Justice Today: A Conference Outline

Publisher:  Atlantic Ecumenical Council, Eureka, Canada
Year Published:  1980
Pages:  25pp   Resource Type:  Article
Cx Number:  CX2154

Abstract: 
The sixth newsletter of the Bread and Roses Credit union (Toronto) contains material about the current financial position of the credit union and other matters of growing concern to its membership.

Justice Today contains the papers and recommendations of the Justice Today Conference held in New Glasgow, N.S. in September, 1980. The Conference was sponsored by the Atlantic Ecumenical Council (AEC). Representatives of the church in Atlantic Canada gathered to discuss justice for the poor and oppressed. Father Joseph Gillis opened the conference by saying that he hoped the representatives would be convinced that "it is impossible to be people witnessing to the beatitudes if we remain satisfied with a system that has raised out standard of living many times above what it should be at the expense of the poor".

m. Rumscheidt and M. Bradfield both identify Gillis' "system" as capitalism. Rumscheidt, in "Faith and Social Responsibility in the Community of Christians" argues that the Christian faith must be politically active. He calls for a de-privatised faith which does not support the "capitalist system as it has evolved into its current revolting shape". Bradfield, in "making a living" points to many stories carried in Nova Scotia newspapers which make it clear that capitalism is a system based on greed. Such events as the death of eight miners in a mine collapse in Balimoral, Quebec, and the actions of the Coca Cola plant in Guatemala, are the result of profit-seeking.

"Justice for Indian People" describes the struggles of the Mi'kmaq in the Atlantic region to preserve their own traditions, land and life.

A number of recommendations were made at the Conference. They include further conferences on social justice, the establishment of a liaison between councils of churches and trade unions and AEC support of the Mi'kmaq and Ialiseet people in their search for self-determination.