Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Buenos Aires (Agenzia Fides) - Managers and bishops from Argentina, Uruguay and Chile met 3 and 4 July in Pilar, province of Buenos Aires to discuss the social responsibility of businesses to create jobs and spread prosperity. The welcome address was given by the president of the Association of Christian Business Managers ACDE.
The meeting is part of the 8th Symposium organised by the Council of Latin American Bishops’ Conferences CELAM, the International Union of Christian Enterprises UNIAPAC and ACDE. The purpose of the meeting, the organisers say, is to "discuss important questions such as investment, just wages, job creation and distribution of prosperity, international trade and migration".
Among those present Bishop Jorge Eduardo Lozano of Gualeguaychú head of the Laity Builders of Society section of CELAM Justice and Solidarity Commission and Bishop Pablo Galimberti bishop of Salto in Uruguay, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Uruguay (CEU) and head of the CELAM Justice and Solidarity Commission. Speakers include Bishop Fernando Chomali, auxiliary of Santiago de Chile and Assessor for doctrine of the Social Union of Catholic Entrepreneurs (USEC), and engineer Luis Riva, former ACDE president, vice president of UNIAPAC and president of Managers S.A.
The Symposium was opened by Bishop Lozano for CELAM and Luis Rivas for UNIAPAC. Conferences include: "Ethical investment and dignified work as a path of growth and transformation" (Bruno Baranda USEC Chile); "Economic and social situation in Latin America today " (Humberto Ortiz CELAM Justice and Solidarity Commission); “Conflict between creation and distribution of resources? Role of the social responsibility of Christian management" (Ludovico Videla ACDE); "Trade, migration, closed borders, regional agreements, globalisation" (Argentinean entrepreneur Luis Bameule); "Value formation of entrepreneurs and managers" (Sergio Castro Toledo of USEM Mexico). During the Congress there will also be the reading of a message from Pope Benedict XVI. Bishop Lozano will report on preparations and goals of COMLA 5 to be held in Aparecida, Brazil, in 2007, and Fernán di Elizalde will illustrate the process of canonisation of Enrique Shaw, Argentinean manager who founded ACDE and fostered the human growth of his staff based on the Social Doctrine of the Catholic Church. The congress will issue a final statement of conclusions "Pilar Declaration". (RG) (Agenzia Fides 4/7/2006, righe 34, parole 419)
