Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - Amidst old and new forms of dehumanising poverty and senseless violence, as well as materialist and hedonist individualism, and in the framework of an extraordinary emerging economic growth, the peoples of Asia are in search of a balance necessary to guarantee the continent justice and peace. The Catholic Church in Asia faces the urgent task of meeting this challenge drawing orientation and lines of action from the Social Teaching of the Church. This is the reason for a Continental Conference organised in Bangkok, Thailand by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace together with the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC) and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Thailand in order to present the Compendium of the Church’s Social Doctrine with the participation of scholars, experts and pastoral operators.
The Conference will be held at the Baan Phu Waan Pastoral Centre in Sampran, not far from the capital of Thailand and the introductory address will be given by the president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace Cardinal Renato Raffaele Martino, followed by welcoming addresses by the Archbishop of Bangkok, Cardinal Michael Michai Kitbunchu, and Archbishop Orlando B. Quevedo, president of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences. Conferences on topics regard the ecclesial, socio-economic, socio-political, family and international context will be given by experts including head of the department for Christian Studies at Madras University(India), Felix Wilfred; general secretary of Hong Kong diocesan Justice and Peace Commission Ms, Lina Chan; Indian media expert Allwyn Fernandes; Directress of the Singapore Pastoral Institute Wendy Louis and 16 presidents of Catholic Bishops’ Conferences of Asian countries. Conference conclusions will be drawn by Cardinal Martino on Saturday 27 January followed by a solemn celebration of Mass. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 15/1/2007; Righe 21; Parole 278)
