Catholic Commission for Social Justice
“Development cannot be limited to mere economic growth. In order to be authentic, it must be complete: integral, that is, it has to promote the good of every person and of all humanity” -– Pope Paul VI, 1967.
March 26 marked the 50th Anniversary of Blessed Pope Paul VI’s encyclical Populorum Progressio (On the Development of Peoples) which was published in 1967, less than two years after the end of the Second Vatican Council.
“Let us accept the grace of Christ’s resurrection! Let us be renewed by God’s mercy, let us be loved by Jesus, let us enable the power of His love to transform our lives too; and let us become agents of this mercy, channels through which God can water the earth, protect all creation and make justice and peace flourish.” – Pope Francis, 2013.
Happy Easter! Christ is risen! The joy of Christ’s victory tells us that love has triumphed and has defeated evil, sin and death. The Scriptures have been fulfilled. God’s love for us is so great that He sent His only Son to die so that we may have eternal life through Him. What a gift!
“May Palm Sunday be a day of decision for you, the decision to say yes to the Lord and to follow Him all the way, the decision to make His Passover, His death and resurrection, the very focus of your Christian lives… The imitation of Christ’s love extended to each other is all that He asks. May this Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord inspire us to lay our coats at the feet of one another.” (Pope Benedict XVI, 2012)
Today, Palm Sunday, as we commence our journey with our Lord during Holy Week, to His passion, death and resurrection, let us reflect on Pope Benedict’s words above. If Christ is the focus of our Christian lives, we will demonstrate this in our thoughts, words and actions. In his homily, he reminded us: “…in this Holy Week the Lord Jesus will renew the greatest gift we could possibly imagine: He will give us His life, His body and His blood, His love. But we must respond worthily to so great a gift, that is to say, with the gift of ourselves, our time, our prayer, our entering into a profound communion of love with Christ who suffered, died and rose for us.”
Today, April 2, the world observes Autism Awareness Day. The theme for 2017 is: Toward Autonomy and Self-Determination.
The UN estimates that about 1 per cent of children and young people are affected by autistic spectrum disorder, which refers to a wide range of symptoms ranging from mild to severe. The Mayo Clinic defines autism spectrum disorder as “a serious neurodevelopmental disorder that impairs a child’s ability to communicate and interact with others. It also includes restricted repetitive behaviours, interests and activities. These issues cause significant impairment in social, occupational and other areas of functioning….
Emotions are running high because of ‘runaway crime,’ and once again T&T finds itself in the throes of looking for ways in which to resume hanging. Sadly, this debate is taking place during our 40 days of non-violence. Our response to crime is a moral test for all of us.
Recently I was interviewed via telephone on Radio 102.1 on this issue and was able, once again, to outline the Church’s position on capital punishment.