Official response of the Japanese Church to the lineamenta

National Catholic Reporter, March 27, 1998

Introduction: The process of preparation of the response

1. Three months needed for translation

Upon receipt of the English and French translations of the lineamenta published in Rome on Sept. 3, 1996, we began at once to have it translated into Japanese. This took about three months. Copies of the translation were distributed to each diocese on Dec. 17, 1996. In each diocese the bishop took the lead in common study sessions and made it the subject of prayer.

2. Discussion at two plenary assemblies

After the bishops of each diocese received the Japanese translation of the lineamenta, they studied them together with the priests of their dioceses for about two months and tried to formulate an answer to the questions of the lineamenta. However, though they had asked their priests for an answer to the questions of the lineamenta, the reaction was that it was not possible to answer those questions. Then, at the discussion at the Extraordinary Plenary Assembly (Feb. 18-21, 1997) on how to prepare the official response, as we shall note below, many opinions were expressed on the questions themselves as well as about requests to be made of the synod itself.

a) Opinions of the bishops concerning the questions of the lineamenta themselves: Since the questions of the lineamenta were composed in the context of Western Christianity, they are not suitable. Among the questions are some concerning whether the work of evangelization is going well or not, but what is the standard of evaluation? If it is the number of baptisms, etc., it is very dangerous. From the way the questions are proposed, one feels that the holding of the synod is like an occasion for the central office to evaluate the performance of the branch offices. That kind of synod would not be worthwhile for the church in Asia. The judgment should not be made from a European framework but must be seen on the spiritual level of the people who live in Asia.

b) Hopes for the synod: If the synod is to be carried out for the church in Asia, it must have a different approach than for other continents. The same approach as in the West will not be successful. The most important thing is the "inculturation" of our thinking. As the Holy Father says, our objective must be a "New Evangelization." In other words, a new zeal that is different from that we have had till now, new expressions (and a completely different method of communication), new methods (a different approach from the traditional one). If we are to have a Synod for Asia, in order that the method and process may be different from that for a Synod for the West or for Africa, before composing the instrumentum laboris the priorities of the church of Asia must be presented clearly.,

Accordingly, the bishops' conference decided that they would prepare their own questions for the Japanese church and ask the opinions of the major seminaries, theology faculties and the various religious congregations.

Four months later at the Ordinary Plenary Assembly (June 16-21, 1997), they considered the more than 325 replies submitted by the bishops themselves, the major seminaries, the theology faculties, religious congregations, individual priests and religious, councils of the laity, etc., and composed the Official Response of the Japanese Church that is given below.

I. Requests of the Japanese Church to the Synodal Secretariat

1. Proposals concerning methodology

(1) Consideration of Asian countries without a common language

Of all the countries of Asia, there is not one that has as a native language among those ordinarily used by the Holy, See (Italian, English, French, German, Spanish). Countries like India and the Philippines, which have many different, languages, use English as a kind of common language. However, among the almost 40 nations that are to take part in the Special Assembly for Asia of the Synod of Bishops, they are a real exception. To fail to take this fact into account and to hold the Special Assembly according to the same time schedule and methodology as those of Europe and America, etc. is ill-advised. It is necessary to provide a period of preparation of at least six months from the publication of the instrumentum laboris until the synod itself. (We should like to point out that, it took three months from the publication of the lineamenta to its translation into Japanese and distribution to the bishops.) The bishops of Japan consider it most important to translate the instrumentum laboris, study it carefully and prepare themselves in prayer.

And for the same reason we request, that, together with determining English, and French as the languages to be used at the synod, provision be made for simultaneous translation from English and. French to Japanese and other languages as requested by the other conferences.

(2) Use of a methodology suited to Asian spirituality

Unlike Europe and Africa, the differences between the various nations of Asia are so fundamental that a basically different methodology from that used in the synods held up to now is called for. Using the methodology of the West, as is for the Special Assembly for Asia, will not be successful. Some sessions and activities should be included to work toward a united image and a new paradigm to include the varying realities and cultures of Asia, the differing mentalities and spiritual traditions.