Keeping Catholic Social Teaching on South Africa's agenda
(Vatican Radio) Promoting Catholic Social Teaching in the political arena: that’s
the challenge facing chaplains working with parliamentarians and it was the subject
of an international conference that concluded in the Vatican on Friday. The meeting,
entitled ‘Pastoral Care of Politicians: Spiritual Companionship and Promotion of the
Common Good’, brought together chaplains and lay experts from different parts of the
world engaged in the interface with political decision making. Organised by the
Pontifical Justice and Peace Council, the two day meeting highlighted the need for
close collaboration between clergy and laity seeking to keep Christian values high
on the public agenda. Among the pioneers in the this ministry on the African continent
is Fr Peter John Pearson, who heads the Parliamentary Liaison Office of the Southern
African Catholic Bishops Conference.
Listen to Philippa Hitchen’s interview
with Fr Peter John Pearson:
"We've been
the first Catholic Church office in Africa to engage democratic governments in a liaison...it's
not only to try and get Catholic points recorded in legislation - we try for that
obviously - but it's also about engaging with policy makers....researchers, bureaucrats
behind the scenes, engaging with them on the wisdom that Catholic Social Teaching
has and what it can contribute to that....
Just two weeks ago, we were the
only organisation put a whole lot of recommendations to parliament for a youth subsidy.....and
they were taken wholesale in......but that for us is not the only measure of success.....keeping
a space for civil engagement and public participation open is what we see as important..."