New Year's Resolutions & Social Justice

At the start of the new year, the Church is in the middle of the season of Christmas and the secular world is in the middle of making resolutions. Why not combine the two? The message of Christmas is a message of light, peace, and justice (see the readings for Midnight Mass). This year, resolve to do something to bring more light (to those who dwell in a land of gloom), peace (to those who find themselves in turmoil), and justice (for those who are suffering) to the world. Every person can do something along these lines, and every person should try.

Copyright © 2010, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins. 
 

Holy Families & Social Justice

[Note: This sound-bite should run in bulletins on Sunday, December 27. It is being posted early for those parishes with early bulletin deadlines due to Christmas.]
 

Today's Feast of the Holy Family calls us to consider every family's role in the promotion of justice in the world. The love between father and mother should be a reminder to all of the love we should have for all peoples, and love of the other is the basis for justice. Furthermore, when their children are baptized, parents promise to bring their children up in this same love, training them in the ways of the Catholic faith. This means teaching them to love and care for other people and all creation. 
       The Second Vatican Council, in its Decree on the Apostolate of Lay People, put it this way: "The mission of being the primary vital cell of society has been given to the family by God... This mission will be accomplished if the family... offers active hospitality, and practices justice and other good works for the benefit of all its brothers and sisters suffering from want."
Copyright © 2009, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins. 
 

Religious Freedom & Social Justice

At this time of the year, a number of major religions celebrate a major festival. Every year, Christians celebrate the Nativity of Jesus on December 25, and Jews celebrate Hanukkah (the anniversary of the re-dedication of the Jerusalem Temple) during eight days in late November to late December (dates vary annually). Additionally, from 2006 through 2010, the Islamic holy day of Eid al-Adha (the festival of the sacrifice of Abraham) falls between mid-November and early January.
       Recently, there has been controversy over holiday displays on public property and in public schools. On a larger level, Switzerland recently had a nationwide election as to whether to permit the construction of minarets, the towers from which Muslims are called to prayer at various times of the day. The Catholic Church supported the rights of Muslims in Switzerland to construct minarets because of our teaching on religious freedom.
       The Catholic Church teaches that religious freedom is a concern of the common good, thus linking it to our social teaching. In the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the ability for all people to worship as they choose is mentioned in the sections on the rights and dignity of the human person, and the first and fourth commandments.
Copyright © 2009, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins.

"He preached good news to the people."

These are the final words of this Sunday's gospel (Luke 3:10-18). And just what was the "good news" that John the Baptist was preaching that day? It was to give someone one of your cloaks if you have two; to share your food; do not falsely accuse anyone; and be satisfied with your wages. In other words, the good news according to John the Baptist was to live justly. In these last few days before Christmas, let us prepare for Jesus' coming by taking John's words to heart, by committing ourselves to living justly.
Copyright © 2009, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins. 

 

Alternative Christmas Gifts & Social Justice

Most of us are launching into our Christmas gift shopping. As we have heard many times in recent years, there are ways to be socially responsible in our gift-giving. For example, we are urged not to buy things that will be quickly used up and then discarded, such as "gag gifts" or cheap trinkets. Instead, think about giving "experiences" (such as theatre or concert tickets) rather than merchandise. Such an approach will enhance the life of the recipient, support local artists, and be kinder to the environment.

       We can also donate to a charity in the name of the other person. Programs such as Catholic Relief Services (http://gifts.crs.org) and Heifer International (www.heifer.org) have "gift catalogs" where you can be such things as shares in promoting peace in southern Sudan or a flock of ducks for a needy family in China.

       In your gift-giving this Christmas, we creative -- and be just! 

Copyright © 2009, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins.

Christmas Shopping & Social Justice

With the passing of the Thanksgiving holiday, we are now into the Christmas shopping season. To counter the consumerism and tendency for stores to be loaded with merchandise made by forced child labor or foreign sweatshops, many parishes will this weekend kick off a "fair trade sale" or a "Work of Human Hands Sale." These efforts sell chocolates, handcrafts, coffee, tea, and gift baskets that are purchased at fair prices from growers, artists, and producers who receive a fair price for their merchandise and promise to operate according to just standards. The majority of the sales price goes directly back to those who made or grew the items. Such sales have been facilitated by Catholic Relief Services.
       In the event you missed the sale, you can always shop for the same merchandise anytime online at www.crsfairtrade.org. 
Copyright © 2009, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins.

Organ/Tissue Donation & Social Justice

L'Osservatore Romano, the official newspaper of the Vatican, recently carried a brief story from New Delhi, India about a priest from Kerala who donated one of his kidneys to "a complete stranger." The "stranger" was in fact a Hindu man and father of two children. The only other option the man had was to pay a million rupees (about $21,000) to buy a kidney through illegal means. The priest, who has an administrative position in a health care agency, recognized how his giving of a part of his body for the sake of another person gave him the opportunity to share in the ministry of Jesus Christ, who gave his body for the sake of all.
       As this country debates health insurance reform, this story is a reminder of just how some important aspects of our current health care system are still based upon the unselfish acts of strangers, such as signing up for organ and tissue donation. Without those unselfish acts, our system might quickly degenerate into one of severe rationing and the buying and selling of body parts for profit. Therefore, your registration as an organ and tissue donor helps maintain a level of justice in our current health care system.
       If you haven't already done so, please consider becoming an organ and tissue donor. Locally, you can do this when you renew your driver's license, or you can register online at www.donatelifetoday.com. One further step you can take to help those with cancer by registering as a bone marrow donor. For more information on this, go to www.marrow.org.
Copyright © 2009, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins. 
 

Praying for the Dead & Social Justice

November is the month when we as Catholics remember "those who have gone before us, marked with the sign of faith." As the liturgical year dies away, we use this as an opportunity to pray for those who have themselves died. 
       One of the Lectionary texts that is used in Catholic funerals is from 1 Maccabees, in which we are told that it is a good and just thing to do to pray for the dead. We believe that in death, "life is changed, not ended." Our prayers for the dead expresses our hope for the salvation for all, whether living in the body or living in the spirit. Thus, prayers for the dead are a concrete way that we express the Catholic social teaching principle of solidarity — we express our solidarity in death as in life.
       Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.
Copyright © 2009, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins.

Works of Charity are the Path to Justice

When hearts are moved to charitable action on behalf of those in need, we can't help but to take note of what causes those in need to suffer. Note that we are not all called to both works of charity and advocacy for justice. Some, like Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, will be noted for their works of charity; others, like Dom Helder Camara, will be known for their advocacy for justice. What's important is that we, as a Catholic Church, are together meeting both needs. Some of us, by doing works of charity with love and compassion, will by our actions call attention to what needs to be done in the way of justice, and others of us will take up the cause of justice and bring about the systemic changes that are needed.

       For some success stories that show how the Catholic Church is the US weave together works of charity and advocacy for justice, go to www.usccb.org/cchd/successstories.shtml.

Copyright © 2009, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins.

Buying Organic & Social Justice

More and more products are starting to sport an organic label — and it's going well beyond just food. In most areas, we are seeing an increase in the number of cotton products (towels, t-shirts, bed linens, etc.), personal care products (soaps and lotions), and even candles that are labeled as organic. Thus, buying organic products isn't just about putting healthier things in our mouths (although that may be one benefit). 
       Buying organic is more about a means of production that is more respectful to the earth's environment. Products that are organically grown use farming techniques which avoids the use of chemical fertilizers, insecticides, and weed killers. This in turn results in healthier, more productive soil for the future, and water supplies that are not contaminated with chemical runoff.
       For more information about the benefits of organic products, go to www.organic.org.
Copyright © 2009, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins.
  

Elections & Social Justice

It's election time again, and voting our consciences is the best way to express our Catholic social justice principles to the wider world. The US bishops have stated, "In a democracy, loving our neighbor and caring for the least among us means supporting leaders and policies that promote the common good and protect society’s most vulnerable members."

       The Church does not and will not engage in partisan politics. We strongly urge all parishioners to register, to become informed on key issues, and to vote. The Church does not support or oppose any candidate, but seeks to focus attention on the moral and human dimensions of issues. We do not authorize the distribution of partisan political materials on parish property.

       For more information on Catholic issues in the upcoming local election, go to the web site for your state Catholic conference. For a directory where you can find the web site for your state's Catholic conference, go to www.nasccd.org.

Copyright © 2009, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins.
  

Mission Sunday & Social Justice

This Sunday has been designated World Mission Sunday. It's a day when we remember -- not only with our contributions, but also in stories and pictures -- the places in the world where the Church is new, young, or poor. It's an international effort that is primarily about charity. However, that charity leads us into the Catholic social teaching on solidarity, and ultimately (it is hoped) to justice.

       The US bishops have stated on their web site (www.usccb.org), "We are one human family whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic, and ideological differences. We are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers, wherever they may be. Loving our neighbor has global dimensions in a shrinking world." Therefore, the Church goes to every place on the globe to stake a claim for justice and peace. Your contribution to the World Mission Sunday collection provides support for that effort. 

Copyright © 2009, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins.

Respecting Life

October is a month when the Catholic Church reminds us of our call to respect the life and dignity of all human persons. Leading up to "Respect Life Sunday," Cardinal Justin Rigali of Philadelphia has spoken out recently about the various forms that respecting life takes, especially with the prospect of health insurance reform in the US. In one letter, he says, "Each and every one of us has intrinsic and immeasurable worth. That is because God created each of us in his image by the outpouring of his infinite and unconditional love. In return he asks only that we share that love with others, beginning with those most in need – the poor, vulnerable, and despised of this world... In defending the right to life, our first duty is to oppose the direct taking of innocent human life – any human life, at any stage."
       In another letter, he addresses health insurance reform as a right-to-life issue. He points out how this runs counter to such secular trends and beliefs, such as population control, physician-assisted suicide, and health care that is rationed based on income, citizenship, or quality of life. He states: "Such an attitude is deplorable, all the more so in the context of health care. Sanctioning discrimination in the quality of care given to different groups of people has no place in medicine, and directly contravenes the ethical norms under which Catholic hospitals and health care providers operate."
       For more information, go to www.usccb.org/prolife. 
Copyright © 2009, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins. 

The Natural Environment & Social Justice

Pope Benedict's latest encyclical (Caritas in veritate) is focused on issues of social justice in our time. In that encyclical, the pope clearly connects environmental issues to social justice. He states:

"The environment is God's gift to everyone, and in our use of it we have a responsibility towards the poor, towards future generations and towards humanity as a whole... In nature, the believer recognizes the wonderful result of God's creative activity, which we may use responsibly to satisfy our legitimate needs, material or otherwise, while respecting the intrinsic balance of creation. If this vision is lost, we end up either considering nature an untouchable taboo or, on the contrary, abusing it. Neither attitude is consonant with the Christian vision of nature as the fruit of God's creation. Nature expresses a design of love and truth. It is prior to us, and it has been given to us by God as the setting for our life. Nature speaks to us of the Creator (cf. Rom 1:20) and his love for humanity... Reducing nature merely to a collection of contingent data ends up doing violence to the environment and even encouraging activity that fails to respect human nature itself."*

For more information, go to www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/index.htm and click on "Encyclicals" and then on "Caritas in veritate."
__________
* Pope Benedict XVI, Caritas in veritate, no. 48.
Copyright © 2009, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins.

Racism & Social Justice

The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines racism as "unjust discrimination on the basis of a person's race." In a section entitled, "Equality and Differences among Men [and Women]," it says the following:

"The equality of men [and women] rests essentially on their dignity as persons and the rights that flow from it: 
     'Every form of social or cultural discrimination in fundamental personal rights on the grounds of sex, race, color social conditions, language, or religion must be curbed and eradicated as incompatible with God's design...' 

"There exist also sinful inequalities that affect millions of men and women. These are in open contradiction to the Gospel:
     'Their equal dignity as persons demands that we strive for fairer and more humane conditions. Excessive economic and social disparity between individuals and peoples of the one human race is a source of scandal and militates against social justice, equality, human dignity, as well as social and international peace.'" 

For more information, see Part 3 Chapter 2 of the Catechism, which you can read online at www.usccb.org/catechism/text/.
Copyright © 2009, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins. 

Health Insurance Reform & Social Justice

(The following is adapted from a September 11, 2009 action alert from Kathy Saile, the Director of Domestic Social Development for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.)

Now that Congress has returned to Washington and is again working on the health insurance bills, the US bishops need your advocacy more than ever. Please call your Members of Congress at 202-224-3121 and tell them to:

1. Support long-overdue health insurance reform that covers all people and protects the life, dignity, and health of all. Health insurance reform is an important national priority and moral imperative.

2. A fair and just health insurance reform bill must exclude mandated coverage for abortion, and uphold longstanding laws that restrict abortion funding and protect conscience rights. Urge Members to take whatever steps necessary in Committee or on the Floor to oppose abortion funding, abortion mandates, and weakening of conscience protections.

3. Support effective measures to safeguard the health of immigrants, their children and all of society. Maintain an adequate safety net for those who remain uncovered. Eliminate the five-year waiting period banning immigrants lawfully residing in the United States from enrolling in Medicaid. Do not place barriers to obtaining private health insurance coverage for immigrants.

You can find information on your Members of Congress at www.senate.gov and www.house.gov.
Copyright © 2009, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins.

Adult Education for Social Justice

At this time of the year, students are heading back to school. For those of us with our diplomas or degrees, once we've graduated, we'd like to think that we are done. However, our religious education is never done!
       Our faith is one that calls us to continuing renewal and conversion. Thus, our religious education should continue through our entire lives. All of us can learn even more than we already know about Scripture, Tradition, and the teachings of the Church. One very excellent and enjoyable way of doing this is the JustFaith program. JustFaith began in one parish 15 years ago and is now a part of the program in over 600 parishes across the country. It is a program of prayer and study that leads to action. Its emphasis is Catholic Social Teaching, running the full spectrum from issues surrounding the right to life, poverty, non-violence, racism, global solidarity, and human development. It's not for everyone, but if you've been wanting to know more about the Catholic faith or wanting to know how the Bible speaks to us in today's world, this is a program for you to consider.

       For more information, go to www.justfaith.org or ask your parish's or diocese's social justice director for details. 

Copyright © 2009, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins.

Labor Day & Social Justice

This coming Monday, we celebrate the Labor Day national holiday. It's a time to reflect on our Catholic social teaching regarding the dignity of human labor.
       Last year, the US Bishops stated in Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, "Work is more than a way to make a living; it is a form of continuing participation in God’s creation." That's a very powerful statement, and one that succinctly frames all the Church's teaching on the dignity of human labor. From this flow many specific rights and responsibilities, which the Church has also commented on over the years.
       This year, in the recent encyclical Caritas in Veritate, Pope Benedict called for a new model for the business enterprise that moves beyond the model that is "... almost exclusively answerable to their investors, thereby limiting their social value." He goes on to say, "Even if the ethical considerations that currently inform debate on the social responsibility of the corporate world are not all acceptable from the perspective of the Church's social doctrine, there is nevertheless a growing conviction that business management cannot concern itself only with the interests of the proprietors, but must also assume responsibility for all the other stakeholders who contribute to the life of the business: the workers, the clients, the suppliers of various elements of production, the community of reference." In other words, the pope is saying that workers should have some participation in the methods of production and the distribution of profits, which is fitting only in light of the overall teaching that workers are co-creators with God and are thus imbued with that dignity.

       The chair of the US Bishops' Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development releases a Labor Day statement each year commenting on current developments and issues. To read that statement online after Monday, go to www.usccb.org/sdwp/national/labor.shtml.

Copyright © 2009, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins.

Civil Discourse & Social Justice

In recent days, we have heard many stories about rancor and unruliness at "town hall" meetings that have been held by members of Congress on the subject of health insurance reform. In some cases, the basis of the shouting was in an actual experience with a system that didn't work; in other cases, there were misunderstandings of facts. For sure, there is a good deal to get emotional about -- health care and health insurance are very costly, and one's quality of life is at stake if one must live with a debilitating or chronic illness.

Nonetheless, we are reminded in St. Paul's letter to the Ephesians (4:15) that we are to speak the truth in love in order to build a unity in our society and within the Body of Christ. As a Church and as a society, we won't get very far if we are not unified in our understanding of one another or are not committed to seeing the other person with whom we disagree as a beloved child of God just like us. In short, justice cannot succeed in an environment where civil discourse, born of a concern for the common good, does not prevail.

We will always agree on some things and disagree on others, but in everything, we should approach one another in charity and civility.

Copyright © 2009, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins.