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30th January 2006
Belfast



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Spirituality for Social Engagement

A conversation group has been meeting in Belfast for over two years to discuss the meaning, purpose and significance of justice in our lives. We meet five times a year and attend an annual conference entitled "Spirituality for Social Engagement" in Dublin. The group is linked with the Justice Commission of the Conference of Religious in Ireland (CORI) and is made up of people from various churches.

We explore a variety of topics such as minority ethnic issues (including asylum issues), prejudice (including racism), globalisation and human dignity, to name but a few. As our meeting this week coincided with "Church Unity" week and was close to Holocaust Memorial Day we chose the theme "One Person Can Make a Difference" and discussed articles from the Holocaust Memorial Day website. The discussion explored our own understanding of how we can make a difference and highlighted the limitations we all feel in this regard.

The Holocaust Memorial Day serves thirteen aims. A key focus of our discussion was on two of these aims:
  • "To support the view that all citizens - without distinction - should participate freely and fully in the economic, social and public life of the nation"
  • "To support our shared aspirations with both our European partners and the wider international community centred on the ideals of peace, justice and community for all"

The interplay between social justice and Jewish/Christian relations is clearly evident in these aims. So often it is people who are rich who have the luxury of being tolerant and accepting, while people living in poverty have no choice but to fight off any competition that might threaten the roof over their heads or the food on their table. The issue of increased economic inequality between people - while perhaps just one cause of the troubles our world has been, and is, experiencing - is set to ensure that the potential for conflict, prejudice, racism and anti-semitism remains alive and well in our world.

If you are interested in starting a conversation group yourselves then simply contact the Justice Commission of CORI (0035316677363) or myself for details. The group doesn't have to be large - in fact we have found that six people is the best number for an in-depth discussion to take place.

Sr Thérèse Fitzgerald (Belfast)
This article first appeared in the 'Sion Justice Newsletter'