KENYA: “Pope Benedict XVI Forewarned ‘Toxic Spiritual Effuse’, Let’s Confront it with Prayer and Fasting,” Says CDWDS Prelate Emeritus
Cardinal Robert Sarah, head of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments, is pictured in a file photo. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)
By Elizabeth Asasha
Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments (CDWDS), His Eminence Robert Cardinal Sarah has entreated the community of faithful across the world to pray and fast fervently to confront the “Stubborn Evils” of our times that continue to bedevil the missionary mandate of Christ in Africa.
Speaking at the annual Theological Symposium held by Tangaza University College (TUC) in Kenya’s Capital, Nairobi Cardinal Sarah quoted Pope Benedict XVI verbatim on the “Toxic Spiritual Garbage Poisoning Africa” to explain the increasing ills that have proved to be thorns in the succulent flesh of evangelization
“Gender ideology, abortion, and the normalization of homosexual unions have all emerged increasingly as elements of this toxic spiritual refuse,” Said Cardinal Sarah, described by many as the ‘great son of the church and prophet of our times from the African soil,’ an accolade that Indian-born Fr. George Kocholickal, who heads the department of Dogmatic Theology at TUC affirmed as he read the Cardinal’s biography before his keynote address.
In an inaugural special meeting of clerics about Africa convened On Sunday, Oct 4, 2009, Pope Benedict XVI coined the African continent as the world’s ‘spiritual lung’ forewarning of the mutating ‘virus’ of religious fundamentalism and materialism that threatens the continent’s respiratory system.
“During his visit to Africa, Pope Benedict XVI warned of what he called “toxic spiritual effuse” exported from the so-called first world, which contaminates the people of other continents, including the population of Africa.” Recalled Cardinal Sarah adding that the current situation in the culturally rich denominations in Africa fulfils this prophecy while expressing hope of resuscitating the African continent’s pulse.
“Looking at this situation, we see how prophetic those words were in Africa, but the window of opportunity still exists to be that immense spiritual lung for humanity in a crisis of faith and hope.” Heartened the Catholic prelate worked tirelessly, as the Archbishop of the Conakry ecclesiastical entity, to promote the Catholic faith and provide pastoral care to the faithful amid various challenges, including political instability and social unrest in the French Guinea.
The Cardinal further maintained that “The salt within us can become insipid through relativizing the teaching of the Gospel to combat the ills in honor of Pope Benedict XVI’s call for Africa to protect its great heritage of upholding the primacy of God’s creation, protecting marriage, and protecting children, “as the repository of an estimable treasure for the whole world through its deep sense of God.”
The Cardinal, drawing from his personal experiences and insights, highlighted the need for discernment and spiritual discipline when engaging with non-Catholic Christian denominations, traditional religions, and Islam across the continent registering that, while evangelization has seen success in some regions, encountering resistance and intractable obstacles elsewhere requires a deeper spiritual response.
“Our attention is directed to evils that call for prayer and fasting,” stated Cardinal Sarah, referencing the Gospel of St. Mark (Mark 9:29) to illustrate the necessity of these spiritual practices in confronting stubborn obstacles to the spread of the Gospel.
He underscored the need for discernment to purify elements of cultures and traditions that obstruct the acceptance of the Gospel.
Reflecting on his upbringing in an Ourous village in the region of Haut-Niger, French Guinea, where missionary efforts succeeded in integrating Christianity without erasing traditional customs, the Cardinal acknowledged that evangelization does not always unfold seamlessly.
“Evangelization does not unfold so smoothly everywhere, in some places, missionary activities encounter resistance and intractable obstacles, evils that are deeper and more stubborn than others.” Observed the retired Prefect of CDWDS who attained the canonical retirement age of 75 in June 2020, “These obstacles call for us to respond with prayer and fasting.”
He further underscored the need for discernment to purify elements of cultures and traditions that obstruct the acceptance of the Gospel.
“Non-Catholic Christian denominations, traditional religions, and Islam have at times introduced disruptive obstacles to the missionary work of the Church,” Cardinal Sarah remarked, urging a discerning approach that distinguishes between elements conducive to the Gospel and those that hinder its propagation.
The Cardinal also addressed challenges within traditional religions, highlighting the dangers of syncretism and the importance of prayer and fasting in purifying cultural practices that oppose Gospel values.
The Cardinal stated, “Christ Himself considered us to be as wise as serpents and as innocent as doves, hence we ought to remain alert and exercise discernment so that we may walk in the friendship of God.”
“With His help, we can cut away all the elements in a culture that mislead and oppress and restore the dignity to which He raises us by His grace.” He added.
His Eminence Sarah also condemned the customary punishment of Muslims who converted to Christianity and called for joint efforts between Christians and Muslims to confront and eradicate such injustices.
“Every culture has a right to defend itself, but the penalty of death in response to conversion is wholly inappropriate,” declared Cardinal Sarah, who has been a steadfast voice for religious freedom and human rights.
Cardinal Sarah who was elevated to the College of Cardinals on November 20, 2010, by Pope Benedict XVI, at the age of 65, gained recognition on the international stage for his contributions to the Catholic Church, particularly in the areas of liturgy, evangelization, and social justice.
Cardinal Sarah has been known for his conservative stance on various theological and liturgical matters within the Catholic Church. His views on issues such as liturgy, evangelization, and social justice have made him a significant voice within Catholicism, earning him international recognition as a prolific author and spiritual leader. Among his notable publications are “God or Nothing” and “The Power of Silence: Against the Dictatorship of Noise,” which have garnered widespread acclaim for their profound spiritual insights.
The symposium, a key initiative of TUC’s School of Theology aimed at demystifying the “missionary mandate” of Jesus Christ, brought together scholars, theologians, and clergy from diverse backgrounds to engage in dialogue and reflection on the challenges and opportunities facing African Christianity guided by the theme “Make Disciples of all Nations: Missionary Mandate of Christ in the Religious, Cultural, and Social Context of Africa Today.
The two-day event was held on Thursday 22nd and Friday and Friday 23rd of February at the Tangaza University College (TUC), a multicultural institution jointly owned by 22 Religious Orders and Societies of Apostolic Life and with students and faculty from over 40 countries.
