The way of prophetic witness

by Editor · January 31, 2007

In the space of one day in late January, the Church lost two of its remarkable sons, men who were quite different in many ways, yet also similar.

In France, the iconic Abb� Pierre passed away in the early hours of January 22. The priest was one of France�s most famous people, and commonly recognised as that increasingly secularised country�s most respected personality.

Even last year, at the age of 93, Abb� Pierre was still at the fore of his advocacy work for the plight of the homeless which he had begun almost six decades previously, as he addressed the French parliament on a matter of public housing.

Observing the nonagenarian, diminutive, white-bearded figure seated in a wheelchair, not a few French parliamentarians must have entertained the idea that they were in the presence of a biblical prophet.

A modern-day prophet Abb� Pierre certainly was. Over many years, he informed France�s conscience on the plight of the marginalised and powerless, especially the homeless. In many ways he was to France what Mother Teresa was to India, and beyond: a public face of the Catholic tradition of serving the disenfranchised with energy, innovation, passion and love.

There are still some Catholics whose prophetic witness intrudes into the retreat of society�s comfort zones. Close to home, one may think of Archbishop Pius Ncube of Bulawayo and his pursuit for justice and peace in Zimbabwe, or of Bishop Kevin Dowling of Rustenburg and his thoughtful advocacy and ministry in the field of HIV/Aids.

Alas, in a society which increasingly seeks to marginalise the influence of religion, and in particular that of Christianity, their prophetic witness often is denied the amplification it deserves.

The truth, however, is that society needs more such voices as Abb� Pierre, Mother Teresa, Archbishop Ncube or Bishop Dowling. And the Church needs more visible models of Christ�s love and compassion for the vulnerable that may inspire us.

Such models need not to come exclusively from the consecrated ranks of the Church.

Indeed, in the Church of today, the laity must exercise Vatican II�s call to the royal priesthood.

Drawing from 1Peter 3:15, the Council�s constitution Lumen Gentium reminded the faithful that they �should everywhere on earth bear witness to Christ and give an answer to everyone who asks a reason for the hope of an eternal life which is theirs.�

One South African lay person who lived out this teaching was Dr Peter Hunter, a professor of education and a loyal Catholic, who died suddenly on January 21 at his Johannesburg home.

Dr Hunter, who just a few weeks ago wrote this newspaper�s Christmas editorial, used his gift of explicating complicated principles of theology in such ways as to make these widely accessible.

Sometimes his interpretations would be seen as controversial, and doubtlessly there are some who stood in opposition to his discernments�after all, theological debate and the divergent viewpoints it entails are as old as the Church itself.

In his theological lay ministry, Dr Hunter sought to bring the People of God closer to the love of Christ by making them understand their faith better.

This, too, is a form of prophetic witness, and this too is something the Church needs more of.