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.