The Enlarged General Council, meeting in Zimbabwe, in April 1999, issued this statement calling for the reduction of the international debt.

"The Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary are an international congregation of women religious who serve in Brazil, Mali, Mexico, Zambia, and Zimbabwe as well as in the United States and Europe. From April 13th to 27th, 1999, leaders representing these areas met in Mutare, Zimbabwe. There and in Zambia we were able to see the negative effects of IMF-mandated Structural Adjustment Programs.

In solidarity with the most heavily-indebted poor countries, we believe that the debt burden of the poorest nations is not only an economic issue, but a moral one. Therefore, we urge national and international financial institutions to take concrete steps for the cancellation of unsustainable debts of poor countries by the Jubilee Year 2000, with a special concern for Sub-Saharan Africa. According to Pope John Paul II, debts are not to be paid at the cost of the debtor's very existence. Resources of the poorest countries should be committed primarily to meet the health, education, and sanitation needs of their people."

For more information on the economic situation of Third World countries and the effect of the international debt, we invite you to read one or more of the following.

• "The Poor Pay Twice for Third World Debts" by Sr. Veronica Brand, RSHM

• "Our Debt to the Third World: Closing Remarks" by Sr. Patricia Connor, RSHM

• Debt Relief for the Third World - Office of Justice and Peace, Archdiocese of Los Angeles

• SEDOS Working Group Articles on Debt Reduction