social justice – Communio

According to UNHCR data, Lebanon is currently hosting over
135,000 Syrians, not including many lucky enough to find work who haven’t
sought to be registered.

With AVSI, you can help by visiting this link.

Part of your Advent charitable giving, please consider making a donation to AVSI for this good work, others in the USA and internationally.

AVSI-USA
is a non-profit of the international AVSI network, supporting human development
in 38 countries, with special attention to each human person, according to
Catholic social teaching.

The Mission of AVSI is “To support the AVSI network
by leveraging resources and contacts in the U.S. in order to enhance and
broaden the achievements of member organizations in promoting human dignity in
developing countries. The Association of Volunteers in International Service is
an international not-for-profit, non-governmental organization (NGO) founded in
Italy in 1972. AVSI’s mission is to support human development in developing
countries with special attention to education and the promotion of the dignity
of every human person, according to Catholic social teaching. The AVSI-USA
office was established in 2001.”

Today is the 45th anniversary of Populorum Progression (On the Development of Peoples) the 5th encyclical of the Servant of God Pope Paul VI. The 18,000 word letter deals with the socioeconomic issues of world sick building upon Blessed John XXIII’s Mater et Magistra.

Populorum Progressio was long accorded as the humanist manifesto because it examines and urges a tailored response of the educated and wealthier nations toward those who live in poverty (subhuman standards).

The Pope questions many things among them the ownership of land that is not used for the good of people in need, of unbriddled capitalism, the regulation of markets, foreign aid to nations, the development of internal programs to aid citizens rather than exporting natural resources to other nations and the right of governments to develop performing lands for the good of others. Pope Paul urges some controversial things: higher taxes for the rich, the expansion of aid programs, higher prices for products from third world nations, a just wage for workers, and the establishment of just interest rates for monies loaned. Freedom, charity, justice, and peace are given to all by God.

Continue reading Populorum Progressio, 45 years later Pope Paul’s admonition remains true