Philippine prelate urges Pacific leaders to empower the poor

November 19, 2015

As APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation), the 21-nation Pacific Rim trade bloc, gathered for a summit in Manila, the president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines called for the empowerment of the poor.

“Don’t equate the poor with simply giving help, giving aid through dole-outs, because that’s not what they are asking,” said Archbishop Socrates Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan. “Instead, let us afford them with an active voice in worldly decisions to be made.”

 

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Further information:

• Don’t discard the poor, CBCP head urges APEC leaders (CBCP News)
• APEC Philippines 2015