To: | Religious Congregations | | From: | Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Commission of the Unions of Superiors General (UISG/USG), Rome
JPIC Promoters, Rome
Caritas International | | Re: | An invitation to participate in the Global Call to Action Against Poverty | We would like to invite you and your congregation to participate in the Global Call to Action Against Poverty . This year, 2005, three important events will take place that have the potential to make poverty history: - The G-8 Summit will take place July 6-8 in Edinburgh, Scotland, where leaders of the world’s wealthiest countries will meet to discuss global economic challenges;
- On September 14-16 at a special high-level session of the United Nations General Assembly, heads of states and governments will evaluate progress toward meeting the goals set forth in the Millennium Declaration;
- The Sixth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO) will meet in Hong Kong December 13-18 to discuss international trade regulations and standards.
Citizens around the world are working together to make sure that government leaders listen to our common voice calling for an end to poverty. We believe that this can happen through:
- Trade justice,
- Debt cancellation,
- A major increase in the quantity and quality of aid,
- National efforts to eliminate poverty and achieve the MDGs that are sustainable and implemented in a way that is democratic, transparent, and accountable to citizens.
It is highly significant for us that these events take place during this Eucharistic Year. In his apostolic letter, Mane Nobiscum Domine, John Paul II said:
| Can we not make this Year of the Eucharist an occasion for diocesan and parish communities to commit themselves in a particular way to responding with fraternal solicitude to one of the many forms of poverty present in our world? I think for example of the tragedy of hunger which plagues hundreds of millions of human beings, the diseases which afflict the developing countries, the loneliness of the elderly, the hardships faced by the unemployed, the struggles of immigrants. These are evils which are present—albeit to a different degree—even in areas of immense wealth. We cannot delude ourselves: by our mutual love, and in particular, by our concern for those in need we will be recognized as true followers of Christ. This will be the criterion by which the authenticity of our Eucharistic celebrations is judged. (#28) |
As an act of solidarity and a sign of our own commitment to eradicate poverty we invite you to join a world wide day of prayer and fasting on July 1. Fasting and prayer are ancient traditions in our church to combat evil and to bring about good. This symbolic gesture is an appropriate way for us to be part of this global call.
Furthermore, we appeal to all of you to:
May God bless us in our efforts to “to become promoters of communion, peace, and solidarity in every situation” (Mane Nobiscum Domine #27) |
