Brothers and sisters in Christ, may the grace and peace of the Lord be with you! This April, as we prepare to celebrate the Lord's Resurrection, our Brazilian bishops gather in Aparecida for the 62nd General Assembly of the CNBB. This meeting, taking place from April 15th to 24th, brings a significant innovation: electronic devices that are transforming how decisions are made in our Church.
Communion and Efficiency Walking Together
In an increasingly digital world, the Church finds creative ways to use technology to strengthen communion and streamline important processes. So-called "keypads" – small voting devices – are being used by bishops during this assembly, allowing votes to occur with greater speed and accuracy.
As the apostle Paul teaches us: "'I have the right to do anything,' you say—but not everything is beneficial. 'I have the right to do anything'—but I will not be mastered by anything" (1 Corinthians 6:12, NIV). This wisdom guides us to use available resources with discernment, always seeking the common good and the building up of the community.
How This New Tool Works
During votes on important matters like the General Guidelines for Evangelizing Action, approval of teams, and other crucial issues for the Church's life in Brazil, each bishop receives a simple, intuitive device:
- Number 1 to vote "yes"
- Number 2 to vote "no"
- Number 3 to vote "null" or abstain
The system works without internet, ensuring security and reliability in results. After years of careful testing – including a simulation during the CNBB's Permanent Council in February – this technology has been implemented to serve the Church.
Tradition and Innovation in Dialogue
Some might wonder: "Why change traditional methods?" The answer lies in the very nature of the Church, which is both holy and always in need of reform. As the Book of Proverbs reminds us: "The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out" (Proverbs 18:15, NIV).
Implementing these devices doesn't replace spiritual discernment, prayer, or fraternal dialogue that have always characterized bishops' assemblies. On the contrary, it frees more time for these essential aspects, reducing bureaucracy and manual processes that consumed precious hours.
A Witness to Unity in Diversity
It's worth remembering that our EncuentraIglesias.com platform celebrates the richness of the Christian family in its diversity. While we observe this development in Brazil's Catholic Church, we recognize that each Christian tradition finds its own ways to make community decisions, always guided by the Holy Spirit.
The apostle Peter exhorts us: "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins" (1 Peter 4:8, NIV). This fundamental truth unites us beyond any method or technology.
Reflection for Our Communities
Dear brothers and sisters, this news invites us to reflect: how are our local communities using available resources to strengthen communion and decision-making?
Whether in parish councils, youth groups, pastoral ministries, or lay movements, we're all called to seek creative ways to live our faith in community. Sometimes, small changes – like streamlining a vote or improving communication – can create space for more prayer, more attentive listening, and more charitable action.
"Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain" (1 Corinthians 15:58, NIV).
As our bishops gather under the protection of Our Lady of Aparecida, let's ask the Holy Spirit to guide their deliberations. May this new technological tool serve to deepen ecclesial communion and make the Gospel proclamation more effective in our continent.
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