Catholic social groups play key role in helping the poor in Ho Chi Min City
by J.B. Vu
In a country where development is uneven, based on material success, a moral vacuum, and corruption and crime, Catholic social groups play a fundamental role. Here are some thoughts about their work and importance.
Ho Chi Minh City (AsiaNews) – In Vietnamese society, ordinary people think that all religions teach us to do good things and avoid bad ones. Vietnamese people also have moral traditions best epitomised by a number of popular sayings, like “unbroken leaves are better the broken ones”, and “a clean breakfast is better than a dirty breakfast”, which underlie the need for people to improve themselves. Popular wisdom also suggests a scale of principles to follow, such as “improve yourself first, manage your household, govern the country and bring peace to the world”.
However, in today’s Vietnam poverty is widespread in rural and mountainous communities. People often live with less than a dollar a day, below the poverty line, because of uneven development policies that focus exclusively on material wellbeing at the expense of human and religious values. This has led to a moral vacuum characterised by widespread corruption and crime as well as prostitution and AIDS. The country’s development has consequently been blocked.
This is also true for Ho Chi Minh City, which is facing growing social problems because of discordant economic and social development and where consumerism is creating a moral crisis in society.
Many Catholics are involved in social groups across the city. They are providing services for children and the poor. Catholic social workers operate in poor communities, applying their faith’s traditions of charity and generosity to social work. They have done so by focusing on the traditional principle of self-improvement. “We are trying to improve ourselves and integrate this effort to our life,” some social workers told AsiaNews.
Some Catholic social groups work with other faith-based groups, including Buddhists, Protestants and ancestor-worshippers as well as NGOs and government organisations.
Catholic groups are interdependent with one another and share their life and spiritual experiences. They have improved their service, and developed their skills and professional aptitudes. They are very motivated towards others.
Thus, Catholic social workers have an opportunity to exchange experiences and gain knowledge that helps them improve their work with the public. Focusing on personal change through small groups, they have earned everyone’s respect and solidarity.
Globally, Catholic social groups play an important role as points of reference and linkage among the Ho Chi Minh City’s various communities. They have created the conditions for development and cooperation, acting as bridges between public institutions and various groups involved in social action.
However, in today’s Vietnam poverty is widespread in rural and mountainous communities. People often live with less than a dollar a day, below the poverty line, because of uneven development policies that focus exclusively on material wellbeing at the expense of human and religious values. This has led to a moral vacuum characterised by widespread corruption and crime as well as prostitution and AIDS. The country’s development has consequently been blocked.
This is also true for Ho Chi Minh City, which is facing growing social problems because of discordant economic and social development and where consumerism is creating a moral crisis in society.
Many Catholics are involved in social groups across the city. They are providing services for children and the poor. Catholic social workers operate in poor communities, applying their faith’s traditions of charity and generosity to social work. They have done so by focusing on the traditional principle of self-improvement. “We are trying to improve ourselves and integrate this effort to our life,” some social workers told AsiaNews.
Some Catholic social groups work with other faith-based groups, including Buddhists, Protestants and ancestor-worshippers as well as NGOs and government organisations.
Catholic groups are interdependent with one another and share their life and spiritual experiences. They have improved their service, and developed their skills and professional aptitudes. They are very motivated towards others.
Thus, Catholic social workers have an opportunity to exchange experiences and gain knowledge that helps them improve their work with the public. Focusing on personal change through small groups, they have earned everyone’s respect and solidarity.
Globally, Catholic social groups play an important role as points of reference and linkage among the Ho Chi Minh City’s various communities. They have created the conditions for development and cooperation, acting as bridges between public institutions and various groups involved in social action.
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