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                                  VIS-Press releases   
      
   URGENT NEED TO EDUCATE LAITY IN CHURCH SOCIAL DOCTRINE   
      
   VATICAN CITY, 4 NOV 2010 (VIS) - The Pope has sent a Message to Cardinal Peter   
   Kodwo Appiah Turkson, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and   
   Peace, to mark that body's plenary assembly which is currently benign held in   
   Rome. The assembly is focusing on how the Encyclical "Caritas in veritate" has   
   been received in various communities.   
      
   "Only with charity, supported by hope and illuminated by the light of faith and   
   reason, is it possible to achieve the goals of the integral liberation of man   
   and universal justice", the Holy Father writes.   
      
   Referring to the "fundamental problems affecting the destiny of peoples and of   
   world institutions, as well as of the human family", which are examined in   
   "Caritas in veritate", Benedict XVI points out that social and national   
   inequalities "have by no means disappeared. ... Co-ordination among States -   
   which is often inadequate because, rather than aiming to achieve solidarity, it   
   aims only at a balance of power - leaves the field open to renewed   
   inequalities, to the danger of the predominance of economic and financial   
   groups which dictate - and intend to continue to do so - the political agenda   
   at the expense of the universal common good".   
      
   The Holy Father stresses the urgent need "for commitment to educating Catholic   
   laity in Church social doctrine". Lay Catholics "must undertake to promote the   
   correct ordering of social life, while respecting the legitimate autonomy of   
   worldly institutions".   
      
   "A profound understanding of the social doctrine of the Church is of   
   fundamental importance, in harmony with all her theological heritage and   
   strongly rooted in affirming the transcendent dignity of man, in defending   
   human life from conception to natural death and in religious freedom. ... It is   
   necessary to prepare lay people capable of dedicating themselves to the common   
   good, especially in complex environments such as the world of politics".   
      
   The Pope concludes his Message by expressing the hope that the Pontifical   
   Council for Justice and Peace may continue "to prepare fresh 'aggiornamenti' of   
   Church social doctrine". In order to globalise this doctrine, he writes, "it   
   may be appropriate to create centres and institutions for its study,   
   dissemination and implementation throughout the world".   
      
   "In collaboration with others, seek more effective ways to transmit the   
   contents of social doctrine, not only in the traditional itineraries of   
   Christian formation and education of all kinds and at all levels, but also in   
   the great centres where world thought is forged - such as the organs of the lay   
   press, universities and economic and social study centres - which in recent   
   times have come into being in every corner of the earth".   
   MESS/VIS 20101104 (450)   
      
   SUMMARY   
      
   --- MPost/386 v1.21   
    * Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS =Meridian, MS= bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)