The Archbishop of Santiago de Chile, Mons. Fernando Chomali, called for working “without rest” for social justice to end crime in the country. In this framework, he highlighted the need for an “authentically human” society based on an ethic in which we ask ourselves “if our actions elevate or sink others,” the portal states. BioBio.
Given the situation that exists today in Chile, the prelate presented two options: “Either we lock ourselves in our houses with security doors, double and triple locks, bars, barbed wire everywhere, electric fences, private guards and multiple insurances or we work “each and every one of us tirelessly for the social justice that Chile so longs for.”
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“A criminal is not born, he is made”
In particular, he referred to crime: “A criminal is not born, he is made. And what makes the criminal is his lack of expectations, his material poverty, his ignorance, his marginalization, his not feeling part of a country that is perceived and shown to be developed, but that does not allow the goods and services to reach him. what you see on television and social networks,” he considered.
“A criminal has a broken soul to the point that even his own life and that of others is worthless,” he added, highlighting “the cruelty of the murders.” A little over a month ago, they registered in Santiago eight homicides in two days.
“We must work with more effort and zeal to build a more fraternal, more inclusive, less exclusive society, in short, more just,” he urged, taking into account the premise that “life is to be donated because we are part of a community.” ”.
For this reason, he insisted on the “great importance” of “being a being for others,” as well as “recognizing oneself as part of a community project” on the basis that “all human beings are equal in dignity.”
The role of companies: opportunity and responsibility
Bishop Chomali stated that in this context the company has “a great challenge, a great opportunity, but above all a great responsibility.”
“For this, it is essential that it be recognized as a promoter of people’s development, as a creator of sources of decent jobs, as an articulator of authentically human encounters,” he stressed.
Based on the Social Doctrine of the Church, which refers to the company as a community of people, he considered the “exclusively economic” view of the company to be harmful, and pointed out that “it is much more than that, it is the manager of a work culture.” well done, of personal and social promotion and source of human development.”
On the other hand, he emphasized the role of the family and the school for an education that does not only promote competition, because “in life it is not about arriving first, it is about us all arriving together,” he reflected.
He also referred to the health drama in Chile, where “while in some clinics a patient is with many specialized doctors and health professionals, at the same time there are compatriots who wait hours and days on a stretcher for someone to treat them.” , and many have even died “while their names were on a cold waiting list.”
As of June 2024, the number of non-GES Waiting List cases (Explicit Health Guarantees) for new medical and dental specialty consultations reached 2,555,918 records, stated a report presented by Minister Ximena Aguilera.
In Chile several “worlds” coexist
Inequality means that in Chile today “several ‘worlds’ coexist that do not meet, that do not know each other and that never will,” because despite economic growth, “we have not managed to generate equity,” lamented Bishop Chomali.
Regarding the economic situation, in July 2024 the Minimum Monthly Income increased to $500,000 (approximately 525 US dollars) for workers over 18 years of age and up to 65 years of age, and $372,989 (383 US dollars) for workers under 18 years of age and over 65 years of age, reports the Labor Directorate.
“An authentically human society will be possible only if we understand that we need others and that thanks to others we can develop in life,” said the archbishop, calling us to ask ourselves “if our actions elevate or sink others, make them more or denigrates their dignity.”
Juliet Villar
I am a journalist, with a degree in communication from the National University of La Matanza in Argentina. I have work experience in non-governmental organizations. Since 2016 I have been dedicated to Catholic journalism, first at the Argentine Catholic Information Agency (AICA) and, since 2022, as ACI Prensa correspondent for Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Bolivia.