Walking in God’s ways 

by Leela Ramdeen, Chair of the Catholic Commission for Social Justice  God had a plan when He created us. He imprinted in our minds a moral order so that we would live as he wants us to live. But he gave us free will to choose whether or not we follow his commandments. Reflect on […]

The death penalty won’t renew society 

by Leela Ramdeen, Chair of the Catholic Commission for Social Justice  “Violence is not overcome by violence… peace is the result of a process of purification and of cultural, moral and spiritual elevation involving each individual and people, a process in which human dignity is fully respected.” (Pope Benedict XVI’s 2011 Peace Message)  Last September […]

Sign of hope at environmental management conference 

by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ  “Treasure the environment and use it wisely. Preserve the environment as a legacy for the future… Environmental issues can no longer be regarded as a luxury…Government must partner with all stakeholders. If there are human-induced causes to the problems, there must be human-induced solutions…Trinidad and Tobago, as a responsible member […]

Empowering our youth 

Archbishop Edward Gilbert blesses CCSJ’s booth at the Catholic Youth Expo. Photos courtesy Raymond Syms CAMSEL Catholic News  by Leela Ramdeen, Chair of the Catholic Commission for Social Justice  “Youth Ministry is the response of the Christian community to the needs of young people and the sharing of the unique gifts of youth with the […]

Pope’s peace message for 2011 – Pt 2 

by Leela Ramdeen, Chair of the Catholic Commission for Social Justice   Today I continue to share some extracts from Pope Benedict XVI’s Peace Message for 2011: “Religious Freedom, the Path to Peace”.  At the press conference when the Peace Message was released, Cardinal Turkson, President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace said: […]

Martin Luther King Day 

by Leela Ramdeen, Chair of the Catholic Commission for Social Justice  We have just said farewell to someone who will go down in the annals of history as a remarkable human being – Sir Ellis Emmanuel Innocent Clarke. I hope the momentum will be maintained as we think about ways of honouring him.  Tomorrow is […]

Pope’s peace message for 2011 

by Leela Ramdeen, Chair of the Catholic Commission for Social Justice  Pope Benedict XVI’s message for the 44th World Day of Peace (Jan. 1), focuses on the theme: Religious Freedom, the Path to Peace. Cardinal Peter Turkson, President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, says that the Pope chose this theme “because the […]

Farewell 2010, welcome 2011

by Leela Ramdeen, Chair of the Catholic Commission for Social Justice  On this last Sunday of the year, let us reflect on how we have developed over the past year. Ask yourself: During 2010, how have I developed each dimension of myself e.g. spiritual, moral, social, cultural, physical, and mental? What have I done to […]

Dreaming of a just society

by Leela Ramdeen, Chair of the Catholic Commission for Social Justice  “…a society unable to accept its suffering members and incapable of helping to share their suffering and to bear it inwardly through ‘compassion’ is a cruel and inhuman society.” (Saved in Hope, Pope Benedict XVI, 2007)  How long will it take before we become […]

Building pillars of peace

During this Advent season, let us open our hearts and minds to welcome the Prince of Peace more fully into our lives. Jesus came to “give light to those who live in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.” (Luke 1:79).  Sadly, conflict, war, and crime […]