Project Compassion 2003 - Lenten campaign to break the 'chains of slavery'

Sydney
2 March 2003

Food for lots of thought

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Archbishop's plea for asylum seekers

Changing the guard at Vinnies

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Seminars on Theology of the Body

Project Compassion 2003 - Lenten campaign to break the 'chains of slavery'

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600 million children living in poverty

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Project Compassion 2003 - Lenten campaign to break the 'chains of slavery'

Amadu - abducted at nine and forced to fight as a child soldier

When members of the team at Caritas sat down to consider the Project Compassion theme for 2003, they began by thinking about their partners and the people they work with in grassroots communities all around the world.

They asked themselves the question: "What is it that the people we work with most want?"

To find the answer they turned to the Scriptures, to the profound quotation in the Gospel according to St Luke that embodies the work of Caritas: "He has sent me to proclaim release to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free" (Luke 4:18).

Project Compassion will focus this year on the countless millions of people around the world who are slaves of poverty and oppression.

It has therefore decided to devote this year's Project Compassion campaign to Freedom from Slavery.

In the Old Testament book of Exodus, God tells us that he wants us to be free. We are all in need of liberation - liberation from fear, from pain and sorrow, from greed, from economic rationalism.

Many people are systematically excluded from even a claim to the basics of life.

It is hard for most of us to imagine what it is like not to have enough food to feed our families.

It is hard for us to imagine what it is like for almost 250 million children around the world to be forced into child labour - and miss out on their most basic right to education.

As Christians we are called to stand in solidarity withthe oppressed and empower people to help themselves.

With hope and belief that things can change, we continue to challenge the unjust structures that bind people to a life of poverty.

The money that is raised during this Lent will help free men, women and children all around the world fromthe chains of slavery that bind them, so that they will truly know the peace that is freedom.