A fast day, a minute’s silence, ecumenical celebrations and the collection of donations in all Spanish parishes, as a sign of solidarity with the populations throughout the world that have to endure situations of poverty, violations of human rights and conflicts. These are some of the initiatives of the national campaign “If you want peace, reject violence” organized by the aid organization of the Spanish Church, “Manos Unidas”, which with its four to five thousand volunteers promotes development projects in in Asia, Africa and Latin America. No less than 947 projects in 64 countries in the southern hemisphere were financed in 2000, for a total value of 40 million euros. The campaign will begin with a “voluntary fast day” on 8 February, accompanied by the invitation to the faithful to express “symbolic solidarity with the 828 million people in the world who are suffering from hunger”, explain the promoters. On the same day, at 8.00 pm, Catholics will be asked to observe a minute’s silence “to protest against the many social injustices”. Several Spanish bishops are also supporting the “Manos Unidas” campaign. “Violence writes Msgr. Ciriaco Benavente Mateos, bishop of Coria-Cáceres is rooted with greater facility in the social contexts in which human rights are systematically violated and injustices have become endemic. The search for peace demands an effective commitment to seeking a new and more just international order for the whole of mankind. On the same day in which the Twin Towers in New York were destroyed the bishop points out over 35,000 innocent children died, as happens every day”.
