Appeal of Archbishop Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz on the socio-political situation in Belarus

The complex socio-political situation in Belarus has recently retrogressed once again due to the inflation which has caused great anxiety in the society and has happened to be the result of all sorts of speculation and using of misfortune for one’s profit. Moreover, intolerance and mutual recriminations all together cause the negative impact on the situation in the country. Probably, there are many reasons for what has happened in Belarus. And everybody should seek an answer to this question for we were able to come out of a recession and not to repeat such mistakes in future.

Christianity, with its more than two thousand years’ history associated with wisdom, which source is the infinite God, "has something to say to people in the social field", wrote Pope Leo the XIII. To help in finding the solution to the problems of our society can be the social doctrine of the Catholic Church and the social concept of the Orthodox Church that are very close to each other.

According to the doctrine of the Catholic Church, during cohabitation with other people a person gets an opportunity for his complete social development, for achievement of his personal perfection and for possibility of unity with God. It is important that there were created all possible conditions for that.

Again Pope Paul VI said that the development is not limited only by economic and technical spheres, but includes also the acquisition by every individual of culture, respect of the rights and dignity of other people and the recognition of higher values and God as their source and purpose.

Blessed John Paul II also taught that the true development should not be limited only by increasing of benefits and services, which means of things that you can possess. Genuine development must contribute to the fulness of human existence.

Actual Pope Benedict XVI spokes about the necessity of integral human development, which should contribute to the implementation of a person in material and spiritual dimensions, to direct to the common good, to hold the protection of life and the natural human rights and, finally, to promote transcendental humanism. To achieve these objectives, the social doctrine of the Catholic Church offers four values that should enter into our lives and become the mainstay: truth, freedom, justice and love. The Catholic Church answers to the key questions about the meaning and purpose of human life by announcing of the Gospel, which places the human dignity above changing views and material benefits while providing the freedom of a person. Any human law can provide it. Although the direct liability of the Catholic Church is not grounding of just institutions as it relates to the world of politics, however, the task of the Church is purification of mind and awakening in a person of moral force, and without it existing structures can not effectively operate.

Thus, according to the social doctrine of the Catholic Church, the real development must have a moral foundation. Civil society consists of people whose consciences should reflect the order established by God for His creatures. Therefore it is necessary to contribute to complete opening and preservation of this order. The goal of this order is development of every member of the society, including his dignity, rights and responsibilities.

Therefore, concerned over the existing situation, I’m appealing to the government, to elites of politics, economics, science, culture, to public and civic organizations and to all people of goodwill to be guided by mutual love and respect while solving the difficult contemporary issues. As we all are citizens of one country, Belarus that should be our common home, and we should take into account the moral norms and principles of the social doctrine of the Catholic Church, for we could really build a civilization of life, justice and love in our homeland.

by Conference of Catholic Bishops in Belarus