seeing them as peoples and individuals who need what justice
entitles them to today: to be the subjects of rights.
10. In different messages, the Magisterium of the Church has spoken
out in favour of the recognition of every people's culture. Indeed, the
Mexican Bishops said in our Pastoral Letter that "the
sovereignty of a people is fully and originally rooted in the
personality of a society and a nation" (Bishops' Conference of
Mexico, Carta Pastoral del Encuentro con Jesucristo a la Solidaridad
con todos, Mexico 2000, n. 277).
Resolve constitutional questions
11. Despite the consensus reached by the executive and legislative
authorities for making reforms to our Magna Carta which recognizes
indigenous cultures and rights, for many of these peoples the results
have been far from satisfactory. This is why we are disposed to dialogue
and look forward to the resolution by the nation's Supreme Court of
Justice of the constitutional controversies presented by indigenous
peoples.
Peace process: 10 steps
12. To guarantee the re-establishment of the peace process in our
country, it is necessary to respond to the basic requests of the
indigenous peoples. We have no desire for any further bloodshed. We hope
that the process of peace and dialogue is resumed. We convoke all
Mexicans to work for: 1) recognition of the indigenous rights and
cultures; 2) a wider dissemination, through the media, of those aspects
of indigenous ethics that are of universal value and compatible with the
Christian message; 3) support of the education of indigenous children in
their own communities and languages, so that they are not uprooted from
their own cultures and history; 4) the promotion of ways to sustain
their organizations for production and for introducing their products on
the market; 5) the support of their cases with the authorities at all
levels, as well as guaranteeing that justice is procured for them and
imparted to them in their own language; 6) the creation in the rest of
the country of public consciousness of their individual history and
contributions; 7) the protection of their knowledge of nature, which is
being abused by transnational laboratories for the development of
research that will produce patents; 8) the promotion of the productive
organization of the indigenous peoples, and studies that extend
knowledge of their recourses and of the options they have for economic
development; 9) the creation of programmes involving young Indios and
their support so that they will return to their own communities and
promote economic, cultural and social development; 10) the protection of
their habitat and the preservation of their cultural values, in the face
of projects that envisage industrial areas and agricultural activities
that threaten to destroy forests and jungles and pollute the environment
in which the indigenous peoples live.
13. We commend our efforts to the God of Life who wants life in
abundance for everyone. Confident in the intercession of Blessed Mary,
Our Lady of Guadalupe, we want to accompany our people in their search
for better living conditions.
Mexico, Federal District,
3 July 2002.
Bishops' Commission for the Pastoral
Care of Indigenous Peoples
Bishops' Commission for Social Assistance
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