Pastoral Congress opens in Maumere

MAUMERE, East Nusa Tenggara: Ende Archbishop Mgr. Abdon Longinus da Cunha Pr opened here on Tuesday the 4th Pastoral Congress with a call for more concern for people suffering from economic woes.

Da Cunha said in his opening speech that the country was on the brink of disintegration, while poor people suffered more due to the prolonged economic crisis.

He called on all layers of society to listen to the poor during this economic crisis.

"This congress is the right time to heed both God's words in the Bible and the real situation we are now in," he said in front of some 10,000 people attending the opening ceremony. "We are now being played one against another."

As many as 750 people from three regencies will take part in the congress, which will end on July 9.

Youth organizations from various religions, including Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism, were involved in the preparation of the congress.

"May such a unity be maintained for good," priest Tibur Tius Deru P, the chairman of the organizing committee said. (yac).