Catholic Church is concerned about the growing reality of poverty and inequality in Latin America

During the meeting that the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) held this August 22, the Latin American and Caribbean Episcopal Council (Celam) presented a document in which it expressed its concern “about the growing reality of poverty and inequality” in the region.

Under the title Manifesto against Poverty in the Americas, The Episcopate of the region encouraged the international entity to unleash “a forceful process” that urgently and courageously faces the transformations to achieve social justice on the continent.

“Poverty is a form of violence because it denies human beings the deployment of all their potential by minimizing equitable and equal access to opportunities,” wrote Celam.

“Inequality, for its part, threatens human rights, generates distrust both among citizens and between them and State institutions, and in the end undermines the ideals of democracy,” he added.

Celam highlights that Latin America and the Caribbean suffers the greatest concentration of income and the highest levels of inequality in the world, which is why they recall the constant calls that the Church has made on this matter, from its teaching, for political leaders to work in benefit of their people.

Likewise, they stressed that inequality “is not only economic, income and distribution of resources,” but also affects “the social and political dimensions, perpetuating injustice, weakening democracy, attacking the intrinsic dignity of the person, and undermining the common good.”

The Latin American bishops see political polarization, which affects many countries in the region, as a “social disease,” which “perpetuates the cycle of poverty and inequality, adding hopelessness and eliminating the possibility of constructive discussions and effective solutions emerging.”

Let migration be a free option

The Celam presidency was emphatic in pointing out that the excessive migration that affects the continent is the product of unclear policies and agreements between states, which end up being a failure in social and economic terms.

“It is, as Pope Francis expresses it in Brothers All “It is of absolute urgency that decent living conditions be built in each nation, so that migration is a free option, and not an unviable resource in the face of desperation and exclusion,” they noted.

“It is the lack of responses and options in the face of poverty and inequality that leads millions of people to emigrate in search of better opportunities for their families,” the bishops stated.

Thus, Celam considers it an “ethical imperative” that the manifesto be adopted by the OAS, to begin to vindicate the dignity of the poor and to redefine the mission of the regional organization, “to jointly face” the challenges of the hemisphere and build justice. social.

“We are encouraged by the hope that the clamor of our people, to which we add our call and commitment, will inspire them to the best decisions and actions. Thus, allow us to invoke God’s blessing on you and on all the peoples of the American continent,” he concluded.