Claiming the Right to Say No-30 Nov 09-EQUATIONS - Equitable ...

Theologizing Tourism: Towards a Pastoral Care of Tourism
We can say that the parish is the proper place where in the pastoral care
for tourism can be developed. This local community, parish, is responsible
for making bonds of cooperation to promote the human and spiritual values
among the tourists because it is these people who are in constant contact
with the tourists more than the pastors.
Special care should be shown to those tourists who are of other
denominations in responding to their needs for the celebration of their
faith as it will remind us to pray for the unity.
Wherever there are great numbers of tourists, the Christian community
must be aware of being “missionary by nature” and proclaim the Gospel
by courage, generosity, and respect, denouncing injustice and offering
paths of hope even if the tourists’ stay is relatively brief and their attention
is conditioned by various circumstances.
How can we Live Tourism in a Christian Way?
Every one should recognize that the effort to live one’s free time as a
Christian must necessarily be sustained by deep Christian vision of tourism.
Careful meditation on scripture will prepare Christians for deep
contemplation of God through the beauty of creation. And by this man will
discover that the time dedicated to rest and tourism is a time of grace, a
demanding occasion that calls them to prayer, celebration of their faith
and communion with their brethren.
Every Christian should make the tourist feel at home and must abstain not
only from any behaviour contrary to their vocation, but also from words,
gesture, attitudes that can offend the sensitivity of others.
Family tourism can be proposed as an effective means for strengthening
and rebuilding family bonds.
Pastoral care of tourism should promote initiatives so that the Christian tour
operators and workers in tourist sector will know the Church’s social doctrine.
To respond to the “moral problem” that the ecological crises represents
for today’s world, it is necessary to promote initiatives to respect the
79