The exercise of co-responsibility is essential for the growth of the Church, the vice chairperson of the Department for Formation, Life, and Apostolate of The Laity of the Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference (SACBC) has said.

In a recent interview with Vatican News, Bishop Noel Andrew Rucastle of Oudtshoorn Diocese said one of the priorities of the amended constitution of the Southern African Catholic Council for Laity (SACCL) is to encourage Bishops, the Clergy, and religious to work together with the laity.

“We are trying to promote the three C’s,” commitment, communication, and co-responsibility “because it is about commitment… effective communication, and collaboration which is so very important. That we as bishops work together with the laity that the laity works together with us and with the clergy,” said Bishop Rucastle.

Recalling the theme of the Synod “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission,” Bishop Rucastle said, “It’s Pope Francis that reminds us of Co-responsibility, and I think that’s what we are trying to promote through the Laity Council.”

It’s “a reminder that we as clergy together with the laity, we build the church, we are the church, and we make the church effective. And we both have a responsibility for evangelization, bringing the good news to the world,” he added.

The Local Ordinary of Oudtshoorn Diocese who doubles as the Liaison Bishop for Marriage and Family Life Apostolate went on to talk about some of the obstacles faced by families in the SACBC region, and recommended seeking guidance from Pope Francis Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Amoris Laetitia (The Joy of Love).

“The obstacles are many, at times almost seeming insurmountable, and I think that’s why I say being a Bishop appointed by Pope Francis, my go-to place is every time to see where the Pontiff leads us, and so the beautiful and cyclical Amoris Laetitia tells us and gives us guidance as to how we ought to do it,” he said.

He added, “We are to start first and foremost with that word, with that phrase co-responsibility and walking together, and I think linked with that is another word that Pope Francis often highlights, accompaniment. How do we accompany each other?… Co-responsibility, that accompaniment is how we essentially as clergy, can assist families.”

With economic challenges and a rise in gender-based violence in South Africa, Bishop Rucastle said, “When a society is broken,” the Church has “to go back to what we initially had.”

“Upholding the dignity of a family, encouraging family members to stay together, counselling, providing all those opportunities to accompany as Pope Francis says in Amoris Laetitia,” he added.

In the interview with Vatican News, Bishop Rucastle called for a Synodal Church that accompanies all, “Whether it be families who have gone through a divorce, separation, the children of those who are affected by it, single parent families, parents who are currently going through many difficulties. We have to reach out to them.”