CHRISTIANS must fight against the structural injustices like racism, patriarchy and discrimination against women.
Catholic priest and social worker, Father Kevin Barr on Monday challenged regional church leaders to also take up the battle against economic systems which benefit the few.
“Social justice demands that we fight against economic systems which benefit the few at the expense of the many and so create glaring inequality, unjust wages and the exploitation of workers,” Fr Barr said.
“The Bible constantly reminds us that the God of Justice demands that justice is done particularly to the poor and needy in society – the widows, the orphans and the immigrants in the land.”
He was speaking at the Pacific Conference of Churches 10th General Assembly in Honiara, the Solomon Islands.
More than 200 delegates from 34 churches and Christian organizations in the region are at the conference.
Fr Barr said that while the church had always had a reputation for working for the poor in society and Christians readily accepted this obligation without question.
“However the demand that Christians should also struggle for justice in society has not always been so readily accepted by all,” Fr Barr said.
quoted theologian Sloan Coffin who said: “Many in the Church vastly prefer charity which in no way affects the status quo, to justice which immediately leads to political confrontation.”
Fr Barr suggested that while the rich were prepared to talk about charity they were unwilling to talk of justice, rights and structural change.
“A ministry of mercy is welcomed but not a ministry for justice,” he said.
Fr Barr – an Australian citizen – has worked in Fiji for three decades among the poor and was recently ordered to leave the country for comments against the interim government.
order was later rescinded by interim Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama.
Fr Barr said churches must stand up for social justice and learn how to speak to national leaders on the people’s behalf.
“The Church must claim the right and duty to exist publicly and visibly and to address itself openly to issues of human concern,” he said.
“Jesus shows us by his example that the condition of the poorest people in our societies should be of vital concern to us, his followers today if we want to build a just society. We cannot claim to be following Jesus if the poor and ordinary people are not a priority for us.”
Fr Barr told delegates the ultimate test of any nation was how it treated its poorest, most vulnerable and disadvantaged people.
He said a just society must care for the wellbeing of all.
“We cannot claim to know God if we are not committed to struggling for justice. Injustice breaks the heart of God and demands our active response,” he said.
The conference ends on Monday.
Source: Netani Rika; PCC, Honiara
Catholic priest and social worker, Father Kevin Barr on Monday challenged regional church leaders to also take up the battle against economic systems which benefit the few.
“Social justice demands that we fight against economic systems which benefit the few at the expense of the many and so create glaring inequality, unjust wages and the exploitation of workers,” Fr Barr said.
“The Bible constantly reminds us that the God of Justice demands that justice is done particularly to the poor and needy in society – the widows, the orphans and the immigrants in the land.”
He was speaking at the Pacific Conference of Churches 10th General Assembly in Honiara, the Solomon Islands.
More than 200 delegates from 34 churches and Christian organizations in the region are at the conference.
Fr Barr said that while the church had always had a reputation for working for the poor in society and Christians readily accepted this obligation without question.
“However the demand that Christians should also struggle for justice in society has not always been so readily accepted by all,” Fr Barr said.
quoted theologian Sloan Coffin who said: “Many in the Church vastly prefer charity which in no way affects the status quo, to justice which immediately leads to political confrontation.”
Fr Barr suggested that while the rich were prepared to talk about charity they were unwilling to talk of justice, rights and structural change.
“A ministry of mercy is welcomed but not a ministry for justice,” he said.
Fr Barr – an Australian citizen – has worked in Fiji for three decades among the poor and was recently ordered to leave the country for comments against the interim government.
order was later rescinded by interim Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama.
Fr Barr said churches must stand up for social justice and learn how to speak to national leaders on the people’s behalf.
“The Church must claim the right and duty to exist publicly and visibly and to address itself openly to issues of human concern,” he said.
“Jesus shows us by his example that the condition of the poorest people in our societies should be of vital concern to us, his followers today if we want to build a just society. We cannot claim to be following Jesus if the poor and ordinary people are not a priority for us.”
Fr Barr told delegates the ultimate test of any nation was how it treated its poorest, most vulnerable and disadvantaged people.
He said a just society must care for the wellbeing of all.
“We cannot claim to know God if we are not committed to struggling for justice. Injustice breaks the heart of God and demands our active response,” he said.
The conference ends on Monday.
Source: Netani Rika; PCC, Honiara
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