V Encuentro Proceedings and Conclusions

80 | Proceedings and Conclusions of the V National Encuentro of Hispanic/Latino Ministry experiences of shared prayer and worship that respect cultural and linguistic diversity in the community. These efforts will create opportunities for greater interaction, solidar- ity, and mutual support. G. JUSTICE AND PEACE The delegates were aware that the treasure of Catholic Social Teaching is not widely known or understood in the Hispanic/Latino community—or for that matter in the broader Catholic community in the United States. Contemporary society in this country offers many issues and concerns that call for a high-profile prophetic response from the Catholic Church, but the voice of the bishops and pastors has been muted due to a variety of factors internal and external to the Church. The delegates were united in their recom- mendation for the pastoral leaders of the Church to exercise their prophetic role with- out fear of the consequences, and to develop or promote specific solutions beyond merely educating people about the issues. They also recommended that formation on Catholic Social Teaching be integrated prominently into all pastoral and theological formation for ministry, as well as all faith formation materi- als and programs for Catholics of all ages. A significant plurality of the table groups reacted to a perception that the Church has been promoting a deficient perspective on respect for human life and dignity. Without diminishing its efforts to protect the unborn, they recommended that the Church amplify its advocacy on behalf of human life from birth to natural death including: immigrants facing mortal dangers whether in the desert, in detention facilities, waiting to apply for asy- lum, or from human trafficking; people whose illnesses are untreated due to a lack of health insurance; victims of violence or gang activity in their homes and communities; convicted offenders awaiting the death penalty; people with untreated mental health conditions or who have attempted suicide; those who suffer the effects of alcoholism or substance abuse; the terminally ill in need of palliative care and a reason to live each day; the working poor whose health and well-being are at risk from poor nutrition, underperforming schools, and unsafe housing conditions; and the victims of racially, ethnically, or sexually-motivated vio- lence and discrimination. Solutions to these challenges will only come from dedicated efforts to identify and pro- mote effective responses in the religious, political, familial, educational, labor, and communitarian spheres of social life. Some of the delegates recommended the promotion of community organizing as an effective way to educate and engage Hispanic/Latino com- munities in their own transformation for the better. Others suggested the creation of a Hispanic ministry of justice and peace in par- ishes to strengthen the reception of Catholic social teaching from the lived experience and social context of the Latino community. Lastly, a few table groups emphasized the connection between faith and justice, with a recommendation to incorporate Catholic Social Teaching into faith formation activities for all ages. H. LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND MINISTRY FORMATION Many of the Inter-regional Sessions touched on issues of formation for ministry, each from their own perspective. Virtually all of those Recommendations