Faith and Social Action Must be Rooted in Option for the Poor: Archbishop Stanislaus
Ahmedabad (CBCI News): Inaugurating a two-day workshop on Catholic Social Teaching and delivering the keynote address, Archbishop Stanislaus Fernandez SJ stressed the need for mutual accompaniment of faith and action for justice. Christian social activism, he said, should be based on preferential option for the poor, protection of human dignity and human rights, solidarity, and common good. The workshop, attended by 45 participants, was held at Hansol, Ahmedabad. Fr Joseph Appavoo convened the workshop on behalf of the CBCI Office for Justice Peace and Development.
Fr Charles Irudayam, Secretary, CBCI Office for Justice Peace and Development, highlighted the key thrusts of Catholic Social Teaching, and reiterated the Church’s insistence on the participation of Christians in building a world of solidarity and peace founded on justice. The other resource persons included Bishop Thomas Macwan of Ahmedabad, Fr Joseph Appavoo, Director of KSSS, Fr Arock, Director of YCS & YSM, Fr Sandeep, and Ms Shveta from the Centre for Social Justice.
Calling the attention of the participants to the various issues of concern, Bishop Macwan urged the participants to be the prophets of today. “Being prophets today invariably and inevitably means lending voice to the voiceless and the vulnerable and the disadvantaged,” he said.
The participants represented the four Catholic dioceses in Gujarat- Ahmedabad, Gandhi Nagar, Baroda and Rajkot. They deliberated on issues related to youth, women and children and minorities. The participants chalked out a common action plan for their region, which included awareness education on various issues in the light of the Catholic Social Teaching.
Rev Dr Charles Irudayam