CJPC Brisbane Media Release for G20 Summit

CATHOLIC JUSTICE AND PEACE COMMISSION OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF BRISBANE

Catholic Centre
143 Edward Street
Brisbane  QLD  4000
GPO Box 282 Brisbane  QLD 4001
Ph.  07 3336 9173
Fax 07 3336 9177
ABN 25 328 758 007

Media Statement
G 20 Leader’s Summit                                                                        13th November 2014


On the eve of the G 20 Summit in Brisbane Pope Francis has written a letter to Prime Minister Abbott offering his prayerful encouragement for the deliberations and outcome of the Summit.  

In his letter Pope Francis recognizes the importance of the deliberations and a focus on efforts to relaunch a sustained and sustainable growth of the world economy. He reminds participants that at the centre of their deliberations must be the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people and that a more realistic and complete view of the human and the earth must be at the centre of economic theory and practices.

At the centre of economic principles and policy must be people’s wellbeing through a more inclusive economy that welcomes the participation of the poor, which honours the dignity of all people, improves the quality of life for women and children, promotes access to decent and quality jobs for all and promotes access to education.

It is hoped that through this G20 Summit the voices of the world’s most vulnerable are heard – child workers, trafficked women, Indigenous peoples, refugees, those living with hunger and poverty, those without work, Pacific Islanders whose homes are being inundated by rising seas and many more. Such an inclusive economy must also hear the cry of the earth for justice.

The leaders gathering at this G20 Summit not only have an economic imperative but have a deeply moral imperative and that moral imperative is not only  to respond to the voices of the world’s poor but to invite and welcome them in to the centre of the deliberations and actions.

In the lead up to this G 20 Summit the Catholic Justice and Peace Commission has joined with Queensland Churches Together in prayer vigils to pray for those whose voices need to be heard if there is to be economic justice in the world . In addition, Christians will be asked to consider fasting from food or something else important to them and praying for the needs of marginalised people and the earth from the morning of Saturday 15 November to the afternoon of Sunday 16 November.  A prayer service to mark the conclusion of this period of fasting will take place on Sunday 16 November at 4 p.m. at St Francis College Chapel, 233 Milton Road, Milton (enter via Baroona Road).

During this Summit let us continue to pray with Pope Francis that the leaders of the world gathering together will have the courage and conviction to place the human being back into the heart of economics and politics.

Rick Sheehan
Chair
Catholic Justice and Peace Commission
For further information, please contact Peter Arndt on (07) 3336 9173 or 0409 265 476.

NB  This release is issued with the approval of the Commission or its Executive under the provision of its Mandate which enables it to speak in its own right.  The views expressed in it do not necessarily represent the views of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane

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