Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Cochabamba (Agenzia Fides) – The main objective of the International Educational Congress of professors of religion, ethics, and morality in Bolivia that took place July 1 to 3 in the city of Cochabamba, was to strengthen the identity and organizational structure of CONAPREM (National Council of Teachers of Religion, Ethics, and Morality) for a more effective educational, pastoral, and professional service. According to the note sent to Fides, Bolivia suffers from a great dispersion of efforts from professors of religion in a very delicate moment.
Father Sabino Colque, Coordinator of the Educational Ministry Team of the Bishops' Conference of Bolivia (CEB) said: "The National Council of Teachers of Religion, Ethics, and Morality, is an institution that is emerging thanks to a 5-year experience of history and life, however it is not yet well structured." "This marks a critical and worrying moment for the education sector,” continues Father Colque. “Teachers, through this first Congress, have expressed the need to discuss why this area of education must change its name. According to the government, it will no longer be called Religion, Ethics, and Morality, but “Spirituality and Religions.” According to Father Colque, "it is important to be able to work and discuss the identity and rights of teachers, in order to show an integral formation in the area of education, especially in an environment like ours, where society is eroding and dividing with violence, drugs, and alcohol."
One of the main conclusions of this Congress is the reaffirmation that teachers of religion are called to contribute their grain of sand to build a society that sees life with hope, as a community that can actually demonstrate that faith in God is not just an ornament, but something deeper that can transform any society. The Congress was attended by about 500 professors, under the chairmanship of Archbishop Luis Sainz, Auxiliary Bishop of Cochabamba, President of the Human Promotion Area of the Bishops' Conference of Bolivia. (CE) (Agenzia Fides 05/07/2010)
