Increased emphasis on pastoral care urged

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32461, 23 November 1970, Page 16

Increased emphasis on pastoral care urged

Increased emphasis on ; pastoral care, concern for all ; persons in the parish com- : munity and accelerated ecumenical activity were I urged in a report discussed : during the week-end by the i Roman Catholic Christchurch Diocesan Laity Commission. • A sub-committee report on - parish councils urged that in ■ areas where they existed they should be concerned ! with pastoral care and not 1 only with the needs of build- ; ings and finance. A number l of remits received by the commission supported this ’ view.

The commission decided to sponsor a series of conferences in the diocese on pastoral care. The first of these is expected to be held

early next year. A report from the commission’s youth representative drew attention to what was described as the inadequacy of the Roman Catholic Church in the field of youth work, particularly among those who have just left school. It emphasised the need for bringing Christianity to these people as they are, rather than to force them into an adult acceptance of it. The commission decided to ask its education sub-com-mittee to seek evidence on whether people wanted more resources allocated to this work among young persons instead of to the re-establish-ment of primary classes at Catholic schools.

The commission adopted a resolution in which it said it found New Zealand’s present discriminatory immigration laws distasteful. It favoured a policy which would not exclude] people on the basis of nationality, colour, physical disability, lack of education, or other social disadvantage. ’ Members decided they should become more informed on the law and particular cases' before they made precise recommendations or joined other groups active in this sphere. Rather than try tp solve the problem they proposed to draw attention to them. ’■ - t.