In order to be at peace parishes must walk with both feet. In response to Catholic teaching, our faith communities need to act with both the foot of charity and foot of justice; thus becoming the feet of redemption & salvation.
The first recipient of the Church’s social doctrine is the Church community in its entire membership, because everyone has social responsibility that must be fulfilled. The conscience is called by this social teaching to recognize and fulfill the obligations of justice and charity in society. This doctrine is a light of moral truth and that inspires appropriate responses according to the vocations and ministry of each Christian. (Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church)
The Church teaches that one should assist one’s fellow man in his various needs and focus on rights of the human international family with countless corporal and spiritual works of mercy.
Stewardship calls us to give generously and continuously not only from our excess but,
most importantly, from our limits. We are called by our baptism and our faith to focus on needs of individuals, families, nations and creation. “Love of widows and orphans, prisoners and the sick and needy of every kind” and “Love is (therefore) service that the Church carries out in order to attend constantly to
humanities suffering and needs, including material needs.” (Pope Benedict XVI, Deus Caritas Est)
The authentic actions and perfect participations of stewardship that is grounded in charity are the corporal and spiritual works of mercy: feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, visit the imprisoned, shelter the homeless, visit the sick, bury the dead, instructing, advising, consoling, comforting, forgiving, patiently forbearing.
Unfortunately for many of our Catholic Parishes the wisdom, strength and power of “Charity” which comes from the Holy Spirit and is for “Justice” sake is limited in its response with a spirit of compassion and joyful giving. It is something we no longer have time or care to engage. We no longer have human empathy for the marginal. We now exemplify fear and resentment, paradoxically in compassions place, for the suffering, marginal and least. This attitude and expression is counter to the Christian call. Social Justice can be obtained only in respecting the transcendent dignity of man (CCC #1929) Rather than brining our Church’s social teachings and spiritual wisdom to the culture of the world; the original sin of humanity is being cultivated in the Church. Our Churches are becoming like the Church of Laodicea (Rev. 3:14 -22) “I know you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich and affluent and have no need of anything, and yet do not realize that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. Woe to us baptized who are lukewarm how displaced we are in our creature comforts and distractions.
Common Good calls us to enliven the Gospel message of hope and the wisdom of Catholic Social Teaching and redeem our international human family. In addition to works of charity, Catholic Social Teaching challenges us to work for justice. “Building a just social order, wherein each person receives what is his or her due, is an essential task which every generation must take anew. As a political task, this cannot be the Church’s immediate responsibility…Yet at the same time [The Church] cannot and must not remain on the sidelines in the fight for justice. She has to play her part through rational argument and she has to awaken the spiritual energy without which justice, which always demands sacrifice, cannot prevail and prosper (DCE #28a)
Parish life is the environment and school that calls, usher and guides the baptized believers in their continual conversion to holiness, community, mission, ministry and Christian Maturity. Until the rational argument (within the eternal reason) awakens the spiritual energy (following Christ, guided by the Holy Spirit) we cannot build a just social order establishing the kingdom.
Checklist for a Parishes using both feet:
You have Social Concerns committee
You have a annual JustFaith program (www.justfiath.org)
You have a Society of St. Vincent de Paul conference
You have a Right to Life Group (www.nplac.org)
You have youth Jay Walking program (www.justfaith.org)
You have a legislative alert and action email tree
You recycle
You buy fair trade
You are on social service boards and committees
You are involved in prison ministry (www.pncea.org)
You are connected to Habitat for Humanity
You support and increase awareness for: CCHD, CRS, Catholic Charities (www.catholiccharities.org)
You as a Church invest your extra money within Micro financing banking systems
You collect food for local Food closets
You have volunteers working in Shelters or food Kitchens