Thai Church: "Let's work together to defeat juvenile delinquency"
The director of the Catholic Commission for Women and Youth has called on society and the government to come together to defeat the root causes of this malaise and to give these youth their life back.
Bangkok (AsiaNews) The Thai church "condemns the social scourge of juvenile delinquency, which can be fought by collaboration among society, the government and the church itself." With these words, Fr Ratanasak Kitsakul, director of the Catholic Commission for Women and Youth, ended his visit at the government centre for juvenile rehabilitation, which covers eight provinces in the west of the country.
The priest, who was accompanied by Sr Sumitra Josunnuson, talked to Yutthasak Rungsimantuchat, the director of the centre. He told them: "The centre is considered to be the foster home for children and youth who are sentenced to rehabilitation because of their problems with the law."
The scourge of juvenile delinquency in Thailand "is rooted in nuclear families. About 80% of these youth have family problems and their charges are diverse: drug dealing or possession, sexual abuse or violence." The solution lies in "participation in society. Without the support of the social fabric, we cannot reintegrate them with the tools necessary to start a new life."
Fr Kitsakul said: "This project is part of the pastoral directives of the diocese. In visiting the centre, we wish to encourage your work and also to renew the support of the church to this cause. The scourge is widespread but the collaboration between religious, social and political factors can combat it and thus allow these youth to return to acceptance."
The diocese of Ratchaburi was created in 1965 and covers four provinces west of Bangkok: Ratchaburi, Kanchanaburi, Phetchaburi and Samut Songkharm. The population is of more than two million people, with more than 15,000 Catholics led by 59 priests, six religious and 91 sisters in 35 parishes.
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