Catholic Commission for Social Justice
CCSJ invites you to attend a free International Conference on Tuesday, October 1 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Law Faculty Auditorium, UWI, St Augustine, on the theme: The Death Penalty in the context of Public Security: Neither Right, nor Effective. The Conference is a precursor to worldwide observances to mark the 11th World Day Against the Death Penalty (October 10), dedicated this year to the Greater Caribbean region.
As I looked at the beaming faces of those who filled the pews and chairs at the Church of Our Lady of Fatima, Curepe, to participate in the Episcopal ordination of Msgr Robert Llanos as Auxiliary Bishop of Port of Spain on September 14, my heart was filled with joy that our Church is alive and present in T&T.
On behalf of members of the CCSJ, I congratulate His Lordship, Bishop Llanos. We promise to continue to work with you and His Grace, Archbishop Joseph Harris, as together you shepherd God’s people – teaching, sanctifying, governing, and striving to build the civilization of love.
Today, September 15, the world observes International Day of Democracy. While democracies share common features, there is no single model of democracy. The theme this year is Strengthening Voices for Democracy. The aim is “to shine a spotlight on the importance of people’s voices, both expressed directly and through their elected representatives”.
“Literacy is the most basic currency of the knowledge economy we’re living in today…in a world where knowledge truly is power and literacy is the skill that unlocks the gates of opportunity and success, we all have a responsibility as parents and librarians, educators and citizens, to instill in our children a love of reading so that we can give them the chance to fulfil their dreams” – US President Barack Obama, “Literacy and Education in a 21st-Century Economy” (2005).
by Nadine Bushell, Member of the Catholic Commission for Social Justice
The United Nations has designated September 5 as the International Day of Charity and has acknowledged the work of the Church in this area.