Page 78 - Reflexions of African Bishops and Priests

of distributive Justice”, to distribute – to share the putation of their worth, but it consists in what such
goods of the earth. The goods that God created are an abundance does really and effectively mean and
for each person and not solely for the profit of a few provide as a sufficient material basis for a fair per-
people. sonal development of its members. If such a just
Sometimes we believe social questions are re- distribution of goods were not to be effected or just
solved by increasing salaries, but this never resolves imperfectly ensured, the true end of the national
anything. And in France, the French are in the streets economy would not be achieved.” (June 1, 1941
every month! This signifies that somewhere there is radio-adress.) As long as the goods are not distrib-
an institutionalized lie, organized by the bankers, by uted in an equitable manner the people will always
the financial institutions. But the day that we under- be poor...
stand the solution is not asking for an increase in our Here is, brothers and sisters, what I wanted to
salaries but to take apart the system that holds us in tell you today about the poverty in Africa and in the
slavery, then the world will change. It is to say to the Democratic Republic of Congo. We have well under-
politicians in authority that the goods of the earth stood that without this worldwide and international
are a divine and fundamental law. “I have a right to solidarity, we will never arrive at making the dream
them! I do not have to ask for them!” If the lawmaker of our dear prophet Louis Even real.
does not recognize it, they commit a sin of injustice I would like to give a pious homage to this work,
concerning the inequitable distribution of the goods and also pay homage to all the Pilgrims in this work
of the earth. and also pride, that is for me an encouragement, of
It is not enough for us to preach Charity but we seeing young people give their lives for this work.
must act. The time is for action… It is not enough And my prayer is this: “May the Lord touch the
for us to pray but we must act. Why? Because we hearts of the youth so that when we return here in
are Pilgrims, our feet should walk the earth and the the next few years we will find many.
pavement, in every amphitheater, the earth of each May the souls of Louis Even, of your co-found-
country as bearers of the message. But a Christian er, Mrs. Gilberte Cote-Mercier, and of all those who
does not have the right to resign himself to poverty have been buried in this earth as seed for this battle
and disorder, and we all understand this. for distributive justice, rest in the Peace of Christ.
Pope Pius XII said this “The economic wealth Amen
of a nation does not properly consist in the abun- Father Joseph Lukelu
dance of goods judged by a sheer material com-

Group picture of the participants at our week of study of May 2013 in Rougemont.

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