Posted on 09/28/2011 9:45:42 AM PDT by Alex Murphy
OTTAWA - The Canadian Catholic bishops have issued a message on social justice to young Catholics encouraging them to commit themselves to building a “more just and joyful society.”
In a message released Sept. 22, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Commission for Justice and Peace urged young Catholics to participate in furthering the “Millennium objectives for development.”
“The Catholic Church shares all of humanity’s common quest for peace and happiness, and supports efforts of individuals and groups working to eradicate poverty, illness, injustice, inequality, human rights violations and environmental exploitation,” says the Message to Young Catholics on Social Justice. “This witness of solidarity flows from God’s love for humanity as revealed to us in Jesus Christ.”
The bishops urge young Catholics not to give way to the temptation of discouragement and “take refuge in personal comfort” but to find encouragement in the Bible through examples of struggles of injustice found in the examples of the Old Testament prophets, John the Baptist and “the Virgin Mary who as a young woman welcomed Jesus, the One sent by the Father to bring good news to the poor.”
The message cites 1 John: “I write to you, young people, because you are strong and God’s word remains in you, and you have overcome the evil one.”
“Inspired by Scripture, you can use your courage and energy to overcome obstacles that may appear insurmountable,” it says.
The message includes quotes from young Catholics involved in leadership — from the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace, the Canadian Catholic Students’ Association and Catholic Christian Outreach.
“In a society heavily focused on consumption and the accumulation of material wealth, it is important to remember the Gospel values of simplicity, generosity and justice for all,” the message says.
The message reminds young Catholics of Pope Benedict XVI’s message to World Youth Day 2011 about how Western culture “tends to exclude God, and to consider faith a purely private issue without relevance for the life of society.”
The bishops urge commitment to social justice as a “concrete way” to offer Christian hope and witness to Christ’s love by raising awareness “of global issues in light of the Church’s social teaching” and urges young Catholics to involve themselves in Catholic social justice agencies and to become active in their parishes.
The message can be read at www.cccb.ca.
“The Catholic Church shares all of humanity’s common quest for peace and happiness, and supports efforts of individuals and groups working to eradicate poverty, illness, injustice, inequality, human rights violations and environmental exploitation,” says the Message to Young Catholics on Social Justice. “This witness of solidarity flows from God’s love for humanity as revealed to us in Jesus Christ”....
....The bishops urge commitment to social justice as a “concrete way” to offer Christian hope and witness to Christ’s love by raising awareness “of global issues in light of the Church’s social teaching” and urges young Catholics to involve themselves in Catholic social justice agencies and to become active in their parishes.
Were this a different forum, I could succinctly express the essence of that statement with easily recognized bovine references. My repentant self would say, however, that this squishy clap-trap is nothing more than a slippery rabbit trail away from the true "Christian hope and witness to Christ’s love". Jesus didn't go to the cross to save the spotted owls.
The blind leading the blind.
Catholicism is not a faith to be compartmentalized and hidden from the public out of respect for non-Catholics. It is fully a way of life governing and guiding our thoughts and words, what we do and what we fail to do. It is a life long process towards Salvation by sinners and saints. The Church guides and facilitates, nurtures and educates, mourns and celebrates. Get over it, get used to it, get on board or get out of the way.
I seem to remember charity, justice and brotherly love being good things for Christians..
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