Pope calls for dignity of workers, not slave labour
(May 01, 2013) A society that does not pay a just wage and does not give work to
people; a society that only looks to its balance books and seeks profit, is unjust
and goes against God . This was the focus of Pope Francis’ reflections at Mass Wednesday
May 1st, the feast day of St. Joseph, the Patron of Workers. Attending
the mass were children and single mothers who are guests at the “Il Ponte” center
for solidarity based in the port town of Civitavecchia north of Rome.Commenting on the Gospel of the day, Pope Francis said Jesus is called the son of a carpenter, as he worked with Joseph his foster father who was a an ordinary worker – a carpenter. Reflecting on the first reading on the creation of the world, Pope Francis said that God worked to create it, and this image of God as worker - affirms that “work is something more than merely earning one’s bread”. Work gives dignity to a person. A man or a woman who works has a special dignity. Instead, those who do not work, don’t have this dignity. Pope Francis said there are many who seek work but do not find it, and this is a blot on the conscience of society, showing it is unorganised and unjust. He noted that today many social, political and economic systems exploit workers, paying them unjust salaries or deny work, seeking only to profit, or balance one’s budget, and this Pope Francis stressed goes against God’s plan. Then referring to the recent tragedy in Bangladesh where an 8-storey building collapsed, killing hundreds who worked just to earn 38 euros a month. Pope Francis said this is called slave labour'. He said in the world today there is slavery that is made with the most beautiful gift that God has given to man: - the ability to create, to work, to be the makers of our own dignity. How many of our brothers and sisters throughout the world are in this situation because of these economic, social, political attitudes, he said and concluded praying for all who are without work and for a more just and honest world..
Sedoc:
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