Capalla: ‘Faith without good works is dead’

Christians, Muslims, and other groups gathered as the World Vision Development Foundation held its 1st National Interfaith Forum at a hotel here in Davao City last September 14. Themed, “Faith in Action: Faith and Development Integration for the Well-being of our Children,” Archbishop-Emeritus Fernando R. Capalla, D.D. expressed his interest on the need for programs concerning the welfare of the children. He added, “Faith and Action” recalls a similar perspective to St. James’ letter that says, “faith without good works is dead.” He is convinced that everything that the Foundation does for development integration for children will achieve action and justice.

The forum aimed to achieve the best interest of children through interfaith collaborations and church partnership. Participants contextualized and shared good practices about church partnership as they identified their roles to address problems to nurture, protect, economically sustain, and solve cases of HIV among children. “Religious leaders, institutions, and community members are positioned well to respond to the pressing concerns of our times like issues of children’s protection, increasing reality of HIV and AIDS, and poverty,” says Christ-Centered commitments manager Melchor Magdaong. Mr. Madaong is hopeful that the forum will lead to shared action. “Through common action, we would learn to understand better ourselves, each other, and for the better world of our children,” he ended.