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10624153142793


Los hombres no podrían vivir juntos si no tuvieran confianza recíproca, es decir, si no se manifestasen la verdad… En justicia, un hombre debe honestamente a otro la manifestación de la verdad”. — Santo Tomás de Aquino

A veces me pregunto cómo funcionaría la sociedad si viviéramos siempre en la verdad. Se necesita valentía para ser testigos de la verdad todo el tiempo y en todos los niveles.

Esforzarse por esta integridad cuesta, porque los convencionalismos sociales motivan a que la gente haga lo “políticamente correcto”, algo que exige la tolerancia a cualquier precio, pero no el testimonio de la verdad.

Así ha sucedido desde el tiempo de Sócrates. San Justino interpretó su juicio como anticipación del juicio de Jesús. En su obra “El escándalo de la verdad”, el teólogo Jean Danielou escribió que no fue ayer cuando la verdad se convirtió en algo vergonzoso. Expresó que el testimonio de la verdad es el mayor obstáculo en el camino de los poderosos en su conspiración para el dominio, y en el de los listos en su deseo de autosuficiencia. Danielou advierte que los numerosos ataques, groseros o sutiles, eventualmente paralizan este sentido de la verdad aun en las mentes de quienes lo profesan, y permiten ser intimidados por la interrogación que alterna la burla con amenazas, poniéndose de acuerdo para relegar la verdad a las esquinas oscuras de sus sacristías o a los lugares ocultos de sus corazones. Según el teólogo, en nuestros tiempos, nada se encuentra más debilitado que la inteligencia, y nada se aprecia menos que la verdad.

Como pastor de comunidades, san Pablo estaba muy consciente de la lucha que esto representa: para poner fin a la falsedad, pidió a los nuevos creyentes que “renuncien a la mentira y digan siempre la verdad a su prójimo, ya que todos somos miembros, los unos de los otros” (Ef. 4:25). Deben respetar la reputación de los demás evitando juicios, detracciones y calumnias. El bien común requiere honrar al prójimo, quien, por su propia paz, debe ser protegido del engaño y la adulación.

En un extraordinario comentario sobre el octavo mandamiento, el Catecismo de la Iglesia Católica dice que “Toda falta cometida contra la justicia y la verdad entraña el deber de reparación” (#2487).

Uno de los asuntos más serios que afecta al laicado de nuestros días es el de aquellos que sirven en la vida política, pero rehúsan ser testigos de la verdad de la vida humana y de otras verdades elementales, con el fin de mantener sus cargos u obtener el favor de los líderes de su partido. Algunos hasta sostienen que mantienen esos valores a nivel personal, pero que su trabajo conlleva representar el punto de vista de la mayoría de la población. Me pregunto si santo Tomas Moro o san Juan Fisher contemplarían tal sofisma.

Uno de los desafíos más serios para nosotros, como clero, es acoger la responsabilidad y la transparencia en la dirección de nuestras parroquias e instituciones. La verdad nos hará libres. No hay nada que temer al presentar cuentas objetivas sobre nuestra administración. San Juan dice con admiración que Jesucristo es “lleno de gracia y de verdad “ (Jn. 1:14). Él es la luz. Él es la Verdad. Él motiva a los discípulos a morar en la verdad, y a decir “sí cuando es sí, y no cuando es no” (Mt. 5:37).

A veces oigo que el pontificado de Benedicto XVI se ve afectado por toda clase de crisis alarmantes. Sin duda, enfrenta tiempos desafiantes en el mundo entero y hasta en su propia ciudad, donde una universidad le retiró la invitación por miedo a las presiones. Estoy convencido de que el Papa está preparado para enfrentar directamente las manipulaciones del príncipe del mal, sin ser intimidado por el escándalo de la verdad, porque tiene el carácter, la inteligencia y la sabiduría para brillar como fiel servidor de la Verdad.

Dijo un poeta que la verdad escasea en nuestros tiempos. De ser así, la necesidad de ser sus testigos es mayor. El gran pensador cubano, Padre Félix Varela, lo convirtió en una búsqueda permanente: “la caridad cristiana y buena lógica”.

Comments from readers

Neida D. Perez - 07/11/2010 08:48 AM
In preaching the TRUTH that is Jesus Christ, I often hear the counsel of the monks: "Ora e labora, pray and work. I extend the prayer part to all the talk that I do. I also live by the words of the late Pope Paul VI: "Prayer is the starting point of action." Of course, there is much more to prayer. I also remember the words of Christ, something like don't hide your light under the bushel or "celemin." Those are some of the ideas that have helped me to witness to the TRUTH, Jesus Christ.
Br. Jay Rivera - 07/11/2010 03:33 AM
The good bishop is pointing to one the saddest tragedies of human history, the attack on courage. Truth never disappears, because Truth is the person of Jesus Christ. However, Truth requires witnesses and witnesses often become martyrs. Today, those who try to lead by truth will experience intimidation. Others will accuse them of being extremists, disconnected from reality, intolerant, unpatriotic and unreasonable. The pressure to be politically correct instead of truthful is a refined form of torture of the human spirit.
Maria Jose Mitsoulis - 07/09/2010 04:05 PM
It is not easy to be a witness of Christ in our society today. But, it is our greatest challenge as followers of Christ. May God's grace be always with us to live in the Truth and be true witness. Thank you for your beautiful reflection. The Truth will set us free.
Neida D. Perez - 07/08/2010 03:24 AM
I always learn something new from your program "Entre lo Humano y lo Divino." Regarding TRUTH, it can be taken in multiple levels of meaning. At the personal level, I have adopted a sort of mantra response, "We need to learn how to live with each other." That saves me from the sin of gossip and of revealing the limitations of other people. Regarding human life, I try hard not to sound like a prophet of doom. Future generations will ask what the young Germans are asking today, "Where were the men and women of good faith? Where were the Christians.?" In a dissenting opinion of the Supreme Court (5-4) the judges affirm that the decision was based on what is popular, not on constitutional law. There is a popular saying among the Cubans, "apaga y vamos"; meaning there is nothing else to do. I hope we can wake up and bring the light of Christ everywhere.
Daniel Rodriguez - 07/07/2010 03:06 PM
Bishop Estevez peace be with you and our brothers in truth. It is always a pleasure hearing the truth, especially from our church leaders. I understand why some people withhold the truth to spare hurting someone else's feelings. I have been guilty of that myself. I pray that the Holy Spirit help me with this type of confrontation with the truth. I also ask for guidance from the Holy Spirit, to help me always in being Christ like, in a world where our values are constantly being challenged. Thank you for being the instrument of truth in our community. Let the light of Christ shine brightly in truth and in love.
Thomas Comerford - 07/07/2010 01:23 PM
Bishop Estevez you are on the mark and certainly when it come to the politians at the local, state and federal levels. Then not only need to speak the truth, but also avoid speaking half-truths. God bless you for your words of wisdom and the words of wisdom of the saints.
Sister Lidia Valli - 07/07/2010 09:34 AM
Thank you Bishop Estevez for your clarity and for the importance of the subject you presented. I plan to use it with our teachers when we will be back in August. May God bless you! Deo gratias! Sr. Lidia Valli
Katherine Orces - 07/06/2010 08:36 PM
WOW! What a letter you have written here Bishop Estevez! Excellent! Thank you for writing this - really speaks to my heart. Living in the truth is extremely difficult in our secular world. I love all the quotes you include. Thank you and God bless!
p.s. Glad you all had a glorious time at the Vatican and that you made it home safely!
Cecilia Sone - 07/06/2010 07:09 PM
Thank you Bishop Estevez for this wonderful article. As a Catholic Healthcare provider I can understand the ramifications that our society places on those who speak the truth especially in the area of contraception, abortion, Invitro, euthanasia etc.. etc.. But one thing I can share: is that there is nothing more freeing or liberating than the Truth! The Truth will set us free and those whom God entrust to our care as healthcare providers. Science and Faith mounted on the Truth...found in Christ and in the teachings of Our Beloved Catholic Church. Jesus said: I Am the way the Truth and the Life! (John 14:6) Thank you for your spiritual fatherhood as Christ you always lead us to the truth which in Christ always gives life!
ED INFANTE - 07/06/2010 07:01 PM
I'd like to make a short comment about this section of the article written by Bishop Estevez: "One of the most serious matters affecting Catholic laity today lies with those who are serving in political life but refuse to witness to the truth of human life and other basic truths in order to keep their offices or to be in good graces with their parties' leaders".
Dear Bishop Estevez: When have you heard any prophetic voice from our clergy (bishops, priests, deacons) exhorting the laity to do what you say they should do? When do you hear bishops, priests, deacons telling doctors the inmorality of abortion? When do you hear prophetic voices proclaiming to us, laity, the evils of abortions and contraception? Our Lord said very clearly to "Go, baptize and TEACH what I have told you" The prophetic voice of the clergy is missisng!
Ed Infante
Norma T. Molina - 07/06/2010 02:46 PM
Thank you for such a great article, Bishop Est�vez.
The challenge is ahead of us! If we Christians and Catholics would only understand the words of Jesus himself: The truth shall set you free! (Jn 8:32) Jesus asked us to believe in him and to remain in his word, so that we may become his disciples, and then we will know the truth... (JN 8:31)
May the Lord give us his grace through the hands of the Immaculate, so that we may be open to receive and know the truth and communicate it to others in charity but with courage so that we may all be free.

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