Catholic institutions ask to condone debt to countries that can never pay them

Spanish Catholic institutions, headed by the Spanish Episcopal Conference (CEE) demand that the debts of the countries be conded “which can never be settled” and a series of acts before the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development, which will be held in Seville on June 30.

In addition to the Episcopal Commission for Social Pastoral and Human Promotion, this group of entities is made up of the Archbishopric of Seville, Spanish Caritas, the Conference of Religious (Confer) and Manos United, among others.

In his opinion, the UN Conference promoted by the UN “is a key event for the mobilization of policies and resources for development”, even more when its latest edition took place 10 years ago in Ethiopia.

For this reason, a series of activities has been prepared that aim to boost the call made by Pope Francis in the Call Bula of the Ordinary Jubilee 2025, Hope you don’t disappoint: “There is another pressing invitation that I want to direct in view of the Jubilee Year; it is aimed at the richest nations, so that they recognize the severity of so many decisions made and determine the debts of the countries that can never pay them up.”

The event program planned between June 25 and July 3 will have the 2001 Nobel Prize in Economics Joseph Stiglitz and will consist of a wide range of events.

The first day, a round table on the topic “Justice and Dignity, Jubilee of Hope and Financing for Development” will be developed, in which, in addition to expert economists, the auxiliary bishop of Seville, Mons. Ramón Valdivia will participate.

On Friday, May 27, the religious of the Blessed Institute Virgin Mary, known in Spain as “Las Irlanda”, promotes the round table “What financing for what development?“, Which aims to” raise awareness about the importance of fair and sustainable financing for development, addressing challenges such as debt forgiveness, climate financing and economic justice. “That same day, the Archbishop of Seville will hold a special vigil in the cathedral.

The promotion entities of this movement will also participate on Saturday 28, on Sunday 29 in a social forum organized by the Civil Society Mechanism for Development Financing. On the afternoon of that Sunday, they will participate from 7:30 p.m. (local time) in a civic march that will travel the center of Seville.

On Monday 30, a panel of university experts in economics, philosophy and ecology will be held, among others, that will address the issue “Person, not numbers: economy at the service of people and the planet.” This event will be attended by Emilce Cuda, executive secretary of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America.

Petition to Spanish parishes

Catholic entities involved in this effort have asked parishes throughout Spain to read at the end of masses A statementapproved last March at the meeting entitled “Debt or Development?”

It demands the “cancellation or restructuring of the debt to free the most vulnerable countries of over -indebtedness”, which are made “debt exchanges (debt swaps) for investments in health, education, food and environmental security ”and a“ greater regulation and transparency in international indebtedness, which foresee future debt crisis ”.

Likewise, “the creation and provision of fair climate financing systems, which recognize the ecological debt of developed countries with the most vulnerable countries”, “an inclusive and equitable multilateral framework, where all the parties involved in the sovereign indebtedness crises have a voice and representation” and “an economy centered on the human person, inspired by justice and solidarity, which recognizes the dignity of everything that recognizes everything, human being and promotes economic models based on the common good, respect for global nature and equity. ”

Beyond the appointment that will take place in Seville, these entities ensure their participation in other international forums throughout the Jubilee Year as the Catar Social Development Summit, the G20 of South Africa and the COP30 that will be held in Belem (Brazil).