Epiphany & Social Justice

In the liturgical feast of Epiphany, we celebrate the visit of the magi to the Holy Family in Bethlehem. When we look deeper, we see that this was a visit by those in the upper levels of society to a poor family, and they came to honor the least member of that poor family, the newborn child. Thus, a reminder that those with power are called to serve the least and lowest among us.
       Currently, 43.6 million Americans live below the poverty line. That is a significant percentage of the total US population, which means that nearly everyone will know of someone who is living in poverty.
       The bishops of the US have declared January as Poverty in America Awareness Month. Take a step in your own poverty awareness by visiting www.povertyusa.org. Then, consider taking one of the action steps proposed there. 

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

Social Justice & Not Being Afraid

In the Gospel for this Fourth Sunday of Advent, the angel tells Joseph to not be afraid to take Mary into his home. How often are we afraid to do what is right? Especially when it comes to matters of social justice, we will often be shunned by others when we do what is right in God's eyes. However, God asks us to be just and do just works, and tells us that those who do so will have no reason to be afraid because their salvation is assured.
       As the New Year approaches, now might be a good time to make a resolution to pursue justice in the New Year, without counting the cost.
       Have a blessed Christmas!

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

Our Lady of Guadalupe & Social Justice

"Do not be afraid, you have nothing to fear.
Am I not here, your compassionate mother?"
(message of Mary to St. Juan Diego)

The story of Mary's appearance to St. Juan Diego and the image she left on his cloak is well-known. What many people miss, however, is the message of compassion, human development, and social justice.
       The 1531 apparition came after decades of increasing oppression of the native peoples (primarily Aztecs) by the Spanish. Some of this was in the name of evangelization, but what the Spanish were doing was definitely not in keeping with the Gospel. On the other side, the human sacrifices of the Aztecs was an evil that was worth some attention by Christians. By the early 1500s, two cultures were in a virtual stand-off, with the Spanish winning the upper hand in a bloody defeat of the Aztec empire in 1521. With that, the Spanish set about forcing the Aztecs to either submit to them or die.
       Ten years later, Mary's apparition as a Mestizo woman changed things. Here is what the Encyclopedia of Catholicism says about the image of Mary on the cloak of St. Juan Diego:

"In her, the two anthropologies come together so as to produce something totally different than either of the two had been able to achieve independently: the change is from the absolute exclusion of the other as other for the sake of ethnic/religious unity, to the inclusion of otherness for the sake of new life. In the Mestizo Mother of the Americas, irreconcilable differences are not only reconciled, but a new 'beyond exclusion existence' is introduced, one that will destroy the very basis of cruel violence produced by any exclusion-based existence."

So the Virgin of Guadalupe is a symbol of love, compassion, and hospitality. These are matters of social justice, and so we can once again look to Mary to show us the justice that her Son came into the world to bring about.

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

Christmas Gifts & Social Justice

(Originally posted December 2010; edited June 2014)

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, be creative -- and be just! 

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

Prayers for Peace

The first reading for this first Sunday of Advent contains probably the most famous passage from the prophet Isaiah:

They shall beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks;
one nation shall not raise the sword against another,
nor shall they train for war again. (Is 2:4NAB)

Peace continues to be a significant matter in today's world, and it increasingly involves religion. Many commentators decry "Islamic terror," and churches, synagogues, and mosques have been targets of attacks. 
       In recognition of all this, Pope Benedict has set the theme for the upcoming World Day of Peace (January 1, 2011) as "Religious Freedom, the Path to Peace." Parishes and families are encouraged to see what they can do to prepare for the World Day of Peace by checking out the resources on the US bishops' web site. The link is http://bit.ly/e8VKH2.
Copyright © 2010, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins. (http://bit.ly/16p8ws)
  

Thanksgiving Dinner & Social Justice

As we prepare for our feasts on Thanksgiving Day, it's worth a few minutes of our time to remember those who have little to eat. Hunger is still an issue, both in our neighborhood and around the world. 
       Tomorrow, November 22, the Bread for the World Institute (www.bread.org) is releasing its annual Hunger Report. The 2011 Hunger Report addresses the role of the United States in mobilizing global commitments to increase investments in agriculture, food security, and nutrition in developing countries. It will also include Christian Study Guide offering a variety of activities and Biblical themes to help users reflect on information included in the report. As part of your preparations for the day on which we recall what we are thankful for, please consider reading this report and taking some action to reduce hunger in the world.
       The report will be available on the internet at www.hungerreport.org and available in hard-copy from the same web site. 
Copyright © 2010, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins. (http://bit.ly/16p8ws)
  

Saving Farmland & Social Justice

The American Farmland Trust has reported that more than one acre of farmland is being lost every minute in the United States, which adds up to nearly a million acres per year. This land is most often near urban areas and is being used for highways, shopping malls and housing developments. Most of this land is in Texas, California, Florida, Arizona and North Carolina. The American Farmland Trust explains that smart growth strategies, including more efficient development, can help slow the conversion and fragmentation of our farm and ranch land. Visit www.farmland.org and www.farmlandinfo.org for more information.
       Many thanks to JustFaith Ministries for this information!
Copyright © 2010, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins. (http://bit.ly/16p8ws)
  

Human Trafficking & Social Justice

A recent press release (http://bit.ly/bjj8PN) from the US bishops is a reminder that chattle slavery has not been wiped off the face of the earth yet, but it does have a new name: human trafficking. Ten years ago, President Clinton signed the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) to fight human trafficking operations and to rescue and assist victims of human trafficking in the United States
       Simultaneous with the press release, the Migration & Refugee Services of the US bishops released Reflections:  Health and Human Service’s Service Mechanism for Foreign National Survivors, which provided a reminder that many of the victims of human trafficking are children. There are many other important findings in Reflections; interested parties can read it at http://bit.ly/9SMVAR.
      Finally, the bishops point out that, like so many pieces of Federal legislation, TVPA has to be periodically re-authorized, and it is due for re-authorizing again in 2011. Please watch for opportunities to encourage the newly elected Congress and the President to pass this important piece of social justice legislation.
Copyright © 2010, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins. (http://bit.ly/16p8ws)
  

Consumer Protection & Social Justice

Authorities in Washington State recently investigated sickness of nine freshman of a state college who attended an off-campus party. It turns out that the cause of their sickness was the consumption of a significant amount of an alcoholic energy drink, which led to alcohol poisoning. Authorities are now considering a legal ban on such beverages.
       In other parts of the country, voters and legislators are considering whether to legalize marijuana, citing comparisons with Prohibition in the last century. Meanwhile, some politicians are objecting to the new federal regulations on mortgage lenders to prevent the sort of financial problems of 2008 from happening again.
       All these raise the question as to the appropriate level of government in regulating personal activities and businesses.
       Although buyers should beware at all times, it seems reasonable that government should step in anytime a person or business exploits our freedoms to cause harm — whether intended or not — to others. After all, governments have a moral obligation to look out for the common good, especially in situations where the powerful are exploiting the weak.
       Please remember that when you cast your votes in a few days.
Copyright © 2010, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins. (http://bit.ly/16p8ws)
  

Speaking Up & Social Justice

Generally speaking, most of us can easily identify when things are right or just. A trivial example would be that we know it is wrong when we see someone doing 100 mph on an urban expressway. Nonetheless, how many of us are comfortable enough in our judgment to do something about it? In other words, if we see someone doing 100 mph, would we call it in to the police?
     This is an important issue because it is just as much of a sin to not take action (when we are able) as it is to actively commit some form of evil. After all, in the Penitential Rite of the Mass we ask forgiveness for what we have done and for what we have failed to do. We may think of speaking up as being intrusive or being a "busy-body," but in fact, if something is truly wrong, the evil will persist — and perhaps even snowball — as long as it is allowed, and we become cooperators with evil if we sit back and do nothing.
       As President John F. Kennedy used to say, "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."
Copyright © 2010, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins. (http://bit.ly/16p8ws)
  

World Mission Sunday & Social Justice

Next Sunday is World Mission Sunday. Most parishes in most dioceses will be taking up a second collection for the Church's various missionary activities and organizations. The following quote from Pope Benedict in his Message for World Mission Sunday 2010 shows the connection between the Church's missionary efforts and social justice:

"[A]wareness of the call to proclaim the Gospel not only encourages every individual member of the faithful but also all diocesan and parish communities to integral renewal and ever greater openness to missionary cooperation among the Churches, to promote the proclamation of the Gospel in the heart of every person, of every people, culture, race and nationality in every place. This awareness is nourished through the work of … priests, consecrated people, catechists and lay missionaries in the constant endeavour to encourage ecclesial communion so that even the phenomenon of 'interculturality' may be integrated in a model of unity in which the Gospel is a leaven of freedom and progress, a source of brotherhood, humility and peace."

Thus, a donation to the next Sunday's second collection isn't strictly a contribution for charity; it is also a contribution to freedom, progress, and peace — in short, justice.  So please, prayerfully consider your contribution to this collection.
       For the complete text of the pope's message, go to http://bit.ly/ci1AYT. For an excellent video on the purpose of the collection, check out http://vimeo.com/14881162.
Copyright © 2010, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins. (http://bit.ly/16p8ws)
  

Reproductive Technologies & Social Justice

TThere was news this past week that the scientist who developed the technique of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) would receive a Nobel prize. However, IVF and some other forms of assisted fertility are contrary to Catholic teaching. This may puzzle some people who believe that Catholic teaching is to have as many children as possible.
       A more correct statement would be that Catholics are to accept children as God gives them. Furthermore, Pope Paul VI declared in Humanae vitae that Catholic couples have a duty to plan their family size. 
       Children are indeed a gift from God, as any couple who has had difficulty conceiving a child will tell you. A child comes into being because God wills it, not because a person or a couple wants it. There are many techniques for working through issues of infertility that are consistent with Catholic teaching, but IVF is not one of them because in IVF many viable lives are aborted as part of the process.
       A good resource that explains Catholic teaching on infertility treatment can be found at www.usccb.org/LifeGivingLove/.
Copyright © 2010, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins. (http://bit.ly/16p8ws)
  

Midterm Elections & Social Justice, part 2

For a couple of decades now, negative campaigning has been commonplace in the US. Negative campaigning is marked primarily by a candidate saying how they are not like their opponent. Sometimes it goes further by using innuendo, half-truths, out-of-context statements, and even name-calling in an attempt to turn the voters off to the other candidate. The sad truth is that this strategy has been statistically proven to work, despite the un-Christian character of the approach.
       Recently, as campaigns began in Australia, the main television network in Australia invited the two candidates for prime minister to be interviewed (separately) for the morning news program. The network did one thing to make the interviews compelling: they insisted that each candidate talk only about themselves and their political views. Furthermore, when either candidate began saying things like, "My opponent says…," the interviewer cut them off and did not permit them to proceed. From the standpoint of these American eyes and ears, it was remarkable.
       Perhaps the approach of the Australian television network is a good approach for us: look only at what each candidate says about herself or himself and cut them off (or tune them out) when they start the negative rhetoric. Once we know what a candidate stands for, then we can apply our well-formed consciences to make a good decision.
Copyright © 2010, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins. (http://bit.ly/16p8ws)
  

Midterm Elections & Social Justice, part 1

As we move into fall, we start seeing and hearing campaign rhetoric once again. This year is not a presidential election year, but it is a year in which all members of the US House and a third of the US Senators are elected. In addition, there may be other state and local races, referenda, and initiatives.
       The US bishops update their document Faithful Citizenship (www.faithfulcitizenship.org) only in presidential election years, but it is nonetheless applicable for the midterm elections, as well. In the campaign period leading up to every election, Catholics should review Faithful Citizenship, form their consciences on the issues, and then vote their consciences on election day. It is time-consuming and at times difficult, especially to figure out what a candidate's stand is (or isn't) on an issue. However, it is what we must do to truly live our faith in the public square.
       (Next week: Negative campaigning.)
Copyright © 2010, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins. (http://bit.ly/16p8ws)
  

Buying the Poor for a Pair of Sandals

Hear this, you who trample upon the needy
and destroy the poor of the land!…

Never will I forget a thing they have done! (Amos 8:4,7LFM)

In the first reading for this Sunday, the profit Amos decries the neglect of the poor and lists some of the abuses, such as adjusting weights and measures to cheat the poor out of what is justly theirs. 
       The line that should catch our attention in these days refers to "buy[ing]… the poor for a pair of sandals." How often do we prefer shoes that were made in foreign sweatshops just because we can get away with paying a lower price for them? When we defend doing so by claiming that the people who work in those sweatshops are at least doing better than their neighbors, isn't that like buying the poor for a pair of sandals?
       Furthermore, wouldn't our country be better off economically if we would search out domestically produced goods, made by factories that pay just wages?
Copyright © 2010, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins. (http://bit.ly/16p8ws)
 

Building Hope through Social Justice

This weekend in the Archdiocese of Seattle, parishes will be taking up the annual Build Hope collection. This special collection supports the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) and the Catholic Communication Campaign. CCHD is the organization nationally that the US bishops has established to fund and promote social justice activities in the US. CCHD fight poverty and injustice by investing in organization that involve the poor in the development and execution of their programs. This principle was reaffirmed in Pope Benedict's encyclical Caritas in veritate as the only way to truly solve problems and bring about the development of peoples.
       Please see the CCHD web site (www.usccb.org/cchd/) for more information, and please be generous when the baskets are passed this weekend.
Copyright © 2010, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins. (http://bit.ly/16p8ws)
 

The Bishops' Annual Labor Day Statement

Each year for Labor Day, the US bishops' Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development issues a Labor Day Statement. At over four pages in length, this year's statement is the longest of recent years. Yet, this is for good reason, as the opening paragraphs of the statement point out. With the West Virginia mine disaster, the explosion of the oil rig in the Gulf, and high unemployment, this past year has been marked by some significant events and conditions. As the bishops review the history of papal writings on the matter — from Pope Leo XIII's Rerum novarum to Pope Benedict XVI's Caritas in veritate — the bishops conclude that the protecting the life and dignity of each worker should be at the heart of a new "social contract" for the growth and governance of our economy.
       This year's statement (and other statements by the bishops on labor) can be found at http://bit.ly/9vcbkG.
       Happy Labor Day!
Copyright © 2010, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins. (http://bit.ly/16p8ws)
 

Back to School Shopping & Social Justice

This is the time of year when students are preparing to head back to school. In recent years, this has also been an occasion for families to go on shopping sprees, filling their homes with new clothes and gadgets. It is important to realize, though, that the consumer mentality in this country of buying things because they are cheap or because advertising has created the desire for them has resulted in poverty and environmental problems in other countries.
       So, this year, as you do your back-to-school shopping ask yourself a few questions: 

• Do I really need this item, or is someone else (like a TV ad) telling me that I want it?
• If I need the item, do I really need a new one, or will a used one serve my needs just fine? Have I looked in thrift and second-hand stores lately?
• What do I know about the people who made the item? Was it most likely produced in a facility with fair labor practices, or was it most likely made with sweatshop labor? 

Copyright © 2010, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins. (http://bit.ly/16p8ws)
 

Mary & Social Justice

This Sunday, we celebrate the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and we hear in the gospel Mary's song of social justice, the Magnificat. With a careful read, it is easy to see that the mother of Jesus was a radical proponent of social justice:

[The Almighty] has shown the strength of his arm,
      and has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
      and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
      and the rich he has sent away empty.

What can we do this week to lift up the lowly and fill the hungry with good things? It's what our Mother would like us to do!
Copyright © 2010, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins. (http://bit.ly/16p8ws)
 

"Much Will Be Required" & Social Justice

The gospel for this Sunday ends with Jesus saying to his disciples, "Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more." In the United States, we have been entrusted with much: rich natural resources, fertile land that can produce much food, an abundant supply of clean water, and a temperate climate that supports a wide range of human activity, such as industry and tourism. As a result, our nation has emerged as a world leader in nearly every respect.

       In such a blessed position, God demands much of us. With our power and resources, we have a biblical obligation to do even more than other nations to bring about God's reign on earth. Therefore, it is important for us as a nation to promote the cause of justice and mercy throughout the world. We are uniquely called upon to be promoters of the common good and agents of peace, reconciliation, and environmentalism. Our bishops realize this, and are constantly asking Catholics to make their voices heard on such issues. For an overview of current issues and an easy way to make your voice heard, go to http://capwiz.com/catholicbishops/home/.
Copyright © 2010, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins. (http://bit.ly/16p8ws)
 

The Church's Liturgy & Social Justice, part 3

How we pray and who we pray for in our liturgical assemblies must praise God by demonstrating our concern for God's least ones. The General Intercessions, in particular, have ample opportunity for this. Besides praying for our sick and deceased loved ones (which most parishes do), we should also be sure to pray for suffering people throughout the world, regardless of whether they're related to us by faith or blood. While we're at it, we should also pray for our enemies.
Copyright © 2010, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins. (http://bit.ly/16p8ws)
 

The Church's Liturgy & Social Justice, part 2

[This sound-bite is prepared for running in bulletins on 7/25/2010]

One important aspect of achieving social justice is also a part of our liturgy: reconciliation. Justice is a matter of right relationship. If something is keeping us from right relationship, such as a past wrong or unfair discrimination, we must be reconciled in order to return to a right and just relationship. Reconciliation involves (1) acknowledging our faults to the offended party, (2) asking for and receiving forgiveness, and (3) making reparations and/or doing penance.
       To model that for us in our interpersonal relationships, we have the Sacrament of Penance and the Penitential Rite of the Mass by which we are reconciled with God. The Sacrament of Penance provides the fullest expression of reconciliation (as outlined above) and is our only way of reconciling serious sins against God's law. The Penitential Rite of the Mass heals the lesser offenses so that we can be properly disposed for our reception of Holy Communion.
       The challenge for us is to take these opportunities for reconciliation seriously. This Sunday, when the liturgy comes to the Penitential Rite, make a serious examination of your conscience, fervently ask God for forgiveness, and then feel the forgiveness God offers through the words of the priest.
Copyright © 2010, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins. (http://bit.ly/16p8ws)
 

The Church's Liturgy & Social Justice, part 1

At the end of every Mass, we are urged to "Go in peace to love and serve the Lord." The new language of the Order of Mass which will be implemented in the US next year has a new option, which is, "Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life." The two are seen as equivalent by the Church: loving and serving the Lord means living the faith. 
       It means being the "good Samaritan" as we heard about last Sunday. 
       It means striving for justice in our world, as we are told time and again by Jesus and the prophets who came before him. 
       It means being a force for reconciliation, not only between ourselves and one another, but also between polarizing forces in our world.
       And it is (or should be) the Church's liturgy that causes us to see what must be done and to provide an example of how we are to live between Sundays. More on this in the coming weeks.
Copyright © 2010, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins. (http://bit.ly/16p8ws)
 

Random Acts of Kindness & Social Justice

The Sunday gospel for this week is the familiar story of the lawyer who tests Jesus about salvation and ends up getting the parable of the "good Samaritan." It's a good reminder that there are a lot of people who need immediate help in the world today, especially with the economy continuing to struggle. Providing immediate help and mercy as the good Samaritan did is a sign of our Christianity — being a neighbor and offering basic care or random acts of kindness to someone in need is a mark of our faith, just as it is for Jews and those who profess some other religions.
       The work of social justice goes beyond that and asks works on the more difficult problem of how a person or persons find themselves in such need. It seeks to prevent others from having such a need by eliminating structures or systems that have negative impacts, and by creating new structures and systems that support and raise up those in need. For example, caring for injured pedestrians at a busy street corner is an example of providing basic care to those in need, whereas social justice would involve upgrading the intersection with pedestrian crossings, traffic signals, and warning signs.
       Thus, social justice can be thought of as investing in a future where there are fewer people in need and all are raised up.
Copyright © 2010, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins. (http://bit.ly/16p8ws)
 

Independence & Social Justice

Today we celebrate Independence Day, the day when 56 very active residents of this land declared on behalf of all that the king of England had been abusive in his rule of the colonies in North America, and that such abuse would no longer be tolerated. The Declaration of Independence lists 27 specific actions of the king that were objectionable because they violated the dignity and freedom of human beings in this country. In Catholic social justice language, the Declaration of Independence was about the life & dignity of the human person; the call to family, community, and participation; and rights & responsibilities (see http://bit.ly/9qwkCG for the seven themes of Catholic social teaching).
       The final sentence of the Declaration of Independence also contains a great testament to the colonists' reliance on God and their commitment to endure the sacrifices that needed to be made for the sake of their common good: "[F]or the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor." Words that should guide us all today for the support of our nation.
       To read the Declaration and for related resources, check out http://bit.ly/ckkyhD.
Copyright © 2010, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins. (http://bit.ly/16p8ws)
 

Summer Eats & Social Justice

Summer is here and the seasonal fruits of the land are starting to appear at grocery stores and farmers' markets. This is the perfect time to think more critically about the justice of the food we eat. That may seem strange, but there are significant social justice aspects to the growing, harvesting, transportation, distribution, and consumption of food.
     Patrick Carter, a recent graduate of Creighton University, has completed a research project about that. According to a recent interview posted at http://ncronline.org, to be more just in our eating, he says we need to change ourselves first: “Buy local food, eat out less, eat less meat and don’t over eat. We, as Christians, have a responsibility to care for God’s creations — humans, animals, earth and water — and the way we currently grow and eat food is not reflective of this call… We can have a sustainable existence by first changing ourselves by buying locally grown and ethically harvested food that has a minimized impact on the environment… [I]f the food [we eat] would more closely reflect our Christian values to love the poor and care for God’s creation, then the eaters could be in solidarity with the growers, the land, the farmers, the livestock, the harvesters and the hungry of the world, in addition to the others in the room.”
       This summer, consider doing more of your grocery shopping at your local farmers' market and selecting organically grown produce. In addition to finding healthy, fresh foods at a competitive price, you will also be promoting justice.
Copyright © 2010, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins. (http://bit.ly/16p8ws)
 

Landmines & Social Justice

This past week, the Office of International Justice and Peace of the US bishops issued an Action Alert, asking Catholics to make their voices heard regarding a treaty to ban landmines. The alert points out that, "Landmines are 'inhumanly insidious because they continue to cause harm even long after the cessation of hostilities.' The U.S. bishops have long supported elimination of landmines as they are indiscriminate, morally unacceptable weapons that do not distinguish between soldier and civilian, or between times of war and times of peace."
       Download the full Action Alert at http://bit.ly/9Flf0j. It has the instructions for contacting the President and your US Senators about ratifying this treaty.
Copyright © 2010, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins. (http://bit.ly/16p8ws)
 

Summer Vacations & Social Justice

Summer vacation time is here once again, and families are finalizing their plans for getting away for a week or two of vacation. It's easy to do the same old thing: go to a resort or amusement park and be entertained for a week. Lately, though, many families recognize the great needs in the world and look for ways to help. Taking a "volunteer vacation" is an approach that many have done and others are considering. In addition to serving a world in need, a lot of families also find that it strengthens their relationships with each other.
       As a family or as a single person, there is no end to the possibilities for working for a better world while on vacation. Opportunities exist locally, nationally, and internationally. An internet search of "volunteer vacations" will allow you to quickly find lots of possibilities. One particularly good site in http://charityguide.org. Click on their "volunteer vacation" page to get a quick overview of the types of projects available.
       Or, if you know where you want to go and don't mind pounding a few nails, Habitat for Humanity has a schedule of their projects around the world at www.habitat.org/cd/gv/schedule.aspx. There you will find lots of opportunities, including in the hot tourist destinations, like Hawai'i, New Zealand, and Kenya. All Habitat trips include local cultural opportunities.
       This summer, have your family vacation mean something — take a trip with a purpose!
Copyright © 2010, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins. (http://bit.ly/16p8ws)
 

Oil Spill and Social Justice

As the oil well continues to pollute the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, it may be time to look back on this and other matters of environmental justice. In November 1991, the US bishops said the following in their pastoral statement, Renewing the Earth: "…[H]umans, made in the image and likeness of God, are called in a special way to 'cultivate and care for it (Earth)' (Genesis 2:15). Men and women, therefore, bear a unique responsibility under God: to safeguard the created world and by their creative labor even to enhance it. Safeguarding creation requires us to live responsibly within it, rather than manage creation as though we are outside it. The human family is charged with preserving the beauty, diversity, and integrity of nature, as well as with fostering its productivity." Thus, our faith teaches us that such environmental disasters are contrary to God's will for us.
       For more on Renewing the Earth, go to www.usccb.org/sdwp/ejp/bishopsstatement.shtml.
       Also, if you'd like to donate to help those who are most affected by the spill (fisherman and their families), Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New Orleans is taking donations on their web site. Go to www.ccano.org and click the link on the right side of the page. (By the way, British Petroleum has contributed $1 million to help in Catholic Charities' efforts; however, much more is needed.)
Copyright © 2010, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins. (http://bit.ly/16p8ws)
 

The Trinity as a Model for Social Justice

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. To be sure, the mystery of a three-in-one God can be difficult to comprehend. However, one thing is clear: the Trinity exists as a communion of three persons who mutually cooperate with each other in acts of creation, sanctification, justification, and salvation. Many theologians have pointed to the Trinity as a model that we can use for all sorts of life-in-common, including families, the Church, and other forms of community. 
       Thus, the Trinity also tells us something about social justice. The relationship between Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is one of close, intimate love. One powerful image of the Trinity can be found in the "Throne of Grace," in which artists using everything from canvas to stained glass have depicted the crucifixion of the Son, with the saddened Father supporting the cross and the Holy Spirit hovering nearby in solidarity.
       Such should be our relationship with each other — we should care deeply about other human beings and want to always uphold them, especially those who are suffering. We should support them, be in solidarity with them, and do what we can to raise them up.
Copyright © 2010, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins. (http://bit.ly/16p8ws)
 

Economic Life & Social Justice (part 6)

The final two principles of A Catholic Framework for Economic Life (www.usccb.org/jphd/economiclife) indicate how everyone in an economic system — from the workers to global leaders — is responsible for a just outcome:

• Principle 9. Workers, owners, managers, stockholders, and consumers are moral agents in economic life. By our choices, initiative, creativity and investment, we enhance or diminish economic opportunity, community life and social justice.
• Principle 10. The global economy has moral dimensions and human consequences. Decisions on investment, trade, aid, and development should protect human life and promote human rights, especially for those most in need wherever they might live on this globe. 

An exercise for this week: What role are you in with respect to Principle 9? What moral responsibilities can you identify as being a part of your role? 
Copyright © 2010, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins. (http://bit.ly/16p8ws)
 

Economic Life & Social Justice (part 5)

The seventh and eighth principles of A Catholic Framework for Economic Life (www.usccb.org/jphd/economiclife) declares the checks and balances that are necessary between the free market, voluntary groups, and the government:

• Principle 7. In economic life, free markets have both clear advantages and limits; government has essential responsibilities and limitations; voluntary groups have irreplaceable roles, but cannot substitute for the proper working of the market and the just policies of the state.
• Principle 8. Society has a moral obligation, including governmental action where necessary, to assure opportunity, meet basic human needs, and pursue justice in economic life.

Principle 7 makes the case that all parties with economic interests have roles to play, and Principle 8 speaks specifically to he important role that we as a society should be asking our government to play in assuring a just and compassionate society.
        An exercise for this week: Consider the news this week. Ask yourself, "Are our leaders’ actions benefiting everyone, including families, workers, and the most vulnerable among us?" If not, pick one elected leader and write to them about your feelings.
Copyright © 2010, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins. (http://bit.ly/16p8ws)
 

Economic Life & Social Justice (part 4)

The fifth and sixth principles of A Catholic Framework for Economic Life (www.usccb.org/jphd/economiclife) could easily be named the "individual rights and responsibilities" principles:

• Principle 5. All people have the right to economic initiative, to productive work, to just wages and benefits, to decent working conditions as well as to organize and join unions or other associations.

• Principle 6. All people, to the extent they are able, have a corresponding duty to work, a responsibility to provide for the needs of their families and an obligation to contribute to the broader society. 

Principle 5 is rooted in our belief that, by working, we are participating in God's creation, and therefore it is a noble and worthy endeavor that no one should be deprived of. It goes further to state that work should be justly compensated and dignified, and a worker may associate with others in order to balance the power between employer and employee.
       The sixth principle outlines the why we should work, if we are able: to financially take care of our families and to contribute to the common good.
       An exercise for this week: As we come out of the current recession, many individuals still suffer unemployment or underemployment. Consider them in your prayers this week.
Copyright © 2010, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins. (http://bit.ly/16p8ws)
   

Economic Life & Social Justice (part 3)

The second and third principles of A Catholic Framework for Economic Life (www.usccb.org/jphd/economiclife) lay a key piece of foundation for looking at our spending as individuals and as a nation:

•  Principle 2. All economic life should be shaped by moral principles. Economic choices and institutions must be judged by how they protect or undermine the life and dignity of the human person, support the family and serve the common good.

• Principle 3. A fundamental moral measure of any economy is how the poor and vulnerable are faring.

Principle 2 calls us, in our personal lives, to make economic decisions in ways that go beyond our style preferences our notions of what constitutes a "good deal," and calls us to ask the question, "A good deal for whom?" Were the goods made with sweatshop labor? Was the food produced in a way that respected God's creation and the environment? Does the merchant pay fair wages and support the common good?

       Principle 3 applies that same decision-making on a national level and gives the concrete measure of the perspective of the poor and vulnerable. Isaiah, Jeremiah, and other prophets of the Old Testament were constantly calling on the ancient Israelites to care for the poor and vulnerable, and we are part of that same spiritual tradition.

       An exercise for this week: Look at what you are buying and throwing out this week. Ask yourself whether those decisions are consistent with these principles.
Copyright © 2010, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins. (http://bit.ly/16p8ws)
   

Economic Life & Social Justice (part 2)

In the US bishops' 1996 document, A Catholic Framework for Economic Life, they identified ten important principles to help Catholics reflect on the values that should shape our participation in economic life. The first and the fourth principles are related:

• Principle 1. The economy exists for the person, not the person for the economy. 
• Principle 4. All people have a right to life and to secure the basic necessities of life (e.g., food, clothing, shelter, education, health care, safe environment, economic security.)

The first principle is rooted in our teaching that human life is of paramount importance; we should not subordinate persons to government, corporations, or some "invisible hand." People are not mere resources for production of goods and services; rather, the production of goods and services exist in order to (1) help human beings develop and meet basic necessities, and (2) provide an opportunity for dignified work.
       The fourth principle is related, in that it defines the rights to which all human beings are entitled, regardless of their economic status or their means. The list of basic goes beyond the bare minimum of food, clothing, and shelter and includes the items that point at what the bishops mean by human dignity: education, health care, safe environment, and economic security. So, while a lot of politicians debate issues of food, clothing, and shelter, our bishops teach us that we have to go way beyond that. 
       An exercise for this week: as you hear about budgets, financial market reforms, spending allocations, and similar stories coming out of the state capitol and Washington, DC this week, review them carefully in light of these two points. Then, consider calling your representatives and tell them how feel about one of these issues.
Copyright © 2010, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins. (http://bit.ly/16p8ws)
   

Nuclear Disarmament & Social Justice

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has welcomed the signing of the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) between the United States and the Russian Federation, according to an April 8 letter from the president of the USCCB to President Barack Obama. The letter states, “The horribly destructive capacity of nuclear arms makes them disproportionate and indiscriminate weapons that endanger human life and dignity like no other armaments. Their use as a weapon of war is rejected in Church teaching based on just war norms."

       The treaty now goes to the US Senate for ratification, and the USCCB is asking that Catholics urge their senators and urge them to give bipartisan support to the New START Treaty. For information on contacting your senators, visit www.senate.gov. You can also call the Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121.

       For more information on the USCCB letter to President Obama and other resources related to nuclear weapons, go to www.usccb.org/sdwp/international/nuclear.shtml.
Copyright © 2010, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins. (http://bit.ly/16p8ws)
   

Economic Life & Social Justice (part 1)

One very important part of Catholic social teaching is the Church's teaching on economic life (i.e., how a society organizes its financial resources). The Church teaches that all economic life should be shaped by moral principles. The social justice principals of life and dignity of the human person, concern for the common good, and support for the family are key to evaluating economic choices and institutions. 
       In November 1996, the US bishops produced a document called A Catholic Framework for Economic Life. In it, they outline ten important principals to help Catholics reflect on the values that should inform our consciences as we participate in economic life. Even though that document is over thirteen years old, the principals are timeless and can offer great guidance in our current economic situation in the US.
       For more information, including Catholic Framework document, some reflection questions, links to downloadable documents, and podcasts), check out the USCCB web page at www.usccb.org/jphd/economiclife/.
Copyright © 2010, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins. (http://bit.ly/16p8ws)
   

The Promise of Resurrection & Social Justice

Happy Easter! Today we celebrate our belief that suffering and death does not have the final say. There are many challenges to God's sense of justice in our society today, and most of these also existed at the time of Christ — people without adequate food, clothing, shelter, healthcare, education, or dignified work; people who suffer from discrimination and abuse.

       And then there are those blessed ones who, like Jesus, work to change the systems that cause those injustices. Like Jesus, they suffer, as well, since their work upsets the status quo. As Dom Helder Camara once said, "When I feed the poor, they call me a saint. When I ask why so many people are poor, they call me a communist."

       Easter reminds us to never lose faith or hope, since God is looking out for us and wants us all to have life and have it more abundantly. The hope of Jesus' resurrection — and our own — is that, through suffering, we find new life, and that every experience of suffering is also an opportunity to offer a hand in compassion to someone else.
Copyright © 2010, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins. (http://bit.ly/16p8ws)
   

A Social Justice Reflection for Holy Week

We are once again in the final week of preparations for the highest feast of the liturgical year: Easter. During this holy week, we contemplate the events that led up to our Savior's glory. We recall that his ministry of feeding and healing and liberating was enthusiastically received by the masses when he entered Jerusalem because their world so desperately needed to be touched in that way. However, since he wasn't connected to the ruling class, officials were threatened by his popularity. They were able to bribe one of his followers into betraying him, and they were able to turn the tide of public opinion against him — they stopped at nothing to bring him down. Officials conspired to hand down a death sentence, and they had their military carry it out with great brutality. All the while, Jesus himself remained faithful to his ministry, and he willingly and nonviolently give his life for the sake of his mission.
       Today — as then — we have a world that is in need of feeding and healing and liberating. There are hungry people in our own city and around the world who long to be fed, even though there is enough food in the world. There are unborn babies and elderly people and a lot of people in between who have health care needs that are going unmet, even though there are enough health care resources to provide for them. There are political prisoners and people sold into slavery and nations living under oppressive rulers that long to be free. 
       Taking a stand for any of them may make us as unpopular with the ruling class of our day as Jesus was in his.
       But we will be in good company.
Copyright © 2010, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins. (http://bit.ly/16p8ws)
   

Reconciliation & Social Justice

This is the time of year when most parishes celebrate the Sacrament of Penance (Reconciliation) as a parish. For most Catholics, it is easy to recall the sins that they actively committed, such as acts of lying, cheating, or stealing. For most of us, though, it is far more difficult to see some of the bigger-picture sins, such as cooperating with unjust systems like discrimination on the basis of sex, age, race, or ethnicity, or a lack of concern for the common. During the celebration of the sacrament, a good examination of conscience should call those things to our minds. In fact, the model examination of conscience in the Rite of Penance include several, including these two: 

• "Do I do my best to help the victims of oppression, misfortune, and poverty? Or do I look down on my neighbor, especially the poor, the sick, the elderly, strangers, and people of other races?
• "Am I concerned for the good and prosperity of the human community in which I live, or do I spend my life caring only for myself? Do I share to the best of my ability in the work of promoting justice, morality, harmony, and love in human relations? Have I done my duty as a citizen? Have I paid my taxes?" (Rite of Penanace, Appendix III)

One pastor even added "Do I reduce, reuse, and recycle out of respect for God's creation?" to his parish's examination of conscience!
       The US bishops have published "Supplementary Questions to Examine Conscience in Light of Catholic Social Teaching." They can be found at http://bit.ly/aOAukv. Also on that page is a downloadable two-page version that can be inserted in a bulletin or laminated and placed in a Reconciliation Room.
Copyright © 2010, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins. 
   

Lenten Practices & Social Justice, part 4

The three disciplines of Lent are prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. In this final part of the series, we look at almsgiving. 
       Almsgiving is a religious practice dating back prior to Christianity. For example, Proverbs 28:27 (NAB) says: "He who gives to the poor suffers no want, but he who ignores them gets many a curse." In the Christian era, the gospels (particularly Luke) are full of lines where Jesus urges his followers to attend to the needs of the poor. This was further refined in the last century as Catholic social teaching has been developed, into what we now call "the preferential option for the poor."
       Almsgiving has a practical result, to be sure — those who are the beneficiaries of our alms are helped in meeting their needs. There is also a spiritual result, not only for the recipient, but also for the giver. (Look again at that verse from Proverbs, above.) Especially when one gives to organizations that work for justice, the spiritual result will extend out beyond even those two parties, since the work of justice is transformational — unjust systems are dismantled and are replaced by just systems. Charity will help a few people; justice will transform the world.
       This is the weekend that many parishes and dioceses take up an annual collection for Catholic Relief Services (www.crs.org). CRS works both in the charity and social justice arenas, and is one of the most effective organizations throughout the world in reaching into areas of great human need, whether that need is caused by natural disaster or human sinfulness. It seeks to transform injustice and has a good track record of success in doing so. Please be generous.
Copyright © 2010, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins. 
   

Lenten Practices & Social Justice, part 3

Operation Rice Bowl (ORB) is used by many parishes each year during Lent as a means of focusing on the Catholic Lenten disciplines of prayer, fasting, and giving alms. The ORB web site had a great reflection on fasting this past week:

"As you plan your week, make some time to pray as the prophets did. Set aside everything — time, physical comfort, food — to listen carefully to what God is saying to you. You might consider skipping a meal and spending the time by yourself in prayer. While a mountaintop might not be handy, a chapel, winter path, or bedroom might be the place to escape distractions. Let the inevitable complaint of your stomach remind you of your reliance on God for your daily bread. Let it put you in solidarity with all who experience hunger, whether if be for food, for justice or for a brighter future."
Copyright © 2010, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins. 
   

Lenten Practices & Social Justice, part 2

Last week, we introduced the three Catholic disciplines of Lent — prayer, fasting, and almsgiving — and suggested that these be used to make your Lenten journey one that takes you deeper into the Church's social teaching. This week, let's look at prayer.
       St. Thérèse de Lisieux defined prayer as "a surge of the heart." When we are moved to compassion over an injustice, our heart surges toward finding a solution that only God can provide; we are moved to prayer. What should we pray for? We should pray that we are become the tangible presence of God's love and mercy in the world. As the Operation Rice Bowl prayer puts it: "May [God's] generous love for [God's] people be our guide as we reach out to all who live with hunger and poverty."
       This Lent, search your heart and discern what social justice issue you are moved by. Then, plan to pray at least five minutes every day for that issue. If you can't find your own words, here are a two web resources that may be of help: 

• Prayer services for a variety of causes: www.usccb.org/sdwp/prayerresources.shtml 
• Prayers and services for Haiti: http://education.crs.org/

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

Lenten Practices & Social Justice, part 1

The three Catholic disciplines of Lent are prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. These were given biblically in the gospel reading that we hear each year on Ash Wednesday (Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18). A person can use these three practices for any number of spiritual ends relating to his or her own personal ongoing conversion, but why not use them as a means of deepening one's sense of Catholic social teaching? Pray for changes to unjust structures that keep people in poverty or otherwise oppressed; fast so as to train the body to not over-consume the world's resources; and give alms so that those with less may be raised up.

       For a similar take on this, see the recent editorial published by Our Sunday Visitor at http://bit.ly/d2vQR2.
Copyright © 2010, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins. 
   

"Blessed are you who are poor…"

Today's gospel (Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, year C) needs to be read carefully to get the social justice impact. Look carefully at who are blessed: "…you who are poor"; "…you who are hungry now"; "…you who are now weeping." These aren't the spiritualized "poor in spirit" or those who "hunger and thirst for righteousness" of Matthew's Sermon on the Mount. These are the down-to-earth beatitudes of Luke's Sermon on the Plain, the "stretch of level ground" where Luke hopes to level the playing field for the people of first century Palestine. He really meant the poor, the hungry, and the weeping! These are people who were considered shamed in an honor/shame culture. He turns their society's notion of status upside down by saying that even those who the world deems shamed, because of their poverty or loss, are nonetheless blessed in God's eyes.
       Note, too, that Jesus was speaking to his own disciples when he preached these beatitudes. Thus, his message was not meant for the world in general but for those who have already chosen to follow him. He expected his disciples to embrace the shamed and give afford them the honor, the blessedness, with which God created them.
       So, for all the followers of Christ, here is a social justice exercise for this week: If Jesus were delivering the Sermon on the Plain today, who do you think he might include as the poor, the hungry, and the weeping? Who do we consider shameful today? How might we better honor them as those blessed by God?
Copyright © 2010, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins. 
   

Lotteries & Social Justice

As state budgets get tighter, legislatures and governors are often tempted to expand state-sponsored lotteries and other forms of gambling in order to raise revenues. Their rationale is that it is not a tax, that people who pay into state-sponsored gambling schemes are doing so voluntarily and with the knowledge that only about half the proceeds go to winners and the other half going into the state's bank account. Since it is voluntary, it is a politically favored way to raise government revenues

       Yet, the lure of big payouts is more enticing for people who earn the least amount of money, making it problematic from a social justice point of view. (Think about it: why would someone who is already worth a few million dollars pay anything for the chance to be worth a few million more? Thus, the wealthy who can afford a few more dollars in tax payments each week do not "volunteer" as lottery players.) Many studies have shown that lower-income persons on average spend a higher percentage of their income on lottery tickets than middle-income or upper-income persons. The net result is that lotteries become a sort of regressive tax, taking a higher percentage from the poor than others.
       Although there are many other reasons against state lotteries, the regressive nature of the "take" is most clearly against Catholic social teaching of option for the poor and vulnerable.
Copyright © 2010, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins. 
   

Earthquake in Haiti, Solidaity, and Social Justice

It is because we are human that we are moved by the horrendous things that we see on television and in the newspapers about the human suffering in Haiti these days. The death toll continues to climb and the survivors strive to scratch out an existence, looking for water, food, health care, and protection from the heat in a country where those essentials were difficult to come by before the earthquake. 

       Fortunately, so many people throughout the world have come to the aid of the people of Haiti, through monetary donations and other aid. In situations like this, the Catholic social teaching on solidarity seems something that we feel deep within ourselves. As the US bishops have said, "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." Also, "A parish reaching beyond its own members and beyond national boundaries is a truly 'catholic' parish." 

       Additionally, though, the bishops remind us, "We respond very generously when the network news tells us of hurricanes and famines, but how will we help those victimized by the often less visible disasters of poverty caused by structural injustice, such as debt, ethnic conflict, and the arms trade? Our Church and parishes must call us anew to sacrifice and concern for a new generation of children who need food, justice, peace, and the Gospel." Therefore, we should be resolved to not only help restore Haiti to where it was before the earthquake, but we should go beyond that and help lift them out of the suffering that they had been experiencing.

       For more information on Catholic social teaching, go to www.usccb.org/sdwp/catholicteachingprinciples.shtml.

       To make a donation to the Catholic relief effort in Haiti, go to www.crs.org. The need is great — please be generous!

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