Bangkok, Catholic businessmen focus on Churches' social doctine
Bangkok ( AsiaNews) - The Church's social doctrine applied to the world of business and commerce, together with the "vocational" role and commitment of businessmen in the challenges of the New Evangelization . These are the issues at the center of a conference scheduled for March next year in Thailand. It will bring together top international Catholic businessmen. "With the launch in 2014 of the Asian Economic Community - Msgr. Vissanu Andrew Thanya Anan , deputy secretary general of the Thai Bishops' Conference told CNA - the Church must prepare for future pastoral challenges that affect every area of human life."
The Asian Conference on the Vocation of the Business Leader in the New Evangelization seeks to strengthen Catholics' faith and to examine the dilemmas facing Catholic business leaders in an uncertain world economy. The conference will take place March 20-22, at the Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand. Cardinal Peter Turkson, the president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, will deliver a key reflection on the topic.
The event is organized by the International Catholic Union of Business Executives (UNIAPAC), in collaboration with the Thailand-based Catholic Business Executives Group and the Thailand-based Catholic Young Executives Society. For more details and information, or to register for the event please visit the website at www.cureourworld.com .
Joseph Prachub Trinikorn, the chairman and coordinator of the business executives' group, said that Catholic social teaching has not flourished in Catholic businesses, and as a result, many businesses have faced "crisis, insolvency, and bankruptcy through bad practices of greed and corruption."
He stressed that the core teachings of "Gospel values and principles" could be applied in business networks that uphold the "esteemed" virtues of love, service, and charity. Trinikorn added that businesses have a "social responsibility" and have many "resources" at hand to serve the community and the world. "If you pay the employees well, you help their livelihood, and if your products help people for a better life, that is true love and that is Christian teaching". This, he said, means that "doing business is evangelizing". For this reason , he concludes, it will be increasingly important to create networks and share information.
In the past, Thai Catholic entrepreneurs said they had to "find inspiration" in their work and daily choices by following the thought of Benedict XVI , especially present in his social encyclical "Caritas in Veritate" . During the three-day conference Masses will be celebrated, lunches and shared opportunities for social development. There will be prominent speakers from America, Europe and Asia , who will speak on diverse subjects.
25/11/2004