杏MAP导航

By Francesca Merlo

Bishop Rochas Tatamai of Kavieng in Papua New Guinea is attending the Meeting in the Vatican on 鈥渢he Protection of the Minors in the Church鈥� and is one of the representatives of Oceania. He reacs to the discourse of Cardinal Cupich, stating that 鈥渋n principle it is a good thing to have some concrete steps鈥�from an American perspective鈥�. This, he says, will help the Church in Papua New Guinea to 鈥渟eriously and critically鈥� analyse their own situation and apply the messages that they 鈥渕ay be able to learn from鈥�. This, according to Bishop Tatamai, is one of the most important things that is happening here: 鈥淲e are sharing resources, sharing ideas鈥�.

Church in Papua New Guinea

But what exactly is the situation of the Church in Papua New Guinea?

Bishop Tatamai says that the Church in Papua New Guinea is 鈥渟till a very 鈥榩eople-oriented鈥� Church鈥�, and that its capacities 鈥渁re not as complex as those in the European and American structures鈥�.

That, he says, is 鈥渁 big plus鈥� - the fact that 鈥渨e are a Church that is together with lay people.鈥� In Papua New Guinea, the Bishop says, just as young people are, the lay people are involved, and when events are being organized, the Bishops, he says 鈥渁lways take into account the direct effect, the immediate effect, on the people.鈥�

A maternal model

The people of the Church of Papua New Guinea鈥檚, continues Bishop Tatamai, have been 鈥渧ery, very forgiving鈥�, with regard to the issue of clerical sexual abuse. Forgiving, he specifies, 鈥渢o us, the Church鈥�. He believes that this is down to the fact that the people look up to priests and look up to the Church, seeing it as 鈥渁 maternal model鈥�.

The Church of Papua New Guinea, according to Bishop Tatamai 鈥渉as been providing all the services鈥�. It is the 鈥渂right light鈥� of Papua New Guinea, he says.

Despite this, says the Bishop, the meeting so far has been an 鈥渆ye-opener鈥�. He explains that 鈥渨e have to confront the reality that the media presents.鈥� The other aspects that must be considered, he says, 鈥渞egard the development of the Church so far鈥�. Coming from a very young church 鈥渨akes everybody up to say 鈥榠s this how far we can go?鈥� and 鈥榳hen maturity comes is this what happens?鈥欌��

Contributions

Bishop Tatamai concludes saying he wants to 鈥渂uild up鈥� the Church鈥檚 capacities. During the meeting there has been much discussion on the inclusion of lay people in the Church and reiterates, 鈥渨e already have the lay people with us鈥�. And though in Papua New Guinea 鈥渨e many not have the capacities or resources that others have around the world鈥� he says 鈥渨e can give our contribution鈥�.