By Peter Bugden
BRISBANE’S Catholic Justice and Peace Commission has drawn on the inspiration of St John XXIII and St John Paul II in helping members of the archdiocese prepare for the G20 meeting being held in the city in November.
The CJPC is encouraging all Catholics to become involved in promoting the common good in the lead-up to the G20.
The leaders of the Group of Twenty (G20) – 19 nations plus the European Union – will gather in Brisbane on November 15-16 for a forum on members’ international economic co-operation and decision-making.
The CJPC has produced a document, “Working for the Common Good – Preparing for the G20 Meeting in Brisbane”, as a resource for Catholics of the archdiocese to become involved in issues for the G20 Leaders Summit.
The commission launched the document on April 27, the day Popes John XXIII and John Paul II were canonised.
It offers a “A Prayer for the Common Good”, seeking the intercession of the papal saints.
In a practical call to action, the CJPC asks people “to think about what is happening in your own life and those of your family and friends and to also look around your community to see how the lives of the most vulnerable people … have been affected by government economic policies, regional and global and political developments, the actions of Australian businesses and trans-national corporations and the operation of the financial system”.
Submissions can be sent to the CJPC and taken by the commission’s representative to the C20 (Civil Society 20), a gathering of civil society representatives in Melbourne in June.
This gathering is part of the official G20 process leading up to the leaders’ meeting in Brisbane.
The CJPC document focuses on the teachings of Popes John XXIII and John Paul II.
“These two 20th century popes helped us to apply biblical values to the contemporary social, economic and political situations of our world and enriched the repository of the Church’s social teaching at a time of momentous global change,” the document said.
In the document, the CJPC said the summit would “address a number of important issues which are relevant to the welfare of women and men around the world”.
The commission will work with Catholics throughout the archdiocese, other parts of Australia “and globally, with our sisters and brothers in other churches and from other religions, and with people of good will in other community groups to provide opportunities for education and formation, dialogue and action which promotes the dignity and welfare of the most vulnerable and marginalised people worldwide”.
The CJPC urges parishes, schools and agencies to “pray that leaders of the G20 nations will make decisions and take actions which truly serve the common good”.
CJPC executive officer Peter Arndt (pictured) said representatives from various Churches were planning to organise “a rolling prayer vigil across Brisbane” leading up to the leaders’ summit.
