Social Teaching of the Church:

READING FOR YOU…

Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Città del Vaticano, Pauline Publications, Bandra, Mumbai, 2004, 656 pp., Rs.350.00

The new document, Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, has been published by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, at the request of the late John Paul II. It is an indispensable instrument for the process of Evangelization. It proclaims the Gospel values within the complex contemporary network of relations or fabric of life.

The Compendium is divided into three parts: with twelve chapters –that cover pastoral principles, content and hopes. It was undertaken by Renato Card.Raffaele Martino, President of the Pontifical Council. It offers a comprehensive picture of the fundamental principles of Catholic social teaching/doctrine within the contemporary riddles and questions. I had the privilege of listening to the Secretary, Bishop Giampaolo Crepaldi, who was the main resource person of the Seminar held by the Theological and Doctrinal Commission of the CCBI in Mumbai on March 24-26, 2006.

The Church lives in the world and for the world. She cannot shun the problems of today, she offers solutions in the light of the Gospel values. It should also nourish ecumenical and inter-religious dialogue with all the people of good will. All can learn from it for their struggle against violation of human rights, for justice and peace. Obviously, it is directed primarily to Catholics, but also it will stimulate the action of people belonging to other faiths.

As the Bishop of Vasai, Thomas Dabre, the then Secretary General of CCBI and Chairman of the Theological and Doctrinal Commission of CCBI, puts it in his Endorsement, the Compendium is “a sort of an encyclopedia of the Church’s Social Doctrine”. It is recommended for institutes of philosophy, theology, houses of formation and to the pastors in their ministry, those who are actively engaged in the social work, and to all men of good will. The Indian edition of the Compendium was printed by the Daughters of St.Paul, Mumbai. May it be of use for all!

Leggendo per Voi…

Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Città del Vaticano, Pauline Publications, Bandra, Mumbai, 2004, 656 pp., Rs.350.00

Il nuovo documento, Compendio della Dottrina Sociale della Chiesa, fu pubblicato dal Concilio Pontificale per la Giustizia e Pace, alla richiesta del Papa Giovanni Paolo II di venerabile memoria. È un istrumento indispensabile per il processo dell’Evangelizzazione. Questo documento proclama i valori evangelici al seno della rete contemporanea così complessa delle relazioni oppure del tessuto dell’esistenza umana.

Il Compendio è diviso in tre parti e contiene dodici capitoli—che comportano principi pastorali, contenuto e speranze…. È stato intrapreso dal Cardinale Renato Raffaele Martino, Presidente del Concilio Pontificio. Offre un quadro comprensivo dei principi fondamentali della dottrina sociale cattolica al seno dei problemi e questioni contemporanei. Ho avuto l’onore d’ascoltare il Segretario, Vescovo Giampaolo Crepaldi, nel Convegno sulla Dottrina Sociale della Chiesa, tenutosi dalla Commissione Teologica e Dottrinale della Conferenza Vescovile Indiana (CCBI) nella città di Mumbai dal Marzo 24-26, 2006.

La Chiesa vive nel mondo e per il mondo. Lei non può sfuggire i problemi d’oggi, lei offre soluzioni alla luce dei valori del Vangelo. Deve anzi nutrire dialogo ecumenico ed inter-religioso coi popoli della buona volontà. Tutti possono imparare da lui per la lotta contro le violazioni dei diritti umani, per la giustizia e la pace. Ovviamente questo è primariamente orientato verso i Cattolici, ma può anche stimolare l’azione dei popoli appartenenti ad altre religioni e comunità religiose.

Come il Vescovo di Vasai, Thomas Dabre, allora Segretario Generale della CCBI e Preside della Commissione Teologica e Dottrinale della CCBI ha scritto nella sua Raccommandazione, il Compendio è “una specie di una encyclopedia della Dottrina Sociale della Chiesa”. Si raccommanda agli istituti di filosofia, teologia, case di formazione, ai pastori nel loro ministero, a coloro che sono attivamente impegnati nell’azione sociale, e a tutti gli uomini di buona volontà. L’edizione Indiana è stato impressa daglie Figlie di San Paolo, Mumbai. Che sia utile a tutti!

Symposium on Social Teaching of the Church:

Use Church’s social teachings to build justice, say speakers

MUMBAI, India (UCAN) — A symposium on the Catholic Church’s social doctrines has stressed Indian Catholics’ role in working for a just and peaceful society based on Church teaching.

India is a country of “great opulence” and “dehumanizing poverty” with millions living “on the fringes of existence,” Cardinal Oswald Gracias of Bombay told symposium participants during the March 13-15 meeting.

Referring to Catholic social teaching compiled in the “Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church,” he said the Church in India “has shown her concern for human life in society through various development works, numerous social institutions, schools and hospitals.”

The compendium was published in 2004 by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace.

The cardinal urged participants to “expand their hearts to meet the needs of the poor” and take steps to fight poverty” in attempts to “build a civilization of peace.”

The Theological and Doctrinal commission of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India organized the symposium in Mumbai. It discussed the “Church’s Social Doctrine Promoting A Civilization Of Peace: Commitment To The Common Good In A World of Economic, Political And Social Conflicts.”

About 600 people including 12 bishops, 90 priests and some 150 nuns from 58 dioceses attended the program. Speakers said the Church’s social doctrines can be used as an instrument to build up a civilization of peace.

Cardinal Renato Raffaele Martino, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, in his paper, said newspapers routinely report about social, economic and political troubles.

“There has been so much of bad news” from India with anti-Christian violence continuing “to plague the lives of so many people in various areas of the country,” said the cardinal’s paper, which was read out as he did not attend the program.

“The solutions to many of these troubles come directly from the Gospel message given to us by our Lord Jesus. One of the ways by which this message comes to us is through the social doctrine of the Church,” Cardinal Martino said.

Cardinal Gracias, in his presentation, spoke of how discriminatory and inhuman treatment of over 165 million dalit people in India has been justified on the basis of caste, an issue which the Church here needs to address.

About 60 percent of the 2.3 million Indian Christians come from dalit groups. Dalit, literally meaning “trampled upon” or “broken open,” denotes the former untouchables at the bottom of the Indian caste system.

Cardinal Gracias, president of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India based in Mumbai, said the “Compendium on the Social Doctrine of the Church” asserts “radical equality and brotherhood among all people, regardless of their race, nation, sex, origin, culture or class.”

The Church also works to eliminate exploitation of women and gender discrimination, he said. On sexual exploitation of women and children, the prelate noted that human trafficking is reportedly the third most profitable crime worldwide, after drugs and arms dealing. “We need to make every effort to ensure that women regain full respect” in terms of their dignity, he stressed.

Church teachings also urge Catholics to protect families, fight poverty and care for the elderly, he added.

The cardinal stressed that “our commitment to a culture of life and a civilization of peace can be evaluated by our attitude and response to these poorer and weaker human beings.”

The 2001 Indian census showed that 12.5 million children aged 5-14 years were child laborers then, he said. Many of them, including girls, were engaged in hazardous occupations despite a law prohibiting the employment of children.

“This is the sign that the values of the Gospel have not yet percolated far enough to destroy that ruthless combination of poverty and selfishness that makes child labor possible. This is surely the task at hand for the Indian Church,” the cardinal emphasized.