letter

’We have been born into a world which for most ’ people is not a place to live in. A large part of mankind is exploited by a minority enjoyingintoler—~ able privileges. Many pol- ice states exist to protect the powerful. Multi—national companies impose their own laws.;2r9fit and money_ rule. Those in power almost never pay attention to those who are voiceless.

And the people of God? what way of liberation is it opening? It cannot avoid the question.

When the very first Chr- istians found themselves faced with a question with— out a solution, when they were on the point of div- iding, they decided to gather in council. We rem- embered them at Easter 1970, when we were seeking answers for out own age} And we opted not for a forum of ideas, not for conferences, but for a Council of Youth; that is to say, a reality that gathers together youth from every land, committing us unambigously on account of Christ and the Gospel.

At thehsaxta .of. . the cbﬁﬁcii'dffrbﬁthfis the risen Christ. We celebrate him, present in the euch— arist, alive in the Church, hidden in man our brother.

In the course of four and a half years of prep— aration, we have made un— ceasingivisits to one ano— ther. We have crossed the world in every direction, even though the means at our dispoSal were_slight. In certain localities, the political circumstances have led us through grave situations. A

Gradually, a common awa- reness has emerged. It has been more particularly shaped by the voices of those among us who are living under-Subjection, and oppressiOn, or who are reduqed.to silence.

And today we are sure: the risen Christ is pre- Paring his people to be- come at one and the same time a contemplative people, thirsting for God; a people Of justice, living the , , struggle of man and peoples exploited, a people of ‘ Communion, where the non- believer also finds a creative place.

We are part and parcel, involved with this people. This is why we are address- ing it in this letter, so as to share the concerns. Which are ours, and the exPectations-which are con-

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suming us.

Numerous Churches, in the southern hemisphere as in the northern, are spied on, interfered with, and even persecuted. Cert— ain of them show that with- out any bonds with polit- ical powers, without means of power, without wealth, the Church can experience a new birth, can become a force of liberation for humanity and radiate God.

Aesthe: Part of the peeple of God, in the nor— thern hemisphere as in the southern, compromises with inequality. Christians as individuals and many Church institutions have capital— ized their goods, accumu- lating vast wealth in money, iand, buildings, invest— ments. There are lands where the Churches remain connected to the political and financial structures. They draw on their super— flous wealth to give away large sums in development aid, but still make no changes in their own struc— tures. Church institutions acquire highly efficient means of accomplishing their mission, of running

-their activities and bring-

ing together their committ- ees. But many discover ' that gradually life van- ishes, leaving institutions to turn over empty. The Churches are more and more forsaken by people Of our time. What they say is losing its credibility. Whereas the Christians of the first period shared all that they had. They ' gathered day by day to pray together. They lived in joy and simplicity. So they were recognized. , During the last years of preparation for the Council of Youth, in the extreme diversity of suggestions made,_these are the intui-

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tions which stand out above all the rest and to which we shall consecrate the first period of the Council of Youth:

Church, what do you say of your future?

Are you going to give up the means of power, the

fxcompromises with political

and financial power?

Are you going to surrender

your privileges, stop cap- italising? Are you at last going to become a "univer- sal community of sharing"

a community finally recon- ciled, a place of communion and friendship for the wh- ole of humanity?

In each locality and over the whole world, are you in this way going to be- come the seeds of a society without class and where none haVe privileges, with; out domination of one per- son by another, of one people by another?

Church, what do you say of your future?

Are you going to become theﬁ"peopie of the beati- tudes", having no security other than Christ, a people poor, con templa ti ve , crea t- ing peace, bearing joy and a liberating festival for mankind, ready even to be persecuted for justice?

If we are actively involved in this, we know that we can demand nothing exact- ing of others unless we ourselves stake everything. What do we haVe to fear? Christ says "I came to “kindle.ﬁire on the earth, and how I long for it to burn". we shall dare to live the Council of Youth .35 an anticipation of all

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sure, November 19, 1974, page 3

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that we want. We shall dare to commit ourselves, toge— ther and to the point of/ no return, to living beyond hope, letting the spirit

of the beatitudes come springingfup in the people of God, being leaven of a

‘society with out class and

where none have privileges.

We are addressing this first letter to the people of God, written on our hearts, so as to share what burns us.

Opening of the Council of Youth - Taize, 1 September 1974

AbOut two years ago, in Taize France, the world Youth Council met to dis— cull social justice and social injustice. This con— ference included youth from all over the world, who felt a dommon concern for the world situation and the social maladies within it. It was at.this conference that, the "Letter to the People of God" was written.

As a spin off from this‘ giant conference, another was held on November 2 in northern New BrunSwick. Nine of our university students attended that con— ference, at which they dis- cussed the "letter" itself, as will as other topics of concern. I ..,

If you are interested, this letter, as well as other related topics will be discussed on Tuesday night at 8:30 in the Marion Hall Health Centre lounge. Everyone is welcome to come and share this get together.

signed, Social Justice Youth Group