“A prominent U.S. Catholic nuns group [Leadership Conference for Women Religious] said
it was "stunned" that the Vatican reprimanded it for spending too
much time on poverty and social justice concerns and not enough on abortion and
gay marriage.”[1] In
today’s economy, with the growing disparity between the haves and the
have-nots, with so many living at or below the poverty level, I find it hard to
believe that the Vatican would place gay marriage ahead of helping folks put
food on the table. If we turn our backs on poverty, the Hunger Games have the potential
to become reality rather than fiction.
“Truly I tell you,
just as you did it one of the least of these who are members of my family, you
did it to me.” (Matthew 24:40 NRSV) The Leadership Conference for Women
Religious (LCWR) has been following this Gospel message. They have developed
into an influential group for economic and social justice.
In their 2012
Resolution to Action (We Are the 99% - The Occupy Movement) LCWR states: “We
have witnessed the ongoing struggles of communities made poor to claim a space
in a cultural imagination and political discourse that is not shaped by the
misconception that poverty is a choice.” Ask the millions of Americans who have
lost their jobs (and for some their homes), due to corporate down-sizing and
our failed financial system, if they CHOSE their lot in life. Poverty is not a
choice, it is a horrid fact of life. LCWR speaks out against those social,
cultural, financial and legislative inequities that impoverish beloved children
of God and rob them of their dignity.
“Women Religious strongly support the “preferential option
for the poor” and are, therefore, advocating to ensure that the budget
preserves the social safety net so essential to those most in need. … We are
surrounded by suffering members of God’s family whose needs are complex.”[2]
Not only are these blessed women following the Gospel message, they are in
keeping with Papal doctrine. “Pope Benedict reminds us that, “to desire the common good and to strive toward it is a requirement of justice and charity.”[3]
The work of LCWR toward economic justice far outweighs the nonsensical and
nonbiblical call to oppress gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons
with marriage inequality.
Christ teaches us to minister to the poor and marginalized. LCWR
is focusing much of its energy and resources to fulfill this gospel message.
And they are doing so in connection with other justice organizations like Catholic Charities USA (“working
to reduce poverty in America”) and Catholics
in Alliance for the Common Good. Perhaps, as Jesus fed the 5000, LCWR in
cooperation with other organizations such as these will feed hundreds of
thousands. Perhaps they will help equalize the unjust economic system that
exists in our society today. Perhaps they will help abolish the profit-driven
enterprise of human trafficking, in partnership with the Catholic Coalition
Against Human Trafficking. Leadership Conference for Women Religious should
be praised not reprimanded. May God bless their continued work.
Benevolent Creator,
give us eyes to see and ears to hear the cries of the oppressed and the
impoverished. Grant us wisdom and courage to take action, even in the face of
opposition, to advocate for “the least of these” in our world. Fill us with
your Spirit that we may feed the multitudes and give hope to the hopeless. In
Jesus name we pray, Amen.
[1] http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/04/20/11306372-catholic-nuns-group-stunned-by-vatican-scolding-for-radical-feminist-ideas?lite
[2] Resolution
to Action - 2011, Economic Justice Advocacy Critically Needed
Dear Dawn,
ReplyDeleteI really love this article. I feel like I could see this in an op-ed in a local paper or some other online format because it is well worded, direct, and engaging. It seems outrageous that the Catholic Church could be so upset with a group of individuals living out the teachings of Jesus. To say that they need to spend more time on LGBTQ issues rather than poverty is to assert that the basic necessities of life are less important than who is in your bedroom with you... Finally, I think it is ironic because a lot of the Catholic Church is within rather poverty-stricken areas of the world, which is to say that such a decry from the Vatican is suggesting their liberation is not primary, perhaps not event necessary...
Thank you,
Nic
Hi Dawn,
ReplyDeleteThe Women Religious in America are amazing. They are the best edecuated subset of American society, the most deeply prayeful and spiritual as well (in my mind). Without them, the Catholic Church would have fallen short in so many ways of clearly caring for the poor, educating millions of Catholics and non-Catholics, and standing strong on justice. As a Dominican Sisters of Peace Associate, I am proud of being affiliated with women religious! You have done a wonderful job lifting up their virtues and values of these amazing Christians! Thanks Dawn!
Blessings,
Tim
Dawn,
ReplyDeleteOur churches and other religious institutions spend entirely too much time focusing on the wedge, hot-button issues aoroudn gay marriage and abortion. These issues are divisive, marginal, and become tools to oppress, exclude, and condemn. Focusing on poverty and social justice; however, calls us to lift up the oppressed, include, and show mercy; the exact oppositive of what the wedge issues tend to encourage!
Thanks,
William Godwin