AMERICA/MEXICO - Truth, justice, forgiveness and reconciliation: the pillars of peace promoted by the Church

Acapulco (Agenzia Fides) - "We recognize in young people a fundamental reality: they are the way of hope to promote a new concept of the culture of love and peace". This was stated by the Archbishop of Acapulco, His Exc. Mgr. Carlos Garfias Merlos, at the inauguration of the "Center of Youth for Peace" at the parish of the Immaculate Conception, on July 20.
In his speech, sent to Fides, the Archbishop noted that "social pressures, some fashions and trends, conflicts and threats such as drug trafficking and the culture of death", have diverted some youth sectors from the right path, so the Church is committed to accompanying youth in order to direct their energies "in the transformation of our society and promote the civilization of love".
Mgr. Garfias Merlos stressed the social emergency that Mexico has been living for years: "We have lived a social breakdown that has deeply damaged the harmonious and peaceful coexistence of our society in the state of Guerrero, as in many parts of the country. The factors that have led to violence are many and date back to many years ago ...". This situation has resulted in the removal of international tourism, the decrease in trade, an increase in poverty and social decay.
The Church of Acapulco has decided to operate in three directives: 1. A pastoral conversion to peace: creating the conditions, raising the necessary capacities and adapting the structures of the Church, so that the Church is at the service of peace-building. 2. Prevention of violence in the community, with 12 projects in 35 parishes, and reconstruction of the social fabric through forgiveness and reconciliation. 3. Attention and support of victims of violence and young people, especially those at risk due to lack of opportunities to study or work.
"Peace will not be possible until there is integral development", said the Archbishop, who then recalled: "we need to move from a model of punitive justice, that punishes the guilty but forgets the victim, to a restorative justice, where the offender is punished without forgetting the victim and where the aggressor seeks reintegration into society in order to enable reconciliation". Finally, he reiterated that "truth, justice, forgiveness and reconciliation, human values grounded in the Gospel of Jesus, are the pillars on which the peace that we promote as a church are based". (SL) (Agenzia Fides 22/07/2015)