ACT TODAY, CHANGE TOMORROW: A NEW GENERATION OF APOSTLES SPEAKS OUT!
A Statement of Our Vision and Call
The following statement was presented to Mr Frank Zappia MP at Act Today, Change Tomorrow during WYD Week.
On 16 July 2008 at World Youth Day in Sydney, young people gathered to discuss the joys and struggles that young people experience each day. In light of this reality, and our own Catholic faith, we affirm the following:
Each human being is created in God's image and has fundamental dignity. We are entitled to a life lived ‘in abundance' according to God's vision (John 10:10).
All young people have a right to health, shelter, employment and education. We should be free from the inequality created by social sins, such as unjust trade systems, corruption and unbridled consumerism.
All people need community. Our relationships, faith communities and societies must offer us support and help us to grow in ability and character. They should reflect Jesus' selfless love and must be free from violence, prejudice and exploitation.
All young people need to be empowered to live with meaning and purpose. We must have opportunities to develop an active spirituality and to discover the deepest meaning of our lives.
This is the vision of God. It is the Christian vision for ‘fullness of life' (John 10:10) . However, the real lives of young people, and the world in which they live, often contradict this vision.
Where this is the case, we believe that God calls us to be apostles. We must work for social and personal transformation, including a radical reevaluation of our priorities. In this we are inspired by Christ, who gave his whole self to bring freedom to captives and true life to the world.
We call upon young people to take action against situations and structures that prevent us all from living abundantly, free from poverty, violence, division and despair. It is the role of every Christian to change these situations in light of the Gospel..
We call upon young people to ask critical questions, to reject consumerism, to live authentically and engage others in the struggle for love and justice, by freely sharing their experiences and convictions.
We call upon Church leaders to collaborate with young people, to listen to them, and to proclaim the Gospel in a way that is relevant and inspires action.
We call upon Church leaders to stand with those denied abundance of life, and to call for change where it is needed.
We call upon governments and non-government institutions to hear and respond to young people's issues and concerns, and to help young people meet their basic needs through policies that promote equity and sustainability.
We commit to working together, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to bring about a new world for this generation – one which reflects more fully our dream and the dream of God. |
