Mindanao lay announces forum statement

In the 9th Mindanao Lay Gathering held at the Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Bangkal last December 12-15, 2014, during the culmination of the Year the Laity, at the same time the launching of the Year of the Poor, the lay delegates voiced a forum statement in response to the theme, “Ang Layko: Gitawag sa Pagkabalaan, Gitawag sa Paglihok ning Hagit sa Bag-ong Panahon”, as inspired by the CBCP Pastoral Exhortation on the era of the new evangelization. The following are the excerpts of the forum statement:
 
The lay delegates dare to confront the burning issues, and that they are aware that the present economic, political and social situation of our country is not getting better.
 
The lay delegates deplore human trafficking caused mainly by massive poverty and its effects on families and human dignity.
 
The lay delegates are aware that the global warming due to the climate change is the new norm, the new phenomenon, and it is here to stay, and that they cannot remain complacent, they cannot leave the task of risk reduction and management of disaster.
 
The lay delegates also hope that the Bangsamoro Basic Law is a step towards the achievement of peace in the Moro areas of Mindanao, and that the basic issues on landlessness and control power will be addressed.
 
The lay delegates believe and heed the call of Pope Francis on his Apostolic Letter, Evangelii Gaudium: “to go forth from our own comfort zone in order to reach all the peripheries in need of the light of the Gospel” (EG #20).
 
Finally, they confirm that the laypeople are called to the life of holiness, to sanctify the need for economic, political and social justice; and they committed themselves to this call of holiness and become pastoral and missionary disciples of Christ bringing the Good News to the peoples NOW AND HEREAFTER LIFE. (Vonz M. Hijada / Contributor)