Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rawson (Agenzia Fides) – Rawson, located in the Chubut Province of Patagonia, Argentina, recently hosted the Eleventh Meeting of Pastoral/Social Formation of the region Patagonia-Comahue, whose main theme was "The common good and public policies to ensure that we are all at the table of life." The meeting was held on October 9 and 10. Sessions were also attended by the Coadjutor Bishop of Neuquén, Bishop Virginio Bressanelli, representing the Bishops of Patagonia, as well as delegates from the Diocese of Neuquén, Alto Valle del Rio Negro, Viedma, San Carlos de Bariloche, Comodoro Rivadavia, Esquel, and Rio Gallegos.
The various Social-Pastoral groups said that in facing this new election time in the country (scheduled for August 2011), the authorities and political leaders must commit themselves to serve the people and not be subordinated to the economic power of multinational corporations. They also condemned the killing of young teenagers in Bariloche, as an example of political repression.
In the final document, the agency AICA reported, it says: "We do not want death and lack of opportunities for young people, real estate business and foreign landowners on our land, environmental pollution and the plundering of non-renewable natural resources through projects of mega mining, commercial sexual exploitation of children, adolescents, and women, and trafficking of drugs." The text adds: "We have chosen Jesus to dream and build, with our feet on the ground, a kingdom of justice, peace and love, where there is more sharing of goods. We renew our evangelical option of continuing to walk with the poor, supporting all the efforts and pastoral guidelines with the groups that are fighting for the common good."
The participants, in the final document, reaffirmed their commitment "in pursuit of the common good, in defense of any person, and of the environment as the unit of life, and of the earth and water as goods of society," and finally, stressed their willingness to strive for the protection of human rights. (CE) (Agenzia Fides 10/13/2010)
