Open to listen to and dialogue with society
Open to listen to and dialogue with society (10%)
1. A Church that listens to all sectors of society, that understand the motives, positions, and arguments of other ways of thinking and religious beliefs
2. …and also to each person that needs it, knowing how to listen. Listening is above all an individual act of hospitality towards specific people in need of attention and time
3. Listening: accompanying, a priority. This is what many are asking for: to accompany people, starting with active listening
4. And after, dialoguing without prejudice, without judging or condemning, to later communicate having understood the situation and illuminate using the Gospel, in ways that will be understandable to her contemporaries.
5. That goes forth, to encounter people where they are. The Church that goes forth is a church that is outward looking, that comes out of its typical spaces to encounter everyone, not just those who are disaffected and distant.
Participants’ voice
“An outgoing and welcoming Church is very important. But the openness to encounter the others requires that we be clear about who we are, the principles we have, the mission that the Gospel calls us to live. True dialogue occurs respecting differences, not ceasing to be one who really is.”
“Listen to the spiritual needs of the people. In general, it seems that the Church is more interested in dialogue with governments and leaders than in contact with the needs of people and communities.”
“Better train the laity so that they are more supportive and see those belonging to other religions as brothers and do not reject and/or censor and condemn those who are different or those who have chosen wrong paths at a certain time and now want to return”
Missionary Voices
Listening society
Do you feel listened by the Church?
Pablo Martínez
The Magisterium, the Gospel
Magisterium
“Listening corresponds to the humble style of God. It is the action that allows God to reveal himself as the One who, by speaking, creates man and woman in his image, and by listening recognizes them as his partners in dialogue. God loves humanity: that is why he addresses his word to them, and why he “inclines his ear” to listen to them.. On the contrary, human beings tend to flee the relationship, to turn their back and “close their ears” so they do not have to listen.. (…) Indeed, listening concerns the whole person, not just the sense of hearing. The true seat of listening is the heart. ”
Source:
Message for the 56th World Day for Social Communications, January 24, 2022
The Gospel
“He said, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that ‘seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.”
Luke 8, 9-11
Questionnaires’ results
Which actions would you suggest to the Church for a better listening of everybody?
Stats
- Increase awareness, within the Church, about the importance of listening 50.3%
- That priests and religious dedicate more time to listen to us 47.2%
- Dedicate more channels (phone, social networks, places) and people to listen to us 36.2%
- More interactivity of the Church in social networks 31.9%
- I don’t know / I don’t answer / it doesn’t apply to me 13.1%
Half of participants think that the Church should give importance to listening and dedicating time of its priests and religious persons to it.
49.183
Surveys analyzed
How to move forward?
Theological standpoint
Listening is based on the desire to know the other; supposes the recognition that one does not know everything,
has always something to learn. Both from the other’s questions and from his/her answers.
Moral-behavioural standpoint
Being open to listen the others does not imply considering all opinions valid. It means analyzing the other’s arguments and expressing one’s convictions firmly, but with respect, welcoming the persons themselves.
Structure and organization standpoing
Increase awareness, within the Church, about the importance of listening and how to do it. Promote the creation of channels for dialogue and deliberation with society, on a regular basis, at all capillary levels of the Church, training the faithful to this activities and processes.
Pedagogical-pastoral standpoint
Dedicate more people, channels and time to active listening. Learn and incorporate the findings of the countless groups that are already carrying out the mission of listening in different fields.