Catholic Commission for Social Justice
Pope Francis sent a video message to participants at the 6th World Congress Against the Death Penalty in Oslo, Norway, (June 21-23). Over the past few years, he has repeatedly spoken out against the death penalty. In his message, he said that capital punishment “contradicts God’s plan for individuals and society, and his merciful justice”. He called for a world “free of the death penalty.”
“Pornography is insidious. It kills the soul, steals the heart and destroys the mind.” (Laurie Hall)
News of hackers stealing and sharing on social media and attempting to sell hundreds of photos of nude and semi-nude photographs of women and children is cause for concern in our beloved island.
While the police are right in warning the public that the viewing and sharing of the images constitute a crime, our nation should also be concerned about the moral crisis that we must address.
“A change of attitude towards migrants and refugees is needed on the part of everyone, moving away from attitudes of defensiveness and fear, indifference and marginalisation – all typical of a throwaway culture – towards attitudes based on a culture of encounter, the only culture capable of building a better, more just and fraternal world.” Pope Francis
Tomorrow, June 20, the world will observe World Refugee Day. Catholics are called to care for the least of those among us and to welcome the stranger. On June 25,1982, Pope John Paul II described the problem of refugees in his letter to the High Commissioner of the United Nations for Refugees (UNHCR), as a “shameful wound of our time”.
Today (June 12), the world observes World Day Against Child Labour, a global human rights issue that impacts adversely on human dignity and integral human development.
The Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church states: “Child labour, in its intolerable forms, constitutes a kind of violence that is less obvious than others but it is not for this reason any less terrible. This is a violence that, beyond all political, economic and legal implications, remains essentially a moral problem.
Today (June 5), the world observes World Environment Day. Let us all “Join the race to make the world a better place.”
Years ago, St Pope John Paul II called the environmental crisis “a moral issue”.
I am in London at the moment, and recently spent hours enjoying the sights, sounds, and smells at the Royal Horticultural Society’s Chelsea Flower Show (May 24-28) at which both Barbados and Grenada won Gold medals (third straight win for Barbados). T&T has also won medals there in the past.