August 27, 2004

SAO PAULO - As Churches we want to address the economic implications of the Free Trade Agreements (FTA) from an integral perspective, as ethical values and human dignity are central for us, said a Pastoral Letter published by the Continental Consultation about Market Integration and Human Dignity.

This consultation, convened by the Latin American Council of Churches (CLAI) through its Faith, Economy and Society Program, brought together close to 80 representatives from Churches and ecumenical bodies in 18 Latin American and Caribbean countries from August 20-22, along with representatives from Churches in the United States, Canada, England, Sweden and the World Council of Churches (WCC).

Given the situation in our countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, the economic globalization process cannot be ignored, given its effects in the daily lives of our peoples. Mission, on this continent, calls us to recognized our socio-economic reality, so that we can be agents of transformation and hope in the light of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, added the Pastoral letter.!

The FTA, rather than leading to an improvement in the socio-economic conditions in Latin American and Caribbean daily life, deepens the imposition of a model that promotes the elimination of some safeguards that minimally protect local and national development as well as the development of our economies, said the message to Evangelical Churches in the hemisphere.

At the same time the FTA promote investment from multinationals in our countries, to the detriment of small and mid sized business people and farmers. We also recognize how the harmful effects of these policies also erode the social fabric of those so-called First World countries, said the pastoral letter.

We see with a great deal of concern that the FTA proposed by the United States and the European Union do not take into account peoples lives and their cultures, nor the economies of the involved countries, destroying the environment and their sustainability. For this we are radically opposed to economic integration projects and economic treaties with Latin America and the Caribbean that do not include respect for human dignity and the integrity of creation, the document stated.

Regarding the responsibility of the Church in this situation, the Pastoral states: We feel, as part of the body of Christ, the weight of all economic processes on our people. This pain, these violations of human dignity, cry to the heavens for justice.

We confess that many times we have remained silent, others have consented and moreover, we have omitted a word of prophetic judgment aimed at those who engender, direct and execute process of economic integration to the benefit of an excluding minority, it noted.

Finally, it expressed its hope because many people and organizations across the continent affirm that another world is possible. It applauded new alternatives that have emerged and economic political projects that have come from indigenous, womens, young peoples and community movements that practice economic solidarity.

The pastoral concludes by calling on Churches to pray, act and offer testimony carrying out those actions that cannot be delayed in obedience to the Gospel.

ALC News Service