‘Jonas’, an organization of French priests,
made this statement in October 2000. Translation by Isaac Wüst. Email:
jonas@synodeparvis.com.
It is time to speak out; we must not be silent accomplices. The
episcopate is practically non-existent in France. The best among our bishops
are courageously, but silently for the moment, preparing for the future while a
few others are just in a holding pattern. The majority however have been chosen
to toe the line and are nothing but mouthpieces of a decadent and divided power
structure. It is quite sad to realise that, at the outset of the third
millenium, our pastors have deserted the People of Vatican II (cf. Daniel
3,38). Have we been abandoned by them? We must take a stand and state that we
are determined to be those People who could not have been mistaken when they
they gave thanks for the Council and who today are highly discontented with
dubious canonisations, calls to order stemming from a dying christendom, a
petrified morality which obliterates forgiveness towards remarried
divorcees… and also casts a heavy shadow over ecumenism and freedom of
religion.
Christ has been disfigured. On the strength of Christ's grace and of our
baptism we will put our full energy towards the development of the People of
God of which we are members and we will do it in cooperation with priests who
are true believers in the People of God. And we will continue to enjoy the new
Spring brought about by Vatican II and which sprouted beautiful flowers which
have not all withered away and are still capable to bear wonderful new fruits.
It is not our intention to threathen anyone. We are not a bunch of hoodlums. We
simply ask you not to speak from both sides of your mouth and, even when
it’s not easy, to be faithful followers of the Gospel of Christ adapted to
our times.
