Pastoral activity: some ethical principles present in Document of Aparecida

Abstract

Pastoral activity cannot be conceived according to the will of each pastor. There is a statute and its roots are at the life of Shepherd Jesus. His practice is always a source of pastoral inspiration and a model for all his followers. So some elements cannot be ignored by pastoral agents. Among them we emphasize: elevation of human dignity; unity and diversity, two indispensable axes for a mature pastoral; community, space of human growth; pastoral, expression of evangelical joy; God’s loving look towards the poor ones. These elements do not exhaust other indispensable characteristics but they point towards a renovation of a pastoral practice, wished by Aparecida Document.