VATICAN CITY, JULY 14, 2006 (Zenit.org).- Globalization is putting the dignity of people involved in shipping and fishing under "heavy strain," alerted the Vatican dicastery responsible for the pastoral care of seafarers.
Next Sunday many countries will celebrate Sea Sunday, promoted by organizations such as the Apostleship of the Sea, an international network of Catholic associations and organizations, founded in 1922 and now present in at least 116 nations, under the care of the Pontifical Council for Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples.
Sea Sunday directs thoughts and prayers to all seafarers and fishing communities worldwide and their families, as well as to those involved in cruise ships and yachting and coastal trade, said Cardinal Renato Martino, president of that dicastery, in his message for the occasion.
There is "renewed optimism" in the Apostleship of the Sea "because in February a comprehensive Convention on Maritime Labor Standard was adopted opening the way -- if ratified and implemented -- for the emergence of a new maritime world order that will offer new opportunities for women and men to obtain decent and productive work," the cardinal said.
However, Cardinal Martino lamented "that the proposed Convention on Work in the Fishing Sector was not approved during the 93rd (International Labor Organization) Conference in 2005," because such an "international instrument would have made all kinds of professional fishing a safer and more just workplace."
Although "the shipping trade is enjoying a period of growth" and "the demand for fisheries products is unprecedented, globalization is putting the dignity of the human persons involved in shipping and fishing under heavy strain and life at sea is still difficult and dangerous," he continued.
Causing harm
Cardinal Martino specified that "globalization of labor and finance in shipping; illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing; but also rigid regulations that do not take into account essential needs of fishing communities, are causing harm to the maritime professional and environment."
"To alleviate this and to contribute to a new social order, it is essential to establish with and among seafarers and fishing communities relationships of solidarity and cooperation," he exhorted.
Solidarity, one of the basic concepts of the social doctrine of the Church, is based on the principles of the dignity of the human person and of the common good of all," explained the cardinal, who is also president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace.
Although there are "many things that contribute to an individual's well-being," such as "good material and working conditions," which are indispensable, "we cannot be guided solely by economic considerations," he stressed.
"Respect for the social and spiritual dimensions of each person, without which no real and sustainable happiness can be achieved, is also essential," he noted.
In the message, the cardinal expressed the dicastery's desire that the proposal of the convention on work in the fishing sector be presented again and adopted in the next ILO Conference.
Hence, it is "important that AOS members continue to campaign and join forces with local fishermen's organizations to promote the understanding and the adoption of this instrument," he said.
Sea Sunday, therefore, is "a reminder for the Apostleship of the Sea to be faithful to its vocation and to keep intact its Christian perspective, which is to put the human being at the center of all planning and projects," underlined the cardinal.
Gdynia, Poland will be the next venue for the 22nd AOS World Congress, which will be held from June 24-29, 2007, and, according to the cardinal, will provide an opportunity "to discuss and deepen the understanding of our pastoral care, the apostolate's spirituality and its specific contribution to the maritime world."
Seafarers' Dignity Threatened, Cardinal Says