AMERICA/BOLIVIA - Message of CAM 5: "Listen to the cry of those suffering in America"

Friday, 13 July 2018 cam 5   missionary animation   pontifical mission societies   violence   human rights   area crisis  

Santa Cruz de la Sierra (Agenzia Fides) - "When a member suffers, the whole body suffers": says the statement released during the V American Missionary Congress (CAM 5), an expression of the entire assembly and publicly read by the National Director of the Pontifical Missionary Society (PMS) of Uruguay, Father Leonardo Rodríguez. The text, sent to Fides, expresses the closeness of the delegates present at CAM and of all American Churches regarding situations of violence, poverty and suffering that are registered on the continent.
"Gathered under the slogan of the joy of the Gospel - the text begins - we listen to the cry of the weakest, we are particularly struck by the violence, exploitation, persecution that destroys the dignity of our brothers. In these days of prayer and celebration of faith, we remember the pain of each one, express our solidarity and closeness to the families who mourn their dead. "America in Mission, the Gospel is joy", but joy is justice, joy is truth, joy is respect for the rights of all".
"In the name of the Lord - continues the statement - we condemn all acts of violence and appeal to those who are responsible, especially the rulers, to commit themselves to living and proposing a genuine culture of defense and promotion of life and forthe common good, truth, justice and peace.
The Church's mission must follow the path of encounter, listening, dialogue, forgiveness and reconciliation. So we invite the media to become protagonists in reporting the transformation of everyone's hearts, bringing the truth of the facts".
The Congress then mentions countries such as Venezuela, Nicaragua, Haiti, Honduras, expressing sorrow and sadness "for the dead because of clashes between gangs": "We grieve the situation of refugees and migrants who experience the absurd and unjust separation of their families at the borders of countries like the United States and Mexico, and then there are situations that deeply hurt us, such as silence and indifference that manage to blame the poorest and most defenseless", reads the text sent to Fides.
The document concludes: "Dear friends of the Congress, dear members of all the Churches of America: Blessed are those who work for peace, because they will be called sons of God. Prayer, forgiveness, friendship strengthen our vocation together with all men of good will to become builders of peace. We must courageously love truth and justice that are the rights of every human being". (CE) (Agenzia Fides, 13/07/2018)


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