Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Fides Service) - “Lack of attention for its ethical dimension leads inevitably to the de-humanisation of life and institutions which transforms social and political life into a jungle at the mercy of violence and the law of the strongest”. This was said by the President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, Cardinal Renato Martino when he opened a Seminar on the ‘Social Doctrine of the Catholic Church as the indispensable foundation for formation and commitment of the lay Christian’ in the Vatican at the council’s Offices. The seminar, promoted by the International Federation of Catholic Men, focused on three themes: the difficulties and resources of the Christian called to make a decision in environments or situations involving priority ethic values such as the sacredness of life, the indissolubility of marriage; the correct use of the media; scientific research; decisive economic options for the live of citizens, the poor in particular.
In his address Cardinal Martino underlined that the aim of the Church’s Social Doctrine has always been the salvation of the human person and the edification of the human society. The field of politics for a Christian is the highest in which he can exercise attention and service of his brothers and sisters, that is, to live charity. The Christian, moved by charity and justice can never passively accept the presence and functioning of ‘structures of sin’; and even less may be support them or be responsible for them at any level. On the contrary he must openly denounce them and oppose them. Moreover the Christian may never give way to the temptation to make the exercise of power a tool of injustice and violence, in blatant contradiction with the faith he professes and with the charity which should characterise his life. The introduction by Cardinal Martino was followed by a round table discussion on “The social doctrine of the Church and paths of formation”, with interventions of various leaders of different Catholic organisations. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 19/5/2004; Righe 22; Parole 317)
