THE church has a duty to defend the dignity of women and children to ensure they have justice and a better way of life, says activist Father Kevin Barr.

But he warned that religious leaders must never lose compassion.

He said the Pacific church must read the signs of our times and speak out together on issues of importance facing the people of the island societies.

“The churches worldwide and in the Pacific should be known not only for their attitudes towards sexual issues such as homosexuality, gay marriage and prostitution but for their compassion towards the victims of HIV Aids, their defence of the dignity of women, and their efforts to strengthen marriage and family life,” Fr Barr said.

Speaking at the Pacific Conference of Churches 10^th General Assembly in Honiara, the Catholic priest said the church must be at the forefront of the fight against growing poverty and inequality, the exploitation of workers and the domination of powerful business interests. 

“(Churches) must be with the people – young and old, rich and poor, saint and sinner – as Jesus was, and know the problems and difficulties they face and be willing to accompany them in the struggle for a more just society and a better quality of life,” he said. 

Fr Barr said the World Council of Churches, various Popes and statements from various local churches had constantly addressed issues of social justice in an industrialized, modernized and globalised world.

“They establish the right and the duty of the Churches to speak out on issues of social concern,” he said.

“Statements have been made about economic issues, racism and discrimination, war, wages, worker’s rights, poverty and inequality, care for the environment and so on.  These statements suggest what the Kingdom of God (as preached by Jesus) requires in the current conditions of our modern world.  They contextualize what Jesus’ original message should mean for us today.”

Fr Barr said local churches must identify the key social justice issues that should demand attention and be spoken about in the Pacific today.

“What of stewardship of our resources, global warming and the resettlement of populations due to rising sea levels? What of violence against women and children?  What of corruption, greed, racism, poverty and growing inequality, issues of self determination? What of mining and the implications of the rape of our resources for quick economic gain?”

He said the primary focus of churches must be the people and the problems they faced.

Source: Netani Rika; PCC