{"id":4418,"date":"2020-04-24T22:26:02","date_gmt":"2020-04-25T06:26:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gnrc.ziplinestaging.com\/news\/press-releases\/message-from-the-gnrc-secretary-general-during-the-interfaith-prayer-with-children\/"},"modified":"2020-04-24T22:26:02","modified_gmt":"2020-04-25T06:26:02","slug":"message-from-the-gnrc-secretary-general-during-the-interfaith-prayer-with-children","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gnrc.net\/?p=4418","title":{"rendered":"Message from the GNRC Secretary General During the Interfaith Prayer With Children"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

Thank you Most Reverend Bishop Murray; Esteemed Religious Leaders; Children; Dear Friends.<\/p>\n

THANK you for joining us in this inaugural interfaith prayer with children.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

TODAY also happens to be the EARTH DAY.<\/p>\n

These gifts\u2014the EARTH, and the CHILDREN\u2014are given to us by God.<\/p>\n

OVER the last four months, the world has been shaken by the coronavirus pandemic.<\/p>\n

The impact on socio-economic conditions, globally, is extraordinary.The streets are empty; Places of worship are empty; Schools are empty; CHILDREN will be among the most affected.<\/p>\n

LONG before the coronavirus pandemic started, over one billion children were already suffering some form of violence every year.<\/p>\n

TODAY, 1.5 billion children are out of school.<\/p>\n

The pandemic has not only denied children time and opportunity to learn, it is also aggravating violence against children.<\/p>\n

LIMITATIONS on movements of people, LOCKED DOWN populations, and CURFEWS, Are increasing family and social stress.<\/p>\n

When stress goes up, children are more vulnerable than ever.<\/p>\n

TODAY, we come before God, in prayer.<\/p>\n

Together, our human family will emerge stronger, and in greater solidarity.<\/p>\n

On behalf of Arigatou International, its Directors, and the GNRC Network, I want to thank the following partners for their cooperation:<\/p>\n