What follows is a summary of Decree 3, one of 26 Decrees dealing with the Mission of the Society Jesus today issued by the 34th General Congregation [GC34] of the Society of Jesus. The congregation met in Rome in the first three months of 1995. Its work affects the immediate future of Jesuits worldwide.
Jesuit commitment to justice has been "a wonderful gift of God to us, for it puts us into such good company---the Lord's surely, but also that of so many friends of his among the poor and those committed to justice." This promotion of justice has been integrated into both traditional and new ministries ... It has also had the effect of dividing Jesuits because the promotion of justice has sometimes been separated "from its wellspring of faith." But it flows "from faith and brings us back to an ever deeper faith." Consequently, we renew our commitment to the promotion of justice as an integral part of our mission.
The struggle for justice is progressive and historic as it confronts the changing needs of specific peoples, cultures and times." Among its dimensions, a respect for the dignity of the human person created in the image of God underlies a worldwide consciousness of the full range of human rights. A consciousness of the interdependence of all peoples in one common heritage is growing. In particular, "human life, a gift of God, has to be respected from its beginning to its natural end." A growing concern for the environment focuses on "preserving the integrity of creation. Social change consists "in the development of communities of solidarity at the grass-roots and nongovernmental as well as the political level ... "
The following critical situations affect hundreds of millions of people and call for a special concern in the Society of Jesus:
"The promotion of justice requires, before all else, our own continuing personal conversion---finding Jesus Christ in the brokenness of our world, living in solidarity with the poor and outcast, so that we can take up their cause under the standard of the Cross."
Young Jesuits should have contact with the poor during their formation, "not just occasionally, but in a more sustained manner."
Every Jesuit in his ministry can and should promote justice through:
(a) direct service and accompaniment of the poor;
(b) developing awareness of the demands of justice joined to the social responsibility to achieve it;
(c) participating in social mobilization for the creation of a more just social order.
The notion of forming "men and women for others" should be apparent "in ministries of the Word and the Spiritual Exercises, in pastoral apostolates and communication" as well as in education.
"Jesuit institutions can use the following means to help in implementing our mission: institutional evaluation of the role they play in society, examination of whether the institution's own internal structures and policies reflect our mission, collaboration and exchange with similar institutions in diverse social and cultural contexts, continuing formation of personnel regarding mission."
Each province "should evaluate its apostolic planning using the Ignatian criteria found in the Constitutions, read in the light of our mission today. After decisions are made, it is of crucial importance to evaluate the process of implementation."
"At the interprovincial and international levels, the Society must continue to find ways to collaborate with other national and international groups or organizations, both nongovernmental and official ..."
"We need to continue with great hope on our journey towards the Kingdom."
Synopses of Other Decrees which are available.
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