Text 1142, 60 rader
Skriven 2006-03-06 23:00:20 av Marc Lewis (1:396/45)
Ärende: Vatican Information Service (Press Release)
===================================================
Hello All!

                The following press release is Copyrighted by the
                          Vatican Information Service.
                ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
                               VIS-Press releases

CHRISTIAN VALUES INDISPENSABLE IN WORLD OF BUSINESS

VATICAN CITY, MAR 4, 2006 (VIS) - In the Paul VI Hall today, Benedict XVI
received 8,000 members of the UCID ("Unione Cristiana Imprenditori Dirigenti"
or Christian Union of Entrepreneurs and Managers), the statutes of which have
the approval of the Italian Episcopal Conference.

In his address to them, the Holy Father praised their express intent "to tend
towards an ethic that goes beyond a simple professional code of conduct" which,
he added, made him think of the relationship between justice and charity, one
of the themes of his recent Encyclical "Deus caritas est."

"Christians are called always to seek justice, yet they carry in themselves the
impulse of love, which even goes beyond justice. The road travelled by lay
Christians from the middle of the nineteenth century to today, has brought them
to an awareness that works of charity must not substitute the commitment to
social justice. The Church's social doctrine, and above all the activity of so
many Christian-inspired groups such as your own, show just how far the
ecclesial community has travelled in this matter."

In this context, the Pope recalled the publication two years ago of the
Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, prepared by the Pontifical
Council for Justice and Peace. It is, he said, "an educational instrument,
extremely useful for all those people who aim to allow themselves be guided by
the Gospel in their working and professional lives." And he went on to express
the hope that "it may become a constant point of reference" for the members of
the UCID in drawing up projects and seeking solutions to the "complex problems
of the world of work and the economy," an area that represents their "road to
sanctification."

With reference to the "Charter of Values" of the youth members of the UCID, the
Holy Father commended "the positive spirit of faith in the human person" that
animates the document, and the fact that its declaration of principles is
backed up by a positive commitment to put them into practice.

"I particularly appreciated," said the Holy Father, "the stated aim of valuing
all individuals for what each of them is or can give, according to their
talents, while avoiding all forms of exploitation; as well as the recognition
of the importance of the family and of personal responsibility. Unfortunately
such values, also thanks to current economic difficulties, often risk not being
followed by those business people who lack solid moral inspiration. For this
reason, the contribution of those who draw from their own Christian formation
is indispensable."

Benedict XVI concluded by calling on the members of the UCID to draw
inspiration from St. Joseph, patron saint of workers, both "in your daily
tasks, ... and in your tenacious search for God's justice in human affairs."
AC/CHRISTIAN BUSINESS PEOPLE/UCID VIS 060306 (480)

SUMMARY

--- MPost/386 v1.21
 * Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS =Meridian, MS= bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)