Human Trafficking Crime Networks and Pastoral Efforts for Prevention

Human trafficking is human exploitation, and it contradicts the biblical message which encourages equal and harmonious relationships between humans. Therefore, efforts needed for prevention. This study aimed to expose the criminal network of trafficking in persons specifically from Southwest Sumba Regency where Malaysia is a destination country. Data analysis based on Holland and Henriot model of the pastoral circle. The method used was descriptive qualitative. Data were obtained through observation, interviews, and literature studies, which were analyzed in depth. The result was that an effective pastoral action to prevent human trafficking is based on a deep understanding of trafficking in persons with adequate theological reflection.

“HISTORIE DIPINTE” E “IMMAGINI PARLATE” SAN CARLO BORROMEO NEGLI AFFRESCHI DI BIASCA

The ancient church of Saint Peter in Biasca, in Canton of Ticino, preserves a pictorial cycle on the Life of St. Charles Borromeo, commissioned in 1620 by the parish priest Giovanni Basso to the painter Alessandro Gorla from Bellinzona. The twelve panels, complete with captions, which depict in an ideal order and with a lively language some episodes in the life of the Saint, can be considered an unicum, a direct reference to the presence of St. Charles in the Three Ambrosian Valleys, and a testimony of his reforming pastoral action, implemented according to the resolutions of the Council of Trent also thanks to the charismatic figure of Basso.

Tindakan Pastoral Gereja dalam Meningkatkan Kemampuan Resolusi Konflik Jemaat

Conflicts can be found in almost every area of human interaction, but the notion that every interaction needs to involve conflict is wrong. Because humans have the ability to develop relationships, relationships, and skills in such a way without causing conflict. When examined further, one of the causes of conflict is the existence of negative perceptions about themselves and others. This perception then changes the situation from simple to complex, the namely open conflict involving many individuals or communities as well as in the church. Departing from this reality, the authors conducted a study in one community that served as a model in applying group dynamics methods. That is, all forms of treatment and response to the research illustrate that the same thing can be done in the center of the church as a pastoral action. The method of group dynamics is a concept that describes the process of a group that is always developing and can adapt to a constantly changing situation. Here is the importance of this study, namely to determine the extent to which the application of group dynamics as a form of pastoral action can overcome the constraints of personal relationships so that through the application of this method, each person is encouraged to improve his ability to resolve conflicts.Abstrak: Konflik dapat ditemukan di hampir setiap bidang interaksi manusia, tetapi anggapan bahwa setiap interaksi perlu melibatkan konflik adalah salah. Sebab manusia mempunyai kemampuan untuk mengembangkan relasi, pergaulan dan ketrampilan sedemikan rupa tanpa menimbulkan konflik. Bila ditelaah lebih lanjut, salah satu penyebab konflik adalah adanya persepsi negatif tentang diri dan orang lain. Persepsi ini kemudian merubah situasi dari yang sederhana menjadi rumit, yaitu konflik terbuka yang melibatkan banyak pribadi atau komunitas seperti halnya di jemaat. Berangkat dari realita ini, penulis melakukan penelitian di salah satu komunitas yang berfungsi sebagai model dalam menerapkan metode dinamika kelompok. Artinya, segala bentuk perlakuan dan respons atas penelitian itu menjadi gambaran bahwa hal yang sama dapat juga dilakukan di tengah jemaat sebagai tindakan pastoral. Metode dinamika kelompok merupakan sebuah konsep yang menggambarkan proses kelompok yang selalu berkembang dan dapat menyesuaikan diri dengan keadaan yang selalu berubah-ubah. Di sinilah kepentingan dari penelitian ini, yaitu untuk mengetahui sejauhmana penerapan dinamika kelompok sebagai bentuk tindakan pastoral dapat mengatasi kendala-kendala relasi yang bersifat pribadi, sehingga melalui penerapan metode ini, setiap pribadi didorong untuk meningkatkan kemampuannya dalam meresolusi konflik.

Conferência de Aparecida

Documentos e acontecimentos prévios ofereceram o eixo central da Conferência: seguimento de Cristo e missão. Bento XVI traçou-lhe algumas pautas. Com o método ver-julgar-agir, trabalhou-se em grupo. Em discurso próprio do magistério eclesial, o Documento se estruturou em torno do eixo da realidade na perspectiva da fé de ser discípulo e missionário de Cristo para chegar a um agir pastoral, revelando continuidades, rupturas e novidades em relação às conferências anteriores.Abstract: Previous documents and events – in particular, those related to the following of Christ and the mission – provided the central axle for the Conference. Bento 16th drew some of its agendas. Using the seeing-assessing-acting methodology, organizers worked in teams. Following the distinctive discourse of the ecclesial magisterium, the Document was structured around the axle of reality, within the perspective of the faith of being a disciple and a missionary of Christ in order to achieve a pastoral action. It also compared the present Conference with previous ones, in terms of continuities, ruptures and innovation.

Homossexualidade e ministério ordenado. Critérios de análise e correlações incômodas

O autor, apoiando-se em documentos da Congregação para a Educação Católica e em carta do Secretário de Estado do Vaticano, analisa as motivações pelas quais “não se pode admitir ao seminário e às ordens sacras aqueles que praticam a homossexualidade, apresentam tendências homossexuais profundamente radicadas ou apoiam a chamada cultura gay”. Que a homossexualidade, tal como descrita nos documentos assinalados, representa um impedimento objetivo à ordenação, provém da própria natureza do sacerdócio: além de dificultar a ação pastoral, coloca em questão o modo mais adequado com que o presbítero estabelece relações tanto com homens quanto com mulheres.Abstract: With the support of documents from the Congregation for a Catholic Education and of a letter from the Secretariat of the Vatican State, the Author analyses the reasons why “it is not possible to admit into the seminary and in the sacred orders those who practice homosexuality, present deeply rooted homosexual tendencies or support the so-called gay culture”. It shows that homosexuality – as described in the above mentioned documents – represents an objective obstacle for the ordination that originates in the very nature of priesthood: besides hindering the pastoral action it raises the question of the most appropriate way for the presbyter to establish relations both with men and with women.

Fé e política na ação pastoral da Igreja hoje

Uma das características da ação pastoral concreta da Igreja Latino-americana, nas últimas décadas, tem sido o refluxo na relação entre fé e política. Este mesmo refluxo, no entanto, não pode ser observado na reflexão teológica do continente. No intuito de superar um hiato crescente entre o crer e o agir, este artigo analisa as relações entre fé e política na perspectiva das cosmovisões teológica e antropológica do passado para ressaltar sua alta significância para o contexto atual da Igreja. Esta se vê confrontada hoje com uma nova cosmovisão, a “ecológica”. As lições do passado, o agir histórico de Jesus e a nova cosmovisão iluminam os passos a serem dados no presente.Abstract: The concrete pastoral action of the latin-american church, in the last decades, has been characterized by a diminishing of the relationship between faith and politics. The same can not be observed, however, in the theological reflection of the continent. To overcome the growing lap between faith and action, this article analyzes the relations between faith and politics in the theological and anthropological cosmovisions of the past in order to enhance their high significance for the actual context of the church. The church, nowadays, is facing a new “ecological” cosmovision. The lessons of the past, the historical action of Jesus and this new cosmovision illuminate the steps for the present.

O desafio do socialismo religioso na pastoral (II)

Num artigo anterior, tratamos do socialismo religioso tal como se apresenta na Revelação bíblica e na Tradição da Igreja. Por falta de espaço, não analisamos como este mesmo socialismo se configurou nos tempos da Modernidade. O objetivo deste artigo é demonstrar que, na Modernidade, século após século, o socialismo religioso continua fortemente presente, tanto na Igreja quanto fora dela, ainda que dentro de uma nova cosmovisão, no caso, a antropológica. Ressaltamos também que esta busca por uma “nova” sociedade não é algo específico do cristianismo, pois se trata de um sonho inerente ao próprio ser humano. Através de uma ação pastoral adequada, com base no Reino de Deus pregado por Jesus Cristo, a Igreja não pode deixar de oferecer ao mundo sua contribuição específica. A nova cosmovisão ecológica que vem se impondo ajuda a superar uma série de dificuldades. Encerramos o artigo com algumas considerações pastorais complementares ao artigo anterior.Abstract: In a former article we dealt about religious socialism as presented in biblical Revelation and in Tradition of the Church. Due to lack of space we did not analyze how this socialism has been re-arranged in the context of Modernity. This article aims to demonstrate that, in Modernity, century by century, religious socialism was always vigorously present, in the Church as well as outside the Church, although within a new cosmovision, in this case anthropological. We emphasize too that this search for a “new” society is not something specific to Christianity, because it is a dream inherent to all people. By means of adequate pastoral action, based on the Kingdom of God preached by Jesus Christ, the Church must offer to the world her specific contribution. The new ecological cosmovision, present today with increasing emphasis, helps to overcome several difficulties. We conclude this article with some complementary pastoral considerations to the former article.

O contexto ecumênico de Medellín e o posicionamento católico sobre a unidade cristã na América Latina

As Conclusões da Conferência de Medellín é o primeiro documento do episcopado católico latino-americano que insere o ecumenismo no agir pastoral da Igreja Católica no continente. Não dedica uma seção especial ao tema, mas o apresenta como um elemento transversal nas diversas temáticas abordadas. A Conferência foi, em si mesma, uma significativa experiência ecumênica pela presença dos representantes das Igrejas e a prática da hospitalidade eucarística na celebração de encerramento. Medellín foi uma real recepção das orientações conciliares sobre o aggiornamento da Igreja, para o qual o ecumenismo tem uma função fundamental em nossos tempos.Palavras chave: Medellín. Igreja. Missão. Ecumenismo.Abstract: The Conclusions of the Medellin Conference is the first document of the Latin American Catholic bishops who enter ecumenism in the pastoral action of the Catholic Church on the continent. It does not dedicate a special section to the theme, but it presents it as a transversal element in the various thematic topics covered. The conference was, in itself, a significant ecumenical experience for the presence of the representatives of the churches and the practice of Eucharistic Hospitality in the celebration of closure. Medellin was a real reception of the conciliation guidelines on the aggiornamento of the church, for which Ecumenism has a fundamental function in our times.Keywords: Medellín. Church. Mission. Ecumenism