“I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home” (Mt. 35)

The National Vincentian Family, gathered at the Leadership Training Center of the Archdiocese of Salvador between June 14 and 18, denounces the neglect with which people in situation of social vulnerability are being treated. This letter is a repudiation and cry for urgent action to ensure the rights of the poor.

The conditions in which thousands of families are victims of public neglect are unacceptable. Corruption, a cowardly act that greatly contributes to this situation, oppresses the poor and impedes justice. This social robbery will put more than 3.6 million people in extreme poverty in 2017.

The blows against the poor are accentuated: reforms of foresight and labor rights, as proposals, endanger the bread and lives of the disadvantaged.

We are on the side of the poor. We do not accept the lack of access to basic rights, the inefficiency of public health and education, drugs, unemployment, prostitution, homelessness, landlessness, the chaos of the penitentiary system and neglect of foreign people.

The Vincentian Family, through collaboration, mutual participation, mercy and fear of God, is committed to contributing to change this reality. Only through a profound systemic change, capable of transforming mentalities, we will be able to promote justice and protect our people from the exploits that are embarrasing our country.

We will continue our walk with the poor and next to them we will always have a prophetic position to build a better world and give Christian witness to the apostolate of the Church.

Impunity must end! The poor cry!

Salvador, June 18, 2017.

Signed:

The Association of the Miraculous Medal (AMM), the International Association of Charities (AIC), the Company of the Daughters of Charity (DC), Congregation of the Mission (CM), Congregation Daughters of Mary, Servants of Charity, Brothers of the Mother of Mercy (FMM), Vincentian Marian Youth (MVV), Vincentian Lay Missionaries (Misevi), Religious of St. Vincent de Paul (RSV), Gysegen Poor Servants (ISVPSPG) and Society of St. Vincent de Paul SSVP).