AMERICA/PANAMA - Plenary Assembly of Bishops: defense of marriage, family and creation, reconciliation, justice and corruption

Tuesday, 7 July 2015

Panama (Agenzia Fides) - "We, Bishops of the Catholic Church of Panama met in Plenary Session from June 29 to July 3, 2015, to discuss and reflect on the ecclesial and social realities of the country": this is how the final text of the Assembly begins, sent to Fides by a local source, that develops the main topics discussed in 4 points. Here are some significant passages of each point:
1. World Meeting of Families and the Synod. "We are called to defend the institution of family and marriage, the fundamental cell of society. This defense is the responsibility of all, especially of those who exercise public power, as well as civil society, including members of the Catholic Church and all faiths".
2. Holy Year of Mercy and national reconciliation. "This year of grace will help us build a Panama on the paths of forgiveness and reconciliation among all. We know that we cannot build peace without truth and justice, and individuals and peoples cannot live in falsehood and lies" .
3. New Encyclical of Pope Francis. "In Panama we are already experiencing the effects of climate change because of ecological crisis due to the devastation of forests, the use of highly harmful products in agriculture, depletion of water sources, among many others".
4. Corruption, Justice. "Cases of corruption that have been made public, arising from human greed, have caused alarm and great concern in many areas. These cases have altered the normal development of economic activities in our country, to the extent that they have sown social distrust and government institutions have been seriously affected.
However, the country should not become paralyzed before these facts, processes should follow their course, the institutions of justice must do their job to rebuild the lost trust.
We must continue to insist on the work for the formation of consciences and leadership training, culture of honesty and transparency, of what is ethical and legal, in order to contribute to the common good, seeking the means to denounce and combat all forms corruption". (CE) (Agenzia Fides 07/07/2015)


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