A Profound Synergy

The following is a recent online article from Reuters.com:
----------------------------------
President Michelle Bachelet, on a visit to Italy, met with Pope Benedict XVI in his private study at the Vatican Thursday to talk about political and social issues.

The closed-door meeting lasted 40 minutes, during which time Bachelet and the Pope analyzed the socio-political situation in Chile and its role in Latin America. Discussion also touched on a variety of other topics, including “human life and the family, education, human rights, justice and peace and other important questions on the international agenda,” according to a Vatican statement.

Bachelet said she “found the Pope to be cordial, kind, genteel, very knowledgeable about Chile. Without doubt, it was a very emotional experience for me.”

Bachelet, a self-declared agnostic and divorced mother of three, had clashed with the Catholic Church earlier this year when she approved a law that allows girls over the age of 14 to get the “morning-after pill” free, without parental consent. It had previously been available only to those with a prescription who could afford it, and girls between 14 and 18 years old had been required to show parental consent.

There was no talk of disagreement following Thursday’s meeting.

“We agree with the Pope on many values, such as the defense of the family, which plays an important role,” said Bachelet.

The president said she found tremendous agreement between the ideas of the Pontificate and those supported by her government.

“I am deeply humanist, and so the Pope and I discussed how I, as a secular humanist, have a profound synergy and closeness with the Christian and Catholic humanists that are within the coalition or in our society,” said Bachelet.

She added that in this area she also agreed with the Pope that what are truly important are the values behind the beliefs. For these reasons, Bachelet said, “the relationship with the Catholic Church in Chile and of course here in the Vatican is excellent, it’s fluid and it has sufficient trust to bring up all the topics each side requires.”

Bachelet also said she extended an invitation to the Pope to visit Chile when he was able, noting the importance for Chile of Pope John Paul II’s visit in 1987.

----------------------------

Implications for Ministry:

- The growing synergy between Catholic and Humanistic values deepen our desire to teach Biblical Truth, the Gospel, and Jesus Christ.

-Sexual promiscuity is growing at a rapid rate. Teaching purity and self control will fly in the face of the culture. Only Biblical Truth, the Gospel, and Jesus Christ can help.

-The Pope may be coming! The Pope may be coming! And if he does, it will be A BIG DEAL to the Chileans. It will also be an open door for conversations of Biblical Truth, the Gospel, and Jesus Christ.

Thank you for your praying for our family during these last stages of preparation to serve in Chile. After reading these articles, we are even more ready to go and share Christ. We trust in God to bring in the remaining support to allow us to go.