8/12/2005
Promoting justice and peace
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 | Most Rev. John Vlazny
Archbishop of Portland |
This past year our archdiocese was able to reinforce its commitment to Justice and Peace ministries under the leadership of David Carrier, the new director of our Office for Justice and Peace. On the Saturday before Holy Week, the archdiocese hosted a conference titled 'Peace Together 2005.' David was encouraged by the experience and I was, too - until I read some of the evaluations. Such gatherings inevitably include folks who come for combat!
One participant commented, 'Archbishop Vlazny should make an effort to encourage the development of Justice and Peace ministries.' I am not sure what he or she thought was going on that day, but maybe that person came just for lunch! Why does our Catholic community become involved in activities described as 'justice and peace ministry'? Some of our people find it all too political and even partisan at times. I readily concede the political nature of some of the conversations that take place while discussing matters of justice and peace. That's inevitable, given the human condition. But clearly within our church community, our activities should not be partisan. Because political parties typically line up on one side of an issue or another, when the church does so, it appears partisan. To make matters worse, some Catholic justice and peace spokespersons are much too partisan. They impede our ability to change hearts.
This past winter the National Directory for Catechesis was promulgated here in the United States. An important part of catechesis, we are reminded, is instruction in what life in Christ is all about. The Christian moral life is living the call to holiness through transformation in Christ. In other words, catechesis for life in Christ exposes us to the demands of the way of Christ. Its foundation is the dignity of each and every human person, a teaching rooted in our creation by God in his own image and likeness.
God shows us how we are to live our lives through Christ. God gifted us with the freedom to direct our own activities and to shape our own lives. But this is no unbridled freedom. It does not entitle us to say or do just anything. We are all capable of sin. When I choose to do something evil, I abuse my freedom and inevitably offend the dignity of a human person, myself or my neighbor.
There was a moral vision contained in the founding documents of this nation. They included two basic principles: 1) the recognition of the dignity and rights of the human person as endowed by the Creator and 2) liberty and justice for all. Our society publicly proclaims that life is an inalienable right and affirms the value of life. Yet the consistent ethic of life, our church's moral compass in dealing with matters of life and death, is largely ignored even by Catholic justice and peace advocates. Several who are soft on abortion are strong about capital punishment. Others strongly opposed to abortion seemingly have no real concern about the needs of unwed mothers and their children.
Clearly a moral compass is needed. The Gospels of Jesus offer such a guide about life and human dignity which we should be in no way reluctant to proclaim. By nature we humans are social. We need one another more than we sometimes admit. Certain structures are needed in order to help individuals develop their potential and collaborate on important matters that we cannot accomplish on our own. Catholic social teaching provides us with principles by which the church and individual Christians can evaluate political, economic, social and legal structures.
Our church's advocacy for social justice is rooted in the message of St. Luke's Gospel wherein we learn that Jesus came 'to bring good tidings to the poor . . . liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind.' Over the centuries the church has specified this generic call with a living tradition of thought and action.
The Catholic bishops of the United States have articulated seven key themes that form the heart of Catholic social teaching. They are 1) the life and dignity of the human person, 2) the call to family, community and participation, 3) the rights and responsibilities of individuals, 4) the option for the poor and vulnerable, 5) the dignity of work and the rights of workers, 6) the solidarity of humankind and 7) good stewardship of God's creation.
What, then, about justice and peace ministries in this archdiocese? One participant in the 'Peace Together 2005' conference commented, 'I find it quite embarrassing that there are only two justice and peace ministries outside of the Portland area in our diocese. Every Catholic church should have a justice and peace ministry.' Justice and peace ministry is at the heart of all we do in worship, catechesis and outreach. I can't imagine a truly Catholic parish that would blithely ignore the demands of the Gospel with respect to life in Christ. I certainly can imagine a Catholic parish that would choose to stay out of partisan politics!
Unfortunately, when justice and peace ministry is established, some who move in that direction tend to be looked upon by other parishioners as folks 'on the fringe' of parish life, particularly with respect to other essential ministries. Justice and peace ministry makes sense when it is clearly connected with our church's essential evangelizing mission. When it becomes too 'embarrassed' to be Catholic or to be in love with the Lord and his church, then it's obviously inappropriate to call it a ministry.
My plea is that justice and peace ministry be an integral component of parish life, very much at the heart of pastoral council discussions, closely connected with our church's essential evangelizing mission, and rooted in the Gospel teaching of the dignity of each and every human person. Will there be disagreements? Of course. Will dialogue be mutually respectful? If not, there certainly won't be justice or peace.
I encourage our parish pastoral councils to take up the agenda of the church's social teachings in the coming year. Don't take on the whole world, but do take on a situation in your community where relationships are wrong and you have an opportunity to make them right once again. God bless us all with Gospel justice and peace.
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