AMERICA - Appeal for peace, brotherhood and hope Salesian Rector major and Regional Superiors in America a continent in a dramatic situation: “In these times of globalisation deformed and held hostage by the economy we put our stakes on globalisation with a human face for the good of our peoples ”.

Monday, 8 March 2004

San Jose di Costa Rica (Fides Service) - At the close of Spiritual Exercises in Costa Rica, 28 Salesian Inspectors the Rector Major Father Pascual Chavez, and regional Superiors of the Inter-America and South Horn region, appealed to governments, political parties, civil societies, local Churches, religious communities and educational-pastoral institutes to promote “life, peace, brotherhood and hope”.
“Our continent of America, rich in potential, continues to suffer from social unrest which causes anguish, uncertainty, violence and death - they write in the Message, sent also to Fides. - As Salesians, we feel challenged by events in the past months in Bolivia, more recently in Haiti and Venezuela. We also note with concern widespread social malcontent present in many of our countries; the burden of foreign debt which prevents effective policies for integral development; widespread recourse to corruption; drug trafficking, whose victims are mostly young people; ever more serious mechanisms of exclusion throughout Latin America and the Caribbean; open tendency to intervene in any part of the world without taking international bodies into account.
“In the light of the faith we see that all this leads us to reflect deeply and, strengthened by the Word of God manifested in his Son Jesus of Nazareth: “I have come that they may have life and life in abundance ” (cfr. Jn. 10,10), we feel bound to take concrete action to help our peoples.
“We want an America where “justice and peace embrace”, where brotherhood and solidarity prevail over personal and party ambitions in view of the common good, where dialogue replaces egoism. “Today when globalisation is deformed and held hostage by the economy we put our stakes on globalisation with a human face for the good of our peoples, by globalising human rights, solidarity, education to peace.
“From this beautiful and peace country of Costa Rica, we encourage our peoples, especially millions of young people, our “morning watchmen”, not to be simply spectators or consumers, but to be main actors.
“We urge all Salesians and members of the Salesian family in America to continue to collaborate with our proposal for integral education, to the promotion of people able to live “a high grade of Christian life” and be committed to building the civilisation of love. May the God of life pour out his Spirit of Love on our peoples and on the governors of our lands, and may Mary Auxiliatrix accompany our efforts to build a society of more brotherhood, justice and solidarity!” (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 8/3/2004 - Righe 33, Parole 434)


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