A conference on depression
Apr 12, 2005
An Anglo-Saxon evaluation of the Nov. 13-15 depression conference, therefore, might focus on the fact that it produced no discernible “result.” From the Roman perspective, on the other hand, that was never the point.
(From the National Catholic Reporter, November 21, 2003) Cardinal Ivan Dias of Mumbai (Bombay), India, delivered the conference’s final talk. Careful readers will have noted that he is on the list of “top 10” papal candidates above.
Dias’ paper was titled, “Towards a Pastoral Care of Christian Faith and Trust in Life.” He emphasized use of the Bible, openness to the movements of the Holy Spirit, and the sacraments as keys to a pastoral strategy for depressed persons.
Dias offered examples of this pastoral care, which also help illustrate his attitude towards the hot-button issues of abortion and homosexuality.
“It is an open secret that hidden and unforgiven sins easily lead a person to be depressed,” Dias said. He told the story of a priest who was counseling a depressed woman. The priest bluntly asked if she had had an abortion. After initial anger, she said yes.
“The priest led her step by step to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation,” Dias said. “Then he helped her to accept the child she had rejected, to love it and even to give it a name. At every step the lady became calmer and at the end was all smiles at the thought of meeting her baby one day.”
Similarly, Dias said he knew a priest who had worked with three homosexual and lesbian couples.
“For many years they had been trying to get rid of their inordinate attachments through professional counseling and through the confessional, but in vain,” Dias said. “Their problem was leading them not to death of the body, but more seriously to that of the soul. You will be glad to learn that all three cases were cured completely of their unnatural tendencies.”
Dias urged greater effort in helping those who suffer from depression.
“Pastoral care for the depressed is a must today. It must enter every home, parish, community, diocese and society at large,” he said.
A conference on depression