A RENEWED CALL
TO HEAL A DIVIDED WORLD
by Sr. Brenda
Walsh, Racine Dominican
Recently the United Nations
Development Program released a report entitled: “Humanity Divided:
Confronting Inequality in Developing Countries.” It gives us a
strong reminder that in our world today, social development and
social justice are badly needed more than at any time since World
War 11. There are many clear signs that the current situation cannot
be sustained much longer. Inequality has been jeopardizing economic
growth and poverty reduction. It has been stalling progress in
education, health, and nutrition. It has also limited access to
economic, social and political resources, and has been driving
conflict and destabilizing an already fragile international
community.
In 1971, the World Synod of
Catholic Bishops published a document entitled “Justice in the
World.” They stated that “Action on behalf of Justice and
participation in the transformation of the world fully appears to us
as a constitutive dimension of preaching the Gospel. or in other
words, of the church’s mission for the redemption of the human race
and its liberation from every oppressive situation”.
In today’s globalized world, life
is often driven by economic and financial engines. It is easy to
lose sight of the common good and the needs of the human family in
such a world. The only thing that counts is power and control which
is in the hands of a few, with little concern for the millions of
nameless and faceless people who are struggling for their very
lives This kind of poverty in a world of plenty is truly a scandal
that must be eradicated. Pope Francis offered this challenge to
the international community. when he said “the scandal of poverty
in a land of plenty is a piercing moral challenge for the whole
human family. A way must be found to enable everyone to benefit from
the fruits of earth and not simply to close the gap between and
affluent and those who must be satisfied with the crumbs falling
from the table. There must be a new stimulus to international
activity on behalf of the poor, inspired by something more than good
will, or promises that all too often have not been kept.”
Catherine of Siena once said: “Cry
out with a million voices, for it is silence that kills the world”.
We are urged to ask the right question and contribute to the public
debate to bring about a just, fair and peaceful world.
Read the full article on DLC
@ Ordo Praedicatorum 2012.
