Bogota (Agenzia Fides) – The Colombian Bishops' Conference has dedicated part of its website to the unfolding of the LXXXIX Plenary Assembly of Bishops, which is being held in Bogota (July 5-9). As the country is celebrating its Bicentennial of Independence, the theme of the Assembly is: "The Church's Work of Evangelization in Building Up Society in the Context of the 200th Anniversary of Independence."
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According to the note sent to Fides, poverty and employment were the first topics covered by the Bishops.
"The poverty and misery of half of our fellow citizens can no longer be regarded simply as an economic fact. Behind it, one discovers the violation of fundamental human rights and, therefore, a social conflict which must be addressed with courage and boldness by governors and by the entire Colombian society," said Archbishop Ruben Salazar Gomez, President of the Bishops' Conference of Colombia, in his speech. He then added, "the latest official figures show that unemployment, as of May 2010, reached 12 percent in Colombia, an equivalent of 2.6 million people unemployed. Also, it is estimated that 52.7 percent of people who work have a precarious work."
"The poverty and misery of half of our fellow citizens can no longer be regarded simply as an economic fact. Behind it, one discovers the violation of fundamental human rights and, therefore, a social conflict which must be addressed with courage and boldness by governors and by the entire Colombian society," said Archbishop Ruben Salazar Gomez, President of the Bishops' Conference of Colombia, in his speech. He then added, "the latest official figures show that unemployment, as of May 2010, reached 12 percent in Colombia, an equivalent of 2.6 million people unemployed. Also, it is estimated that 52.7 percent of people who work have a precarious work."
