Mumbai (AsiaNews) Social Justice "is an integral part of our Faith. The sacrament and prayers nourish and guide us so that we can discern God's will in our lives and make us want to build a more human world," said Bishop Bosco Penha, administrator of the Mumbai Archdiocese, in his opening remarks to the 2006 Justice and Peace Sunday seminar, held this year on the theme "Towards a corruption-free society" in the capital of Maharashtra state.
The word of God", the prelate explained, "should motivate us to fulfill the divine plan for the salvation of the world. The 'power of the Eucharist', which is an explosion of the Love of God, urges us to transmit the Love of Christ and the need for justice and peace".
"Corruption is a huge problem," he said. And "religion should not sedate people; rather it should enable us to change the system. The family, school and society should be the agents of change."
"Sadly, a large number of people are not interested in civic and political life. Civil society today is undergoing complex cultural processes and we cannot close one's eyes to the real dangers which certain groups are promoting through legislation, nor can one ignore the effects this will have on future generations. Our apathy [. . .] often results in being victims of corruption and injustice."
"The world in which the Church lives and acts is rooted in the awareness of the current situation of civic and political systems. Our awareness of the Church's vocation [. . .] helped us start an organisation known as 'Church in the City' with all churches represented whose task is to deal with social issues."
"We must be vigilant," Bishop Penha said. "With the necessary help of divine grace, there will arise a generation of new women and men, the moulders of a new humanity."
"The Pope laid emphasis on justice in his first encyclical," said Fr Cedric Prakash, SJ, "as a fundamental goal of the state, and that the aim of a just social order is to guarantee each person his share of the community's good."
"This sentiment is echoed in the 2006 Justice and Peace Sunday message pf the Indian Church," he noted. "Corruption is rampant today in every sector of society. The poor and the marginalised are deprived of the means to develop and denied a place in the community. Ensuring we live in a corruption-free society is a prerequisite for what the Pope calls a just social order. The message must therefore be reflected and put into practice at every level of our involvement."