(October 19, 2011) “At the heart of the Church's moral vision for society is the
belief in the sanctity of human life and dignity of the human being. Along with this
is the conviction that the human being is not only sacred but also social. Unfortunately,
this teaching is not well known", said Msgr. Agnelo Gracias, President of the Commission
for the theology and doctrine of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CCBI).
He was speaking at a three-day symposium at Bombay held from 14th to 16th
of October on the Church’s social doctrine that has outlined a moral vision for society
which addresses the chronic inequalities. Archbishop Charles M Bo, chairman of the
Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conference’s office of human development, said the Church
has a greater responsibility now more than ever to speak up for justice and true peace.
The event, entitled “Main Concerns and Pastoral Implications of Church’s Social Doctrine
from Mater et Magistra to Caritas in Veritate ", was attended by about 500 people,
including 100 priests and 178 religious. Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio
said in the symposium’s inaugural address that “development is not only economic or
social progress. Development must be integral; that is the development of every person.”
Cardinal Oswald Gracias, president of the CBCI regretted that “India continues to
be riddled with discriminatory sex-selection practices, exploitation of women and
discrimination of dalits and tribals.” The symposium was held to commemorate the late
pontiff John Paul II’s visit to India 25 years ago and to mark the 50 years of the
social encyclical Mater et Magistra of John XXIII. The conference addressed a number
of socio-pastoral concerns, particularly the rights of minorities and gender issues,
which were championed by the former pope. The federation particularly noted the sidelining
of women in the Church and called for the reservation of at least 50 percent of vocations
for women.