Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Buenos Aires (Agenzia Fides) - About seventy businessmen and bishops from 15 different Latin American countries at the invitation of the Council of Latin American Bishops’ Conferences CELAM and the International Union of Christian Enterprises UNIAPAC met 3- 4 July, in Pilar, province of Buenos Aires, to reflect on the fact that ‘business should create jobs and spread prosperity’ and discuss important questions such as investment, just wages, job creation and distribution of prosperity, international trade and migration. (see Fides 4/7/2006).
Bishop Jorge Eduardo Lozano of Gualeguaychú head of the Laity Builders of Society section of CELAM’s Justice and Solidarity Commission expressed on behalf of the participants common concern for "the deterioration of the democratic system in our countries and the capacity to create dignified jobs", themes which will be discussed by the COMLA 5 in May 2007 in Brazil.
Pending a longer statement to contribute to preparations for COMLA 5, the Symposium summarised some of the main reflections emerging from the meeting in a statement entitled The Pilar Declaration. Christian entrepreneurs must be aware of their duty to guarantee that “decisions regarding investments are made with ethical criteria” and the need to “mitigate negative impacts” of free trade and opening of borders. With regard to emigration the participants agreed that “agreements must be reached to promote legal immigration and reunification of families", although they say that " it is up to governments, entrepreneurs and social society to remove the structural causes of emigration".
The declaration ends with a prayer asking the protection of Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of America and stressing the willingness to “maintain and intensify friendship among our peoples", and strive to find "channels of dialogue and brotherhood". (RG) (Agenzia Fides 5/7/2006, righe 22, parole 290)
