Dominican priests, nuns and laypeople have resolved to bring the Good News to all workers and challenge structures that rob people of their dignity.

“[We] recommit ourselves to the prophetic path of Saint Dominic to recover the dignity of human labor as a gift,” said their statement issued at the end of their July 4-9 conference in Sawangan, West Java.

Fifty participants from nine countries in the Asia-Pacific region attended the Dominican Family 8th Asia-Pacific Justice, Peace and Care of Creation Conference, which focused on the dignity of work.

Their statement included a four-point resolution:
• To bring the Good News to all laborers
• To challenge unjust political, economic, social, cultural and religious structures depriving people of their human rights and dignity
• To work for sustainable, environment-friendly development
• To recognize and respect the richness of cultures

The statement will be a reminder and encouragement for Dominicans to keep working to preserve the dignity of labor, said Sister Toni Harris, Dominican General Co-Promoter of Justice, Peace and Care of Creation.

Korean lay Dominican Cecilia Kim Inkyoung said she hoped lay participants would work to implement the resolutions practically.

The conference had the theme, Human labor is a gift: Unjust labor is a scourge. Suffering laborers, the human face of the suffering God.

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AS10402.1610