2007年VOA标准英语-Pope Benedict Stresses New Solutions to Social,

By Brian Wagner
Sao Paulo, Brazil
12 May 2007

Pope Benedict is pressing church leaders in Latin America to seek new solutions for social and economic problems. In Sao Paulo, VOA's Brian Wagner reports the call comes ahead of a conference of Latin American and Caribbean bishops¹.

rehabilitation2 center called 'Fazenda da Esperanca' or Farm of Hope in Guaratingueta, Brazil, 12 May 2007" hspace="2" src="/upimg/allimg/070605/1058060.jpg" width="176" vspace="2" border="0" />

Pope Benedict XVI hugs children during a visit to a drug rehabilitation center called 'Fazenda da Esperanca' or Farm of Hope in Guaratingueta, Brazil, 12 May 2007

Pope Benedict traveled to a recovery facility for drug addicts³ on the fourth day of his visit to Brazil. He delivered a speech to a crowd of pilgrims and former patients at the drug clinic, which also has facilities in Russia, Mozambique, Mexico and other nations.

The speech came ahead of a meeting with regional church leaders to discuss the goals of an upcoming conference of Latin American and Caribbean bishops. Pope Benedict is expected to press bishops during the meeting Sunday to find new ways to resolve such problems as crime, drug addiction⁴, and widespread poverty.

Friday, the pontiff outlined his concerns during a speech to some 300 Brazilian bishops at a cathedral in Sao Paulo, where he urged them to take a greater role in combating problems caused by poverty and disparities in income.

He says church leaders should view economic and social problems from the point of view of human dignity, and not simply in terms of economic winners and losers.

Pope Benedict also expressed concern about the rising number of divorces in Brazil, as well as what he called attacks on the sanctity of marriage and the family. He criticized legal reforms that he said have a negative effect on society, such as recent measures in some countries to allow abortion⁵ or same-sex unions.

The pope said bishops also had a responsibility to work with the government and business sectors⁶ to promote Christian⁷ values.

He called on the bishops to help bring about a spirit of truthfulness⁸ and honesty among the nation's political and business leaders.

The pope's message about social and economic development has resonated with many Catholic pilgrims who came to Sao Paulo for the pontiff's visit. High school student Aline Novaro, who traveled from Argentina, says she is concerned about worsening conditions in poor communities.

She says there is a great deal of violence, and many people have little access to education and the church. And she says it is important to pray for improvements in school systems.

During his trip to Brazil, Pope Benedict has also called for greater efforts to improve Catholic education in the region, in part to counter the spread of Evangelical Protestant congregations.

1 bishops   

（基督教某些教派管辖大教区的）主教( bishop的名词复数 )； （国际象棋的）象

参考例句：

• Each player has two bishops at the start of the game. 棋赛开始时，每名棋手有两只象。
• "Only sheriffs and bishops and rich people and kings, and such like. “他劫富济贫，抢的都是郡长、主教、国王之类的富人。

2 rehabilitation   

n.康复，悔过自新，修复，复兴，复职，复位

参考例句：

• He's booked himself into a rehabilitation clinic.他自己联系了一家康复诊所。
• No one can really make me rehabilitation of injuries.已经没有人可以真正令我的伤康复了。

3 addicts   

有…瘾的人( addict的名词复数 )； 入迷的人

参考例句：

• a unit for rehabilitating drug addicts 帮助吸毒者恢复正常生活的机构
• There is counseling to help Internet addicts?even online. 有咨询机构帮助网络沉迷者。 来自超越目标英语 第3册

4 addiction   

n.上瘾入迷，嗜好

参考例句：

• He stole money from his parents to feed his addiction.他从父母那儿偷钱以满足自己的嗜好。
• Areas of drug dealing are hellholes of addiction,poverty and murder.贩卖毒品的地区往往是吸毒上瘾、贫困和发生谋杀的地方。

5 abortion   

n.流产，堕胎

参考例句：

• She had an abortion at the women's health clinic.她在妇女保健医院做了流产手术。
• A number of considerations have led her to have a wilful abortion.多种考虑使她执意堕胎。

6 sectors   

n.部门( sector的名词复数 )；领域；防御地区；扇形

参考例句：

• Berlin was divided into four sectors after the war. 战后柏林分成了4 个区。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Industry and agriculture are the two important sectors of the national economy. 工业和农业是国民经济的两个重要部门。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

7 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

8 truthfulness   

n. 符合实际

参考例句：

• Among her many virtues are loyalty, courage, and truthfulness. 她有许多的美德，如忠诚、勇敢和诚实。
• I fired a hundred questions concerning the truthfulness of his statement. 我对他发言的真实性提出一连串质问。