Becoming a church of the poor : Philippine Catholicism after the Second Plenary Council / edited by Eleanor R. Dionisio.

Some of these essays show that the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines has grown in her engagement with pressing and persistent problems of the nation. Others show that her laity, religious, clergy, and bishops have much to learn-and may always have much to learn-about how to speak her moral truths to a democratic secular society, and how to equilibrate her mission of speaking moral thruths and mission of speaking with the entire body of Christ, including its most neglected and least articulate members. But the twenty-five years after Vatican II, and the twenty more years after PCP II, have also shown that there are quite a few in the Church who are willing to learn. The breath of the Holy Spirit blows ever through the Church, continually transforming her even in her least receptive moments. That is the mystery of grace. -From the introduction by Eleanor R. Dionisio. The John J. Carroll Institute on Church and Social Issues is a social apostolate of the Philippine Province of the Society of Jesus. Founded in 1984, it envisions a Filipino society that upholds the dignity and nature of the human person. With a special concern for improving the quality of life of the poor. Its mission, guided by Catholic social teaching is to catalyze critical thinking discussion, and action toward morally informed choices and effective solutions to poverty, through research, advocacy, and capacity building. The Institute's Church and Society Program promotes Catholic social teaching among Church personnel, Catholic lay groups, people's organizations, and nongovernment organizations, with a view to informing their strategies and action for social justice. Its Family Life program cultivates awareness and understanding of Catholic social teaching on the family, and promotes fertility management methods and methods of dealing with children at risk which are consistent with such teaching. Its Urban Poverty and Governance Program assists urban poor organizations and nongovernment organizations in working with national and local government to expand the access of the poor to humane and secure housing. Its Rural Development Program seeks to facilitate increased access of small farmers and fishers to productive resources such as land, capital, credit, markets, and technology, through research and evaluation assistance and through research-based advocacy of effective land use policy.