How to protect human dignity in the face of crises such as migration, poverty and structural injustice? will be one of the questions that will guide the Social Congress of the Catholic University of Chile, which will focus on the document Infinite dignity published in April by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith.
The Congress begins on Tuesday, November 19 at 8:30 am (local time) at the Central House of the Catholic University, and participation is free.
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On this occasion, there will be conversations, panels and reflections that will feature references from different areas such as economics, humanities and social sciences, to try to deepen the understanding of human dignity from different perspectives.
To do this, four parallel panels will be developed, each one with a dimension of dignity: ontological, moral, social and existential. The idea is that “those who attend choose the panel that most resonates with their interest,” and can expand their understanding of dignity in relation to current challenges, explained Ángela Parra, the director of university ministry.
There will also be dialogue tables that will address the 13 critical situations stated in Infinite dignity: from inequality and violence to topics such as surrogacy and euthanasia.
“The idea is that in the simultaneous panels people can talk about dignity from a particular angle, and that, later, in the dialogue tables, attendees have the opportunity to share, based on their own experiences and realities, about of violations of human dignity,” said José Lara, coordinator of liaison with the UC Pastoral.
At the end of the day, a reflection moderated by Susana Claro, from the School of Government, is planned with the participation of renowned academics.
The purpose of the Congress, Parra stated, is “to open a meeting space where differences become a source of mutual enrichment.”
The major chaplain of the UC, Father Jorge Merino, considered that Infinite dignity It is a true “treasure” that illuminates the different areas of human endeavor, and a key tool to address social problems that affect the community.
“From our university we can show the topicality and relevance of ‘Dignitas Infinita’ on issues that concern the entire society,” he says.
The UC Social Congress
The UC Social Congress emerged a few years ago, inspired by the historic Catholic Social Congress of 1910, and seeks to deepen the commitment to society and faith in a context of questioning the relationship between faith and the State.
The Congress offers a space for open and plural dialogue, which reflects the academic and ecclesial mission of the University and allows an exchange between the academic field and the current political and social context, promoting reflection on crucial issues for Chile.
On this occasion, and in the light of Infinite dignity“we want attendees to be motivated to defend the marginalized and raise their voices against everyday injustices,” said Daniel Irarrázaval, director of Christian Training and Culture at Pastoral UC.
Registration is free, but with limited spaces, so those interested are invited to register on the Congress website https://congresosocial.cl/
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.