"Action for justice is a constitutive dimension of the preaching of
the Gospel, ...of the churches mission for the redemption of the human
race and its liberation from every oppressive situation".
(Justice in the World - Synod of Bishops 1971)
Action for justice is a condition for the transformation of the world
and it belongs to the missionary vocation to take an active part in it.
Genuine love " ...implies an absolute demand for justice, namely a
recognition of the dignity and rights of one's neighbour.
The mission of preaching the Gospel dictates at the present time that
we should dedicate ourselves to the liberation of people even in their
present existence in this world.
"For unless the Christian message of love and justice shows its
effectiveness through action in the cause of justice in the world, it
will only with difficulty gain credibility with the people of our times".
(Justice in the World, par 8.)
The ministry is at the heart of missionary life. The form that action
for justice ministry will take is dictated by the needs of the contemporary
world. At all times it will entail viewing the world through the eyes
of the poorest and most exploited.
(Columban General Assembly)
During their General Assembly 2000 the Columban Fathers asked themselves
the question, "What emerging trend in the world is most significantly
affecting our work as missionaries, who try to view the world from the
standpoint of the poor?"
The answer was, "The negative effects of globalization".
The centrality of this phenomenon has become much more evident today
and calls for a missionary response at global level.
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