Bishop Argüello, president of the EEC: Neither the state nor the market can save us

The president of the Spanish Episcopal Conference (CEE), Mons. Luis Argüello, analyzed some of the great challenges of Spanish society (demography, work and housing, political coexistence and the flood catastrophe) and proclaimed that in the face of them “not even the state Not even the market can save us.”

The Archbishop of Valladolid, elected to the position last March, wanted to focus, beyond the data on the issues addressed, which were not few, “on the underlying cultural traits, on the lifestyles, which is there where the proclamation of the Gospel and the witness of the community life of the Church can offer collaboration.”

In his first opening speech at a General Assembly of the EEC, the prelate could not avoid referring to the catastrophe caused in the eastern part of Spain – especially in the Valencian community – by a series of meteorological phenomena that have claimed dozens of lives. Humans: 226 are already confirmed.

Faced with the tragedy, he pointed out: “Who to look at? Neither the State nor the market can save us, although in the last stretch of modern time they have presented themselves as saviors who can deliver what they promise. Reduced to consumers and voters, the market and the State offer us a salvation, progress, which is not enough.”

This contrasts with the wave of brotherhood and solidarity that has been deployed, a true “indicator of the goodness that resides in the human soul” that is revealed as “the appropriate response to our irremediable vulnerability,” he noted.

Bishop Argüello denounced that, as a result of the disaster, “we have seen the plunder and populism of anti-politics.”

Taking the interrelation between anthropology, economics and politics expressed by Pope Francis during the last World Youth Day held in Lisbon, Bishop Argüello summarized his opinion on the issues addressed in his speech.

“An individualistic and autonomy-blind anthropology influences demography. Face work and housing with some keys and demand an economy and political management that ensures the satisfaction of desires, even if there is blood of the impoverished on the shoes and solves the problems that individualism brings with it. But at the same time, the economy generates and requires a type of subject, producer-consumer, that matches its offers and needs.”

“And political action,” the prelate continued, “prefers a disengaged and unmotivated citizen, including the so-called militants of the parties that have mostly stopped forming, debating and contributing to the decision-making of their leaders.”

To these considerations, he added: “At the service of the dominant economy and politics, a pop and mass culture is generated through many new and sophisticated media. Thus a vicious circle is produced with apparent political perplexities.”

Among these paradoxes, Bishop Argüello stressed that the “self-proclaimed progressive parties” and those that “refuse to be called conservative” are united by “an individualistic conception of the citizen” and that “their political practices, very conflicting in the forum and in the media, they complement and feed each other.”

Ask yourself the right questions

In this context, Bishop Argüello encouraged us to question ourselves again about the market, the state and progress, but warning of the need to ask the right questions.

Thus, he explained that “the question is not whether democracy is the best of the Government systems, but if it is linked to the welfare state, what type of citizens does it generate? What is its social role and what consequences does the incessant cultivation in exchange for the vote cause in the social fabric, for the right to have rights, what does it do with the received tradition and how does it project it in the long term, beyond the demands of the next elections? .

“The question is not whether it makes sense to innovate and grow in the globalized system with the emergence of new technologies,” he added, “but what does human progress mean, how to safeguard his humanity and dignity, what is his place in the relationship with others.” animals, plants and machines, in a posthuman horizon encouraged by many.”

“In short, we must ask ourselves the central question: What does it mean to be a man, a man and a woman?” said the president of the EEC at the beginning of the 126th Plenary Assembly of the Spanish episcopate.

To answer that question, Bishop Argüello referred to the Pastoral Constitution Joy and hope of the Second Vatican Council to proclaim that, in the face of man’s deepest questions, “the Church believes that Christ, who died and was resurrected for all, gives man his light and his strength through the Holy Spirit so that he can respond to his maxim.” vocation and that no other name under heaven has been given to humanity by which it is necessary to be saved.”

Matters to be addressed at the 1226th EEC Plenary Assembly

During this week, the Spanish bishops are going to reflect on how the Church on pilgrimage in Spain is going to receive what was experienced in the recent Synod of Synodality, how it is going to prepare the next congress on vocational pastoral under the motto Who am I for? and the development of the program around Jubilee 2025.

Likewise, progress will continue in relation to the comprehensive reparation of cases of abuse within the Catholic Church, the framework project for youth ministry and the implementation of the “Atlantic hospitality” program of the Episcopal Subcommittee of Migrations.

On the other hand, the prelates will reflect on the document for the restructuring of the seminaries, as well as the theological institutes and higher institutes of religious sciences.

An important event this week will take place on Tuesday, when the Archbishop of Valencia, Mons. Enrique Benavent, will preside at the Cathedral of La Almudena at a Mass in memory of the victims of the floods in eastern Spain.