By Walter Wilson Nana
Business leaders have been invited to engage the contemporary economic and financial world in light of the principles of human dignity and the common good. This is the background of The Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace Document dubbed “The Vocation of the Business Leader” that Prof. Michael Naughton of the University of St. Thomas, Minnesota, USA, recently, presented to the Bishop of Buea, Mgr. Immanuel Bushu, a cross section of Entrepreneurs and some Christians in the campus of the University Institute of the Diocese of Buea, UIDB.
Prof. Mike Naughton delivering his discourse
According to Naughton, there is a relationship between the Church and business, following the long experience the Catholic Church has; existing for more than 2000 years.
He said the Church has a positive vision on how business should be and the business operator, adding that business people have been given much, so much is required from them, “which is a philosophy inspired from the Bible,” he noted.
The varsity don said God cares about business and it is a vocation. “Business is an irrevocable vocation and relevant for the society. A business operator is chosen by God. A business is about profit but not all about profit,” Naughton explained.
He mentioned that business contributes to the solidarity of the poor, creates good work for people and give them all dignity. “The CEO and the janitor must have dignity at work,” he said. To him, if people at a work place feel demeaned and not appreciative, then there is a problem at that work place.
Mgr Immanuel Bushu of Buea Diocese
Naughton said business is a means of production; hence there is need for people to rethink the purpose of business. “Business must create more than what has been given to it, if not, the business dies. We’ve to create more than what has been given to us. Profit is like food. If we don’t have it, we die. But most business operators are allergic to sharing profits,” he cautioned.
The University Lecturer and Consultant of good business practices prescribed justice, social implications, good wages, the culture of life, international regulations, transparency, labour–standards, the integral development of the person and the fight against corruption at the workplace.
A member of the International Association of Christian Entrepreneurs, Jean Baptiste Homsi said business operators must have a clear vision of what they are up to.
Some Entrepreneurs at the conference
Mgr. Bushu saw the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace Document as a watershed for the Church. He said the Church is out to teach and make the human being like God.
The Prelate said doing business is a call to serve God’s people and get a reward by exchanging for money. “One cannot do good business without God’s guidance. The new teaching by the Church is out to develop mankind via business activities.
Participants also shared the view that business should be part and parcel of the people and even in the Church because business is a vocation like any other.
Others proposed that there should be a self-supporting Church, which creates the opportunities for people to see the good values of business and more.
The Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace Document was officially launched in March 2012 by Pope Benedict XVI.
