168
the seas into underwater cemeteries bereft of
color and life?â
178
216.âSmall yet strong in the love of God, like
Saint Francis of Assisi, all of us, as Christians,
are called to watch over and protect the fragile
world in which we live, and all its peoples.
III.âT
he
common good
and
peace
in
society
217.âWe have spoken at length about joy and
love, but the word of God also speaks about the
fruit of peace (cf.
Gal
5:22).
218.âPeace in society cannot be understood
as pacification or the mere absence of violence
resulting from the domination of one part of
society over others. Nor does true peace act as
a pretext for justifying a social structure which
silences or appeases the poor, so that the more
affluent can placidly support their lifestyle while
others have to make do as they can. Demands
involving the distribution of wealth, concern for
the poor and human rights cannot be suppressed
under the guise of creating a consensus on pa-
per or a transient peace for a contented minority.
The dignity of the human person and the com-
mon good rank higher than the comfort of those
who refuse to renounce their privileges. When
178
âC
atholic
B
ishops
C
onference
of
the
P
hilippines
,
Pastoral Letter
What is Happening to our Beautiful Land?
(29 Jan-
uary 1988).
