Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Kinshasa (Fides Service)- “To evangelise society the Church must act at the level of culture and at the level of the institutions. The actors in this field are the laity called to be ‘salt of the earth’ and ‘light of the world’ for the sanctification of society”. This statement was part of a final declaration issued at the end of a National Forum of Lay Catholics held in Kinshasa, Democratic Congo, 22-26 January on the theme “Civil involvement and Christian responsibility”.
The laity have the task of bearing witness to the Gospel in everyday life and their presence must be organised if it is to be effective: “The active presence of lay Catholics in our national institutions is real and perceptible. However this presence has little impact because many work alone and their activity is thwarted by a social, economic and political system poisoned with anti-values”.
“To intensify the presence and effectiveness of lay Catholics in national institutions”- the statement says - “we participants at the National Forum of Lay Catholics adopt a decision to render the Council of Lay Apostolate of Congo (CALCC) the official voice of lay Catholics, an autonomous Council of the Laity, a point of contact between the Bishops’ Commission for Lay Apostolate and the various different movements and associations”.
In recent years certain social problems in Congo have presented a challenge to all Catholics, lay people especially: “Political parties, which should act as schools to prepare citizens to take their rightful part in politics, are, for the greater part, inconsistent. They organise themselves around a few individuals rather than in view of projects for society”.
“Marked economic dependence and no access to the benefits of globalisation - the statement says - “leave us to face the problems of poverty, unemployment, social insecurity, a weak market and decadence of the state”.
“What is then the role of lay Catholics in the face of these social and political challenges? We are called to ask ourselves what we have done and what we must do now. It is not enough to reaffirm our principles and our intentions, to underline glaring injustices: our words will have little weight unless they are accompanied by realisation of our responsibilities and concerted effective action”.
“The problem in our country is a problem of people. For the birth of a new Congo, we urge all lay Catholics and all citizens of good will to work to make the truth triumph” the statement says, underlining the need to elect at general elections in June “a new national leadership in every state department to guarantee a rule of law ”. The participants at the National Forum of Lay Catholics conclude with an appeal to all lay Catholics to unite in the same “project for society”. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 31/1/2006 righe 44 parole 566)
