Participants :     Mr Anselmo Lee, Pax Romana ICMICA, Switzerland
                                                                        Bishop Winston Fernando, Sri Lanka

    The Church's magisterium has underlined “the need of authentic and integral development of the human person” (EA 32).  And all those who are directly or indirectly involved in human development as professionals of whatever category or business persons must be made to understand that development “is never a merely technical or economic question; it is fundamentally a humane and moral question” (EA 32).

    Specialization in various fields has left most of the Catholics professionals only with the minimum knowledge of catechism  learnt in school and have not afforded them with opportunities to deepen their faith, leave alone becoming conversant with the Social Doctrine of the Church.  Therefore, there is a felt need for especially lay mean and women  with responsibilities in public life, to be well informed in these teachings (social doctrine) so that they can inspire and vivify civil society and its structure with the leaven of the gospel”. (EA 32)

    Church's task of promoting justice, peace and human development as well as safeguarding human rights will be effective when the root causes are discovered and removed.  Development must also be given a human face.  All these stand a chance of being realized to a  greater degree only when  policy makers and planners and  executives are properly informed and motivated about the human and moral side of professional career or service.   It is here that the Catholic professionals, politicians, business persons, technocrats, executives and others have their mission.

    Their first obligation as Catholic professionals, is to allow their faith to bear upon their career thereby bearing witness among their own ranks and counterparts, and their clients, customers or beneficiaries.

    The secular world can be effectively renewed from within by those who are engaged in secular affairs.  Being men and women recognized in the society, they must also transcend their own limited professional areas and make a contribution towards betterment of the society by taking up social and moral issues.  Their voice will be heard specially when it comes to lobbying in higher circles for justice, peace and human development.

    The pastors must also allow the professionals to enrich the Church by their  expertise, guidance and experience.

    Let the Catholic professionals realize that they need to open the doors of their Board Rooms or Chambers to Christ the Lord of humanity to renew or sanctify the temporal order.   (Vat II. A.A. + CFL )

    Based on the reflection and understanding in the above, the group would like to make the following recommendations.

        1. That dioceses and the Bishops’ Conferences take special interest in organizing Catholic business persons and professionals in order to help them live their vocation and mission in the Church and world.

        2. That the FABC office of laity open up a desk for Catholic professionals for formation and animation.

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