Meeting aims at Asian Church for the poor

(January 27, 2012) Catholic bishops, priests and religious from Asia have resolved to create a Church of the poor by first putting into practice the Social Teachings of the Church in their own institutions. The resolution to make the social teaching concrete in parishes, dioceses and conferences was spelled out in a statement following the 8th meeting of the Bishops Institute of Social Action (BISA) held January 18-24 in Bangkok, Thailand. Action to be taken include just wages in parishes, institutions and organizations, proper working conditions for their workers, and representation and participation of lay men and women in their deliberative and decision making bodies,” said the statement read by Myanmarese Archbishop Charles Bo of Yangon, chairman of the Office of Human Development of the Federation of Asian Bishops Conferences. Thirty seven participants from 17 countries attended week-long meeting, which included fact finding visits among migrant workers, indigenous peoples, HIV/AIDS sufferers and victims of human trafficking.