The Cadre, Sept. 16. 1975, page 6

Newman Conference Report :

The Christian Conference Centre at Tatamagouche, N.S. was the scene of a meeting of over 130 Catholic Univer— sity students August 27-31 last. Students from all over Canada came to work, play, pray together and to discuss mutual concerns.

The theme of the Newman Con— ference this year was "Lib— eration". The following is the statement prepared by the students at the conclu- sion of the National Confer- ence.

Preomb|e

As we begin to face the complex reality of the world‘ we experience fear, anger, guilt, powerlessness and alienation. Even in the midst of this we can still find a place to begin. We find hope in this begin- ning .

Personal Liberation

During these days many of us have experienced isol— ation, and for this we can be grateful because it is deeply felt by our gener- ation. However, none of us are so isolated that there are no connections between ourselves, our world and our God. Personal liberation surely lies in rediscovering and reestablishing the con— nections and relationships.

Theology

We affirm the fact that faith is basic to our Chris— tian actions for liberation. Faith implies conscious ac— tion which continually keeps us in touch with the reality of our world, a world rid- dled by infustice and sin- fulness. Liberation calls us to participate with Christ as Sons of the Living God. Every liberation, every act which frees man from personal and structural oppression is an act which brings the Kingdom of God closer to fulfilment. Lib- eration implies that we are subfects and creators. Christ the Liberator moves us beyond our personal lim- itations and calls us to risk leaving behind the com— forts of now as we unite ourselves with our‘brothers and sisters to create a new man and a new world free from infustice and oppres— sion. ‘

We,as Christians looking for a way to liberate our- selves and others,shou1d recognise the Church as a potential liberating force. This potential of Church as liberator is often ignored.

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We are the Church and are therefore responsible for challenging and helping to make the institution of the Church a more liberating force.

Socio-polificol

Aspect

As Christians, we realize that there are social and

_political structures which

manipulate and oppress our— selves and others. We find ourselves confused by our inability to understand the complexities of factual data about these structures that~ make us feel so powerless. We feel called upon by our Christian commitment to in- form ourselves and others on social—political issues. We particularly feel called upon to develop the capacity

to recognize, identify and “‘

analyze the dynamics of those structures. We must search for new models based on contemporary principles of Social justice and we need to commit ourselves to change. In order to accom— plish this we affirm the

necessity of support commun- ities to achieve the goal.

The Univershy

Our universities are re— flections of the economic system of which they are a part. The educational sys- tem, because it is a reflec—

tion of the values of capi—

talism (and specifically of_ competition), does not help

us to become critical of

our society,-but tries to prepare us to be uncritical/ members of the status quo. In this way, students are oppressed. r”

We are oppressors too, for as uniVersity people we are in a separate reality, often uncaring about the broader reality of our uni- versity, our church, our community and our world; VWe are isolated from the most pressing problems of our society, not attempting, and often unable,\to become cri— tically aware.

We have a great deal to give. As Christian people we see a responsibility to learn how to analyze our situation within the univer-

Liheration 'of Self” and $00M!

sity. We become aware of the problems of the broader community by engaging in ac- tion. This we think is where hope lies. ‘

Editor's. Comment:

Ed's Comment: It is indeed

~refreshing to see such a

statement from a church, which,too often in centuries past, has been complacent in the face of oppression and alienation. In fact, it has been anlagent of these for— ces, itself. To profess that the methods used in the inquisition and the conver- sion of the Indians is to the glory of a God repre—

senting love & justice is

itself a heresy.

But perhaps nore of an‘ affront to the God they profess to believe in are the beautiful cathedrals built by, and at the expense of, people living in grand poverty, and the indulgence of popes in power politics, indeed, the existence of men with absolute(divine?) powers in a church which claims to believe in the Community of Man.

Fortunately, for the first time since the days of the Roman Empire, The R.Catholic church is beginning to un- ‘derstand what is truly meant by the term "Christian". It does not simply mean to claim a belief in Christ as the Saviour of Humanity, but to act.as an agent of sal— vation (with more than words) in oppositibn to op- pression and alienation throughout the world.

The priests of South Am- erica in particular are be— coming true representatives of Christ. They work with the\people to eradicate the oppression of American(and Canadian) corporation, and to end repressive dictator— ships. They are sharing their wider book-learning and greater knowledge'with' the people. They are work— ing with and through the starving masses, sharing their salvation, their tears

'and occasional laughs, yes,

even their prison terms.

The church is still, in too many ways, complacent, status quo, overbearing, and underinvolved (our own back- ground deserves much exam- ination). '

It is to be hoped that these tendencies will become the exception rather than the rule. Tbo often in the

; past the church has reacted

to opportuneties to become a true agent of Christ by shrinking from them into- reactionary paths,.by becom—_ ing an agent of the status. rquo and thus of.oppression.