We may have Pope Francis but ...

Mahidol University

This was the title of a paper I presented this week at Mahidol University here in Bangkok.  The university's Institute of Human Rights and Peace Studies together with UN-ACT (the UN's body acting against human trafficking) had arranged a two day conference on migration.  My offer to present a paper at this conference was accepted by the organising committee and so I got to achieve another first in my life. 

The title may mystify you but simply my thesis was that the practice of the Church in helping such politically sensitive populations as migrants and refugees does fail to reach its own high goals as set by the vision of the gospel and I asked why.  As I said at the conclusion, we have Pope Francis placing the goals before us and leading the way, but that does not mean total acquiescence from within the Church with what he preaches.  Francis is probably smart enough to know that this is the case but he just keeps on showing the lead. 

This was a week of firsts for me.  Another was at mass on Sunday.  I had shared briefly during mass on sexual abuse in the Church so as to make the point that we as a community have the central task of sharing the story of faith and, in respecting that essential task, we must not have secrets in our midst. 

Well at the end of mass, a regular member of our faith community got up unannounced and spontaneously to say something to all present.  I know him well as I help him and his family who are Pakistanis seeking refuge here.  His mother is a real dear.  I wondered what was going to happen.

Well his message was to share that he had been abused as a child and he knew what it was like to be a victim.  He wanted to tell families present to be extra vigilant of their children if they showed worrying changes in behaviour.  Listen to your children and do not ignore them.  This was his message brought on by my earlier sharing.  At the end, he got a rousing round of applause from everyone.   I was both touched and affected by his brave initiative for the sake of the community. 

I have to say that it was a definite first in my 30 years as a priest.  This was part of the impact on me that I had never experienced such an act in such a context.  I was not only affected by his bravery but the nature of his message and its impact on others and not just on me.  As I stood back, I was struck by how this showed his level of acceptance in this local church.   He and his family know so many struggles in a big and sometimes hostile Bangkok but still I could see that here he had found a place where he belonged.

This is what Pope Francis is all about.  We all have a place in the world and belong together.  He is merely mirroring the gospel message.  His leadership is having an impact.  Most importantly, this impact is seen in the yous and mes of the Church, the very place where leadership rightfully belongs, leadership from within the grassroots.