The Australian Catholic Social Justice Council’s Briefing for February is now up on the website. The Briefing covers issues of Catholic social teaching in February 2016, highlighting resources, media items and diary events. It can be read here.
From the Secretariat, John Ferguson:
‘God is not indifferent! God cares about mankind! God
does not abandon us!’
These are the opening words of this year’s Message of Pope Francis for the World Day of Peace (January 1) 2016. Its title is ‘Overcome Indifference and Win Peace’, and that first sentence is infused with the passion and commitment that is the trademark of all Pope Francis’ writing. Later in the first paragraph he says:
‘Peace is both God’s gift and a human achievement. As a gift of God, it is entrusted to all men and women, who are called to attain it.’ (n. 1)
Pope Francis’ message is a heartfelt plea to us all to engage with the world around us, not to turn our backs on suffering and injustice, and ‘not to lose hope in our human ability to conquer evil and to combat resignation and indifference’ (n. 2).