"The Outcome of Listening, Reflection and Insight"

VATICAN CITY, JUNE 20, 2007 (Zenit) - Here is a Vatican translation of the document from the Pontifical Council for Migrants and Travelers, titled "Guidelines for the Pastoral Care of the Road."

* * *

DOCUMENT OF THE PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR THE PASTORAL CARE OF MIGRANTS AND ITINERANT PEOPLE: "GUIDELINES FOR THE PASTORAL CARE OF THE ROAD"

CONTENTS

Presentation

PART ONE
THE PASTORAL CARE OF ROAD USERS

I. The phenomenon of human mobility

Road traffic and human progress

II. The Word of God illuminates the road

Signs from the Old Testament
Signs from the New Testament
Christ is the Way, He is the Road

III. Human aspects

The particular psychology of drivers
Escape from everyday reality and the pleasure of driving
The domination instinct
Vanity and personal glorification

Unbalanced behaviour and related consequences
Various manifestations
A non-pathological phenomenon

IV. Moral aspects of driving

Driving means coexisting
Driving means controlling oneself
Ethical aspects
Driving a vehicle and the risks entailed
The mandatory nature of road regulations
The moral responsibility of road users

V. The Christian virtue of drivers and their "Ten Commandments"

Charity and serving one's neighbour
The virtue of Prudence
The virtue of Justice
The virtue of Hope
Drivers' "Ten Commandments"

VI. The Church's mission

Prophecy in a serious and alarming situation
Road safety education
Target audiences
Appeal by the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council

VII. Pastoral Care of the Road

Evangelisation within the context of the road

PART TWO
PASTORAL MINISTRY FOR THE LIBERATION OF STREET WOMEN

I. Some key points

Prostitution is a form of slavery
Migration, people trafficking and human rights
Who are the victims of prostitution?
Who are the "customers"?

II. The Church's duty

Promotion of the dignity of persons
Solidarity and proclamation of the Good News
A multi-dimensional approach

III. Rehabilitation of women and "customers"

Education and research
The Church's social teaching

IV. Liberation and redemption

Provision of assistance and evangelisation

PART THREE
THE PASTORAL CARE OF STREET CHILDREN

I. The phenomenon, its causes and possible initiatives

The problem
The causes of the problem
Possible initiatives and their objectives

II. Issues regarding methods

A multi-dimensional approach

III. The task of evangelisation and human promotion

Specific pastoral care
A pastoral ministry based on encounter, a new evangelisation

IV. Some concrete proposals

V. The educators' icons

Jesus, the Good Shepherd, and the disciples at Emmaus
One final goal

VI. Pastoral agents

Training
Together for a joint commitment
Networking with a minimum of pastoral structures

PART FOUR
THE PASTORAL CARE OF THE HOMELESS (TRAMPS)

I. The beneficiaries

Causes of the situation
The precariousness of the situation
The dignity of persons

II. Methods of approach and means of assistance

Christian care


Presentation

These Guidelines for the pastoral care of the road, which is looked after by a specific Department of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, are the outcome of a great endeavour entailing listening, reflection and insight.

The Document breaks down into four quite separate parts, taking account of the specific nature and scope of issues connected with the road as a place for pastoral care. The first part is devoted to road users (motorists, lorry drivers, etc.) and railway users, and to the people who work in the various related services. Parts two and three concern street women and street children, respectively, and the fourth regards the homeless (tramps).

This Document is dedicated to all the above-mentioned people, but account should also be taken of pavement dwellers and street vendors, as well as the link between the road and tourists, pilgrims, gypsies, circus and fairground workers and street actors.

Some of these categories of people have already been dealt with in three Documents published by the Pontifical Council for Migrants and Itinerant People over the last ten years: Guidelines for the Pastoral Care of Gypsies[1], Guidelines for the Pastoral Care of Tourism[2], and The Pilgrimage in the Great ...