Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Santiago (Agenzia Fides) – The National Pastoral Office for Alcoholism and Drug Addiction (PANAD) has asked that all dioceses join in celebrating the International Drugs Prevention Day on June 26. The President and Director of PANAD, Bishop Luis Infanti De la Mora and Fr. Sergio Naser respectively, have sent out a letter to all the dioceses’ Bishops, asking that they celebrate a Mass in the evening on this day, in their Cathedrals.
During these Masses, there will be a public presentation of “The Christian World’s Commitment to Drug Prevention” and its practical application will begin as well, PANAD confirmed at the “Palacio de La Moneda.” This past April 21, various representatives of the Christian Churches signed a commitment to actively work in the prevention of drug-intake, in conjunction with the CONACE. Representing the Catholic Church among the signatures, was the Archbishop of Santiago Cardinal Francisco Javier Errazuriz. The agreement implies a service in the country’s 13 regions and is a sign of the capacity to join forces in working on important issues concerning the people.
The text contains the commitment to work together against this phenomenon and to place emphasis on the spiritual dimension implied in it, which is where the main contribution of the Christian Churches comes into play. It also highlights the promotion of the family as an agent of protection and the need to provide all possible human and material resources to achieving this end. The text also expresses the hope that there may be an increasing number of people that make the commitment to work in prevention and join the effort, so as to give more effective results in the cooperative service.
The Catholic Church’s celebration of Drugs Prevention Day in Chile is a new testimony of her commitment at the service of those suffering drug- addiction problems, denouncing the structural conditions that lead to these situations. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 23/6/2008)
