SFO International Council - Weekly edition
Volume: 10 - N. 11 - 2004 - March - II
From: CIOFS Bulletin, 2003, N. 3
Ana Maria Olmedo Ramos
Ana Maria Olmedo Ramos, from whom we received this message, is a Guatemalan Secular Franciscan charged with formation responsibilities not only for her national fraternity but also for the vast area of the Central American countries. She was proposed by the Presidency CIOFS and appointed by the CFF (Conference of the Franciscan Family) as member of the Executive Board of Franciscans International. In this role, she presented in Geneva, on July 2003, an articulate report of high spiritual and moral value.
For lack of space, we are able to present only the highlights, limiting ourselves to only those explanations, interpretations, and proposals that are of value outside of the specific Guatemalan reality.
In her introduction, Ana Maria presents an interesting and dramatic description of the situation in her country after ten years of bloody guerrilla warfare, that has produced a “culture of violence.” She goes on to analyze causes and effects of an economic, political, social, and also religious nature (proliferation of fundamentalist sects “which anesthetize and buy consciences through an indoctrination that alienates and assistance which maintains dependence”). Those causes and effects do overlap and grow reciprocally, in their co-responsibility of all hues, which -- internally and externally in the country -- impede the self-realization of the Guatemalan people and the overcoming of unjust structures that have brought them into the situation in which they find themselves. In Ana Maria's own words:
In order to change unjust structures it is necessary:
-- To heal wounds by the constant search for ways of fraternal unity through dialogue and justice; to change our attitudes in favour of the Kingdom of God, trusting in the divine seed present in every person, and in the transforming power of forgiveness.
-- To implement true Evangelisation and Education for Peace at every level; to promote a culture of solidarity and of dignity based on justice, on the defence of human rights and on the safe guarding of Creation.
Increasing poverty being the main factor in this situation, it is necessary to seek international help for support and resources to enable the promotion of an education for peace. In some countries there are NGO’s financed by international organisations. Their aim is to establish a Formation of Culture for Peace in areas where there is the greatest need. However, from personal experience I am going to analyse the type of help they have been giving.
From time immemorial European institutions including the Catholic Church have felt called to solidarity with the under-developed countries of South America. They have generously come to help us with the intention of alleviating the problems of food, shelter and clothing of the thousands of poor people who live in these countries. This help has been opportune in difficult times. However, we must recognise that this has only solved the problem on a temporary basis, but not permanently. Therefore this type of welfare assistance has made us dependant. It has provided us with fish but it has not taught us how to fish.
When it was realised that Welfare assistance was not eradicating poverty but in a certain sense maintained it, some agencies, especially the NGO (Non Goverment Organisations) took on the task of development. They started to teach the people specific skills, teaching them how to fish and to create competence through efficiency. This brought about what we could call Promotional Charity. In some way it made people realize the importance to develop themselves without need to depend on other people. The problem arose when the powerfull saw their own interests being challenged. This brought about an unprecedented persecution. There was nowhere left to fish because those in power made sure that the poor had no access to the lakes. At this point Promotional Charity acquired some negative aspects:
-- Blame was laid on others. It was restated that the rich create poverty. This resulted in the hurt becoming confrontational. People began to fight against those who had dried out the lakes.
-- People who were disillusioned started to attack those who they thought were opposing them. Evangelical Commitment to work for the good of all was lost. At times strength and energy were worn down by false hopes and empty promises which came to nothing.
-- Some members of the NGO treated us like adolescents not yet capable of making our own decisions. Very often they put conditions on us by obliging us to take on other cultures with their own ideology. These were often far removed from the values of the Gospel.
-- Instead of complaining about those responsible for drying out the lakes would it not be better to renew the structures which would conserve them for everyone?
What type of aid do we need specifically?
We need funding and resources that will allow us to have a place in our own society and which will enable us to work towards a culture of brotherhood, justice and peace according to Evangelical principles. For this reason we could call it Structural, Juridical or Political Charity, because it is about changing unjust structures which do not favour human development; it is about promoting an organisation that will help us to live in solidarity by joining forces. The type of aid we need must have the following characteristics :
-- First of all, and in accordance with Gospel values, wounds caused by existing unjust structures must be healed. Historical memory must be restored and just economic, moral and spiritual compensation must be made to the victims of oppressive systems.
-- Mental health care must be offered to ex war combatants. The perpetrators of genocide and those responsible for so many massacres must be brought to justice.
-- Structures for the promotion of dialogue and reconciliation must be renewed. There must be a profound and radical transformation in the attitudes of all those seeking the common good so that the lake does not disappear.
-- We must reach full maturity. This will help us to understand that we are poor because we have not assumed our responsibility to stand against unjust structures. We must encourage co-responsibility and raise moral values to recognise the dignity of each person.
-- We must promote mutual tolerance and respect for other cultures. We must have a universal vision springing from an unconditional love of God; only in this way is it possible to create sustainable life for everyone and with everyone.
In concluding, Ana Maria gives us a message to think about:
We should not be trying to change the world or even a single country. We are all in this vicious circle of violence and we can only come out of it by changing our attitudes of indifference, resignation, passivity and confrontation. We must each initiate the process of transformation in the place where we live and work. We must become small cells which little by little transform the whole organism until the body is completely healthy.
Ana Maria is convinced that in this process the Franciscan Family, through FI (Franciscans International), has an important role to play. May this enthusiasm be encouragement and stimulus for all Secular Franciscans in the world! For those who may want to contact her, Ana Maria’s e-mail address is anaolm@intelnett.com
In his message of congratulations to the SFO for the 25th anniversary of the Rule’s approval, Fr. John Quigley, OFM, wrote to the General Minister of the SFO: “I rejoice in seeing that many brothers and sisters are very dedicated to the promotion and defense of human rights, an effort that the Geneva FI fulfills daily in the name of the poor and the oppressed.”