The social problems the country currently faced were all symptomatic of a general culture that did not value the sanctity of life, human dignity and the integrity of creation, Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference president Wilfrid Napier said in a statement at the conclusion of the body's plenary meeting in Pretoria.
"It is as though we are still wandering in the desert, unable to reach the vision of the promised land we struggled for during apartheid times.
"We must re-capture our vision of being a just and caring society, committed to social solidarity and the common good," he said.
Napier said the bishops had agreed to undertake a massive campaign aimed at identifying the root causes of social disintegration in communities and organising community-based action to overcome the problems.
"The initiative, called "Renewing Our Society", will initially involve an extensive programme of consultation and reflection in dioceses and local communities.
"God calls us as the church to be a community serving humanity," Napier said.
This initiative would focus on factors that destabilised family life and the church would engage young people.
The government announced last year that it would work with civil society to draw up a the moral regeneration plan.
The bishops also repeated their opposition to a possible Untied States-led war on Iraq.
"We express our grave concern about the military preparations presently made by America and United Kingdom with a view to attacking on Iraq.
"We strongly appeal to the president of the United States George W. Bush and to UK Prime Minister Tony Blair to refrain from an armed offensive against the Iraqi people," Napier said.
The bishops encouraged the leaders to engage in peaceful negotiations under the leadership of the United Nations.
"To wage war at this stage is immoral and illegal, and therefore must be excluded," he said - Sapa
EMAIL THIS ARTICLE SAVE THIS ARTICLE FEEDBACK
To subscribe email subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za or click here
To advertise email advertising@creamermedia.co.za or click here
