佛教徒和基督徒共同抵制现代奴役制和贩卖人口现象
梵蒂冈城（亚洲新闻）—佛教徒和基督徒共同分享同一信念，那就是“现代的奴隶制和贩卖人口是严重罪行、是当代社会至今尚未愈合的伤口”。佛教徒和基督徒应该合作彻底结束上述“恶疾”。而在这一点上，教宗方济各在二O一五年世界和平日文告中做出了明确地阐述。而“佛祖指出贩卖人口、买卖奴隶是人不能从事的五项职业之一”。
这是圣座促进宗教对话委员会按照往年惯例发表的文告，向佛教徒祝贺佛诞庆典（见照片）。这一佛教徒的重要节日，旨在纪念佛诞，各不同传统佛教团体按照不同日期庆祝。今年，各国分别在五月三日、二十五日和六月二日庆祝这一节日。
圣座促进宗教对话委员会主席托朗枢机和秘书长联合签署的文告中继续指出，“满怀喜乐地纪念佛祖生平时是使我们牢记他人不幸、促进我们通过友谊与理解不断带给他们安慰的契机”。文件全文如下：
Dear Buddhist Friends,
1. The Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue is pleased once again to extend to all of you our best wishes as you celebrate Vesakh. The joyful commemoration of three significant events in the life of Gautama Buddha – his birth, enlightenment and death – provides an occasion to think of the unfortunate and all who suffer, and to rededicate ourselves to bringing them comfort and happiness through acts of love and compassion.
2. We write to you this year inspired by His Holiness Pope Francis’s “Message for the 2015 World Day of Peace”, entitled No Longer Slaves, but Brothers and Sisters. His Holiness observes that, historically, the institution of slavery was once generally accepted and resulted in the “rejection of others, their mistreatment, violations of their dignity and fundamental rights, and institutionalized inequality” (no. 2). Accordingly, “a slave could be bought and sold, given away or acquired, as if he or she were a commercial product” (no. 3). The Holy Father further notes that, even though slavery has been formally abolished throughout the world, there are still “millions of people today – children, women and men of all ages – [who] are deprived of freedom and who are forced to live in conditions akin to slavery” (no. 3).
3. Pope Francis gives examples of modern day slavery: men, women and child labourers; migrants who undergo physical, emotional and sexual abuse while working in shameful working conditions; persons forced into prostitution, many of whom are minors, as well as male and female sex slaves; those kidnapped by terrorists and forced to be combatants, and those who are tortured, mutilated or killed. Human hearts deformed by corruption and ignorance are, according to the Holy Father, the cause of these terrible evils against humanity. When hearts are corrupted, human beings no longer see others as “beings of equal dignity, as brothers or sisters sharing a common humanity, but rather as objects” (no. 4).
4. Dear friends, we share the conviction that modern slavery and human trafficking are grave crimes, open wounds on the body of contemporary society. In one section of the “Eightfold Path” – namely “Right Livelihood” – the Buddha declares that trading in live beings, including slaves and prostitutes, is one of five occupations that are not to be engaged in (AN 5.177). He instructs that possessions are to be acquired peacefully, honestly and by legal means, without coercion, violence or deceit, and by means that do not cause harm or suffering (cf. AN4.47; 5.41; 8.54). In this way, Buddhism promotes respect for the life and freedom of each person.
5. As Buddhists and Christians committed to respect for human life, we must cooperate together to end this social plague. Pope Francis invites us to overcome indifference and ignorance by assuring of “offering assistance to victims, in working for their psychological and educational rehabilitation, and in efforts to reintegrate them into society where they live or from which they come” (no. 5).
6. We pray that your celebration of Vesakh, which includes making special efforts to bring happiness to those less fortunate in our midst, may be a time of deepened consideration of the various ways in which we can work together so that there will be No Longer Slaves, but Brothers and Sisters living in fraternity, loving kindness and compassion for all.
With renewed cordial greetings, we wish all of you a Happy Feast of Vesakh.
Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran
President
Father Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot, MCCJ
Secretary
06/08/2021 15:33
14/10/2020
30/05/2020 13:52
07/02/2020 15:42
13/09/2019 18:19
