Catholic Commission for Social Justice
By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ & Director, CREDI
I pray that your journey through Advent was prayerful. As we waited in joyful expectation of the birth of the Christ child, I am certain that, like me, you could not fail to be moved once again by the incredible gift God gave us by sending His only Son to save us; to bring us out of the darkness into the light of His love. “The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us” (Jn 1:14).
By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ & Director, CREDI
“While modern society places more importance on one’s own interests regardless of or even to the detriment of others…[true Christians] ban individualism in order to encourage sharing and solidarity.” – Pope Francis, 2019
Today, December 20, is the International Human Solidarity Day. The virtue of solidarity is a key social justice principle. Pope St John Paul II said: “Solidarity is an authentic moral virtue, not a ‘feeling of vague compassion or shallow distress at the misfortunes of so many people, both near and far. On the contrary, it is a firm and persevering determination to commit oneself to the common good. That is to say to the good of all and of each individual, because we are all really responsible for all.”
By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ & Director, CREDI
“All migrants are entitled to equal protection of all their human rights. On this International Day, I urge leaders and people everywhere to bring the Global Compact to life, so that migration works for all” —UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
Friday, December 18 is International Migrants Day. “It is a day set aside by the UN to recognize the estimated 272 million migrants that are integral members of all our societies today… it is also a day to recognize the generosity and warmth of the host communities that have embraced newcomers arriving with little or nothing to their names.” (Guterres).
By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ & Director, CREDI
Thursday, December 10 is Human Rights Day. The theme, Recover Better— Stand Up for Human Rights relates to the COVID-19 pandemic and focuses on the need to build back better by ensuring human rights are central to recovery efforts.
By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ & Director, CREDI
International Day for the Abolition of Slavery will be observed on Wednesday, December 2. As the UN states: “Slavery is not merely a historical relic. According to the International Labour Organization more than 40 million people worldwide are victims of modern slavery. Although modern slavery is not defined in law, it is used as an umbrella term covering practices such as forced labour, debt bondage, forced marriage, and human trafficking. Essentially, it refers to situations of exploitation that a person cannot refuse or leave because of threats, violence, coercion, deception, and/or abuse of power. In addition, more than 150 million children are subject to child labour, accounting for almost one in ten children around the world.”