【CNN 20150925】教皇方济各的挑战

满仓

【中文标题】教皇方济各的挑战
【原文标题】10 ways Pope Francis challenges us
【登载媒体】CNN
【原文作者】Jay Parini
【原文链接】http://edition.cnn.com/2015/09/23/opinions/parini-pope-francis-challenges-for-you/index.html

















为什么教皇方济各能够获得百万信众发自内心的尊敬和爱意，甚至博得了非天主教徒的认同。和那些天主教徒一样，我认为方济各是一个精神领袖。下面这十个原因让这位罗马教皇值得我们仰慕，也是这个道德楷模在诸多方面挑战我们的原因。

1，谦虚是一种美德

方济各这个名字来自阿西西的圣弗朗西斯，那是穷人的仆从，他对自然世界的热爱造就了一段传奇。方济各放弃了前任教皇穿着的昂贵红色鞋子。他搬到梵蒂冈的一所小公寓里居住，把教皇专用奔驰汽车停在车库里，经常开的是一辆已经使用了20年、行驶了19万英里的雷诺汽车。

教皇方济各告诫我们要生活在谦逊之中，不为外在物质所驱使。我们当中有多少人愿意住在一个小房子里，开一辆老车，鞋子破了还要换底？

2，气候变化不是妄谈

教皇方济各把教堂放在应对这个问题的核心位置，他发布了一项有关环境危机的重要圣谕。在这份洋洋洒洒的文件中，他敦促基督教徒要把自己当作地球的主人公。他还强调了过度开发问题：“人类如此不加区别地滥用自然资源，难道是在自杀吗？”

给你提出的挑战是：你是否给予自然世界足够的尊重，用行动反抗过度开发？你是否会尝试尽量少开车、寻找替代能源、充分回收利用资源？

3，对穷人的承诺

教皇几乎没有一天不在提醒他的信众，要关爱社会边缘群体。他到访过多个贫困国家，让那些需要帮助的人得到关注。他甚至大胆地说，世界各地的穷人是“金钱圣坛”的牺牲品。

我们这些人——很多人也是基督教徒——在自己的内心（或者是钱包）深处真的给那些缺衣少食的人留下了一些空间吗？慈善仅仅是一个空头支票吗？

4，资本主义要接受审判

难怪有些人发现这位教皇认为世界经济秩序的态度容易引起争论。

他在各种场合谴责“新殖民主义”，因为这让穷人步入深渊。他还曾经引用四世纪一位大主教的话说，对金钱不加约束地追求是“魔鬼的粪便”。他认为，穷国不可以扮演那种原材料和廉价劳动力提供者的恭顺角色。

我们对于自身的福祉是否太过贪婪了呢？在贫富差距越来越大的环境下，我们只是一个旁观者，眼睁睁地看着富人越来越富，中产阶级越来越穷，而穷人已经堕入万劫不复之地。

5，教会中的同性恋

有关教会中的同性恋，教皇最令人震惊的发言是：“如果有人是同性恋，他怀着良好的意愿寻求主的真理，我没有资格做出评判。”这个态度与他在梵蒂冈的前任有着天差地别，那些人说同性恋是“固有的道德恶魔”。

“不要评判别人，以免被别人评判。”耶稣如是说，这是大部分基督教徒几乎每天要面临的一个问题。

你会轻易给别人下结论吗？你会用尊敬和平等的态度，向同性恋敞开你的生活吗？

6，女人与平等

方济各目前还没有允许女人担任牧师，让很多人（也包括我自己）颇为失望。但是他有意倾听，支持“深化和提升女性在教堂中的角色”。

在一个男权社会中，这并不简单，人们很容易把男性的特权当成理所应当。所以我们必须要关注，并支持女性在职场的平等待遇，努力争取平等的薪酬，并主动抚养孩子。

7，与伊斯兰教接洽

方济各用一种惊人的方式与伊斯兰教保持接触。2013年的耶稣升天节，他亲自为两名穆斯林教徒洗脚，吸引了全世界的关注。他多次主动与巴勒斯坦接触，邀请穆罕默德•阿巴斯造访梵蒂冈，并说他是“和平的天使”。

我们在谈到伊斯兰教或者其它宗教的时候，是站在我们自己的立场还是对方的立场？我们都是上帝的子民，无一例外。我们能看着别人诋毁伊斯兰教而不去制止吗？

8，接受科学

早在伽利略的年代，教堂就与科学水火不容。但是方济各呼吁科学与神学之间的和解，他把自己的工作放在进化论和大爆炸理论之后。他说：“上帝并不是一个挥舞着魔法棒的魔术师。”在这一点上，他与支持上帝创世说和智能控制论的本笃十六世有截然的区别。方济各认为，上帝“创造人类之后，按照他所赋予的自然规律发展，从而达到自我实现。”

你在多大程度上了解科学与宗教之间的紧张关系？当人们否定环境变化，你是否告诉他们静观其变的严重后果？

9，全球视野

教皇方济各最早的一项行动是邀请以色列人和巴勒斯坦人来到梵蒂冈，“为和平祈祷”。之后，他利用自身的影响力，帮助缓解美国与古巴之间的关系。他游历各国，认真聆听社会各个层面的声音。

我们是否用开放的心态面对世界的需求，甚至是紧迫的要求？我们是否看到，中东和中国的问题对我们的影响比我们想象的更加严重？

10，人民的教皇

教皇方济各敦促我们成为亚伯拉罕•林肯名言中的“本性中更好的天使”。他是和平与和解的使者，是行动与进步的推动者。一份天主教刊物的编辑约翰•艾伦说：“他已经变成了新的纳尔逊•曼德拉，全世界新的道德权威。自从冷战之后，教皇从未与政治走得这么近。”

这位教皇给我们提出了很多迫在眉睫的问题。你听进去了吗？会有所行动吗？



原文：

Why does Pope Francis stir respect, even love, in the hearts of millions, including non-Catholics? Like other Christians, I look to Francis for spiritual leadership. Here are 10 reasons why so many of us admire this pontiff, and why his examples set a moral challenge for us on many fronts.

1. Humility is a virtue

Francis embodies humility, having taken on the name of St. Francis of Assisi, a servant of the poor whose love of the natural world was legendary. A master of symbolism, Francis quickly dispensed with the fancy red slippers that popes wore. He moved into a small apartment in the Vatican and put the papal Mercedes in the garage, favoring a 20-year-old Renault with 190,000 miles on it.

Pope Francis' gestures challenge us to live humbly and not be driven by ostentation. How many of us have tried to live with less in a smaller house, drive an older car or resole a pair of shoes?

2. Climate change is real

Pope Francis has put the church at the center of this subject, issuing a major encyclical on the environmental crisis that befalls us. In this hefty document, he urges all Christians to consider it their duty to become faithful stewards of their planet. He has seized on the issue of exploitation. "Isn't nature humanity committing suicide with this indiscriminate and tyrannical use of nature?" He asked recently.

Here's the challenge for you: Are you respecting the natural world and working against its despoiling? Have you managed to drive less, find alternative sources of energy or make a habit of recycling?

3. Commitment to the poor

Hardly a day passes without the Pope reminding his followers to care for those at the margins of society. He has toured impoverished countries, drawing attention to those in need. Boldly, he says the poor everywhere are being sacrificed at the "altar of money."

Are we, many of whom call ourselves Christians, finding room in our hearts (and wallets) for those around us who lack shelter, food and clothing? Do we pay only lip service to the concept of charity?

4. Capitalism on trial

It's no wonder that some have found this pope's attitude toward the world economic order provocative.

He has widely denounced "a new colonialism" that creates policies with dire implications for the poor, and once quoted a fourth-century bishop who characterized the unbridled pursuit of money as "the dung of the devil." He has argued that poor nations must not play the subservient role of providers of raw materials and cheap workers for wealthy countries.

Have we become too greedy for all our own good? With rising income inequality, are we mere helpless bystanders while we see the rich getting richer, the middle class getting poorer and the poor getting even poorer?

5. Gays in the church

One of this pope's first shockers was a statement on gays in the church. "If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?" He famously asked. This statement marked a huge departure from the attitude of his predecessor in the Vatican, who called homosexuality "an intrinsic moral evil."

"Judge not lest ye be judged yourself," Jesus told us, and it's a present challenge for most Christians almost every day.

Are you too quick to judge others? Are you opening your life to gay men and women, and treating them with respect and equality?

6. Women are equal

Francis hasn't yet argued for allowing women into the priesthood, much to the dismay of many (including myself). But he has shown a willingness to listen, supporting "the work of deepening and of promoting" the role of women in the church.

It's not easy when, like me, you were born into a patriarchal world, where it's easy to take male privilege for granted. So we must try to be more aware, and to stand up for equal treatment of women in the workplace, to fight for pay parity and to take seriously the hard work of childrearing.

7. Reaching out to Islam

Francis reached out to Islam in striking fashion. On Holy Thursday in 2013, he bent to wash the feet of two Muslims, drawing international attention. And he has allied himself with the Palestinians several times, inviting President Mahmoud Abbas to the Vatican, where he called him "an angel of peace."

Have we talked about Islam, or other religions, in ways that reflect badly on us and them? We are all God's children, and there are no exceptions. Do we allow people to speak in anti-Muslim ways without correcting their misconceptions?

8. Accepting science as valid

Going back to Galileo, the church has frequently been at odds with science. But Francis has called for a reconciliation between science and theology, putting the weight of his office behind evolution as well as Big Bang theory. "God is not a magician with a magic wand," he says. In this, he stands apart from his predecessor, Benedict XVI, who supported creationism and intelligent design. Francis argues that God "created human beings and let them develop according to the internal laws that he gave to each one so they would reach their fulfillment."

To what degree have you tried to understand the tensions between science and religion, and to take the gift of reason seriously? When people deny climate change, do you attempt to tell them about the awful ramifications of no action?

9. A global vision

One of Pope Francis' first gestures was to invite the Israelis and the Palestinians to the Vatican to "pray for peace." And he was quick to put his moral force to use in helping to ease relations between the United States and Cuba. He has traveled widely, with open ears, listening to voices from every part of society.

Are we open to the broader world, its needs and sometimes urgent requests? Do we see that problems in the Middle East or China, for instance, affect us more than we realize?

10. Everybody's pope

Pope Francis is asking us to live up to what Abraham Lincoln famously called "the better angels of our nature." He is an agent of peace and reconciliation, of action and betterment. "He's become the new Nelson Mandela, the new source of moral authority in the world," says John Allen, an editor of Crux, a Catholic journal. "The papacy has not been this politically relevant since the end of the Cold War."

This pope has put many urgent questions before us. Are you listening? Will you act?