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)