According to Cardinal Robert Sarah, Prefect Emeritus of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, division among Christians goes against the mission of bearing witness to the Gospel message and evangelization.
In his opening address for the 2024 theological symposium organized by the Tangaza University College (TUC) School of Theology in Nairobi, Kenya, Cardinal Sarah, who served as Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments from 2014 to 2021, warned that divisions among Christians expose them to "exploitation".
On Thursday the 22nd, the first day of the two-day event, Sarah stated:
"If we are not one, if we are divided, then our witness to Christ will be divided and the world will not believe in the Gospel."
By allowing the principles of the Christian faith to take precedence over all other identities, including tribe, nationality, and race, among other affiliations, the Cardinal urged the disciples of Jesus Christ in Africa to prioritize their adherence to the Gospel message.
In his address titled "Making Disciples of All Nations: The Missionary Mandate of Christ", the Cardinal said we should seek unity first in the Christian faith, and then with our fellow Africans and neighbors.
The Cardinal warned that divisions render Christians "vulnerable to exploitation" by emphasizing the importance of unity among the disciples of Jesus Christ.
Our situation will be even worse if we do not strive for unity in Christ. He stated that religious, ethnic, and political divisions among us are vulnerable to exploitation. Corrupt politicians or even foreign powers can exploit them.
Since its publication on December 18, 2023, Cardinal Sarah has already expressed his opposition to the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith's declaration, *Fiducia Supplicans*, which has sparked mixed reactions and deep divisions among the People of God in general and Catholic bishops worldwide in particular.
Sarah maintained his previous position of not opposing the Pope in a reflection published on January 6 on the Italian blog Settimo Cielo.
He stated that he firmly and radically opposes the recommendation of *Fiducia Supplicans*, which allows clergy to bless "homosexual unions" and couples in other "irregular situations", clarifying that he was not opposing Pope Francis.
The Cardinal said that people who engage in homosexual acts are "in the prison" of sin and that they need the truth of the "word of God" to be freed, adding: "Truth is the first of the mercies that Jesus offers to the sinner".
He added:
"The freedom we must offer to people living in homosexual unions lies in the truth of the word of God."
How can we have the courage to persuade them that it would be beneficial and desired by God for them to remain locked in their sin?
According to Sarah in his January 6 reflection, referring to the divisions caused by the recommendations of *Fiducia Supplicans*, the lack of clarity in the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith's declaration "has only amplified the confusion reigning in hearts, and some have even taken advantage of it to support their attempt at manipulation".
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Sarah referred to progress in his February 22 address in Kenya. "It is only together that we can prosper," he stated.
Sarah asserts that "turning to God in prayer and fasting" can help overcome obstacles hindering the mission of bearing witness to the Gospel message and the ministry of evangelization.
God elevates us by praying and fasting for the Lord. He frees us from selfishness and narrow-mindedness and, in one way or another, reveals Himself to us. He disciplines us so that we can work together in every possible way, he said.
The Cardinal also emphasized the importance of combining charity through almsgiving, two of the three pillars of Lent, with prayer and fasting.
In response to the evils we recognize together, evangelization must involve praying and fasting together, even with those of other religious traditions. Sarah stated that obstacles to evangelization would be overcome by praying and fasting.
This article was originally published by AciDigital and then translated by LeCatho | Original Link