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Date: 13 May 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
World Forum founder says church must shun temptation for
power
"The main mission of the church in a democracy –
the main mission of all christians as members of the church
– is to serve society", Chico (Francisco) Whitaker
says ahead of his Sydney visit to promote faith-based engagement
on such issues as peace, welfare, justice, development and
the environment.
Mr Whitaker, a Brazilian activist and thinker best known
as one of the "founding fathers" of the massive
World Social Forum civil society gatherings, believes that
the church is well placed to be the conscience in a democracy.
"The church is not a political party. She does not fight
for political power in the society. She works at another level:
consciences", he says.
"The church must try to awake everybody to the dignity
of each and of all – as subject of each own destiny
– as well as to the possibility of building fraternity
and peace among human beings as the final goal of all societies,
and to the need of engagement of everybody in this search."
Mr Whitaker believes the church could be an example to society
by building a "real fraternal community". In such
a community, "those having more power will be at the
bottom serving those who have less power, placed at the top",
he says.
"We need to use the power each one have as a service
to others, hoping those who have more power would do the same."
Mr Whitaker has a long history of involvement in Catholic
social action in Brazil, working along side such social justice
pioneers as Bishop Helder Camara and Paulo Freire. He is currently
members of the Executive Secretariat of the Brazilian Catholic Bishops'
Justice and Peace Commission and International Secretariat
of the World Social Forum.
Mr Whitaker is presently in Melbourne for the first part
of a regional "New Pentecost" tour involving Australia,
New Zealand and Thailand. His main engagement in Sydney will
be on Pentecost Sunday, 15 May, at a forum call "A Church
that Won't be Silenced!" at the Australian Catholic University,
Strathfield Campus.
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