My diocese has great resources for social justice topics.
Social Justice News is the monthly e-newsletter from John Watkins, Social Justice Coordinator, Diocese of Oakland. Email John and request to be put on the distribution list (jwatkins@oakdiocese.org)
Social Justice Resources (http://www.oakdiocese.org/pastoral/SocialJustice) is a website which has a wealth of information on social justice issues, including educational materials and recommendations for action.
The newsletter and website contain news that goes way beyond the San Francisco East Bay; you can find issues affecting California State, America and the planet.
"What does the LORD require of you but to act justly and love tenderly and to walk humbly with your God?" - Micah 6:8
http://www.justfaith.org/
Do you feel the challenge to act on issues of poverty and injustice, but don't know how? The JustFaith program is an educational and spiritual program for lay people at the parish level. Parishioners meet weekly from September through May, and have outstanding experiences that include spiritual conversion.
JustFaith Ministries works in conjunction with Catholic Relief Services, Catholic Charities USA, and the Catholic Campaign for Human Development. This program is endorsed by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Learn to become agents of God’s compassion and healing in a wounded world. Answer the challenge of the Good News of Christ and work to address the needs of our most desperate sisters and brothers. JustFaith Ministries helps to fill the world with humble, faith-filled people who act with courageous justice and love with profound tenderness.
Your diocesan office of Social Justice will be able to direct you to parishes in your diocese who are holding the JustFaith program, and can help you start JustFaith at your parish.
A basic moral test is how our most vulnerable members are faring. In a society marred by deepening divisions between rich and poor, our tradition recalls the story of the Last Judgment (Mt 25:31-46) and instructs us to put the needs of the poor and vulnerable first. -- from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/projects/socialteaching/excerpt.shtml
The idea here is that we must stand up for the most vulnerable in our society; we must be the voice for those without voices. This means the very poor, the unborn, the elderly, minorities, the homeless -- Jesus is found in the faces of these poor. I really recommend you do spend time with Matthew 25:31-46 -- notice how the judgment is based on our actions towards the poor, and not based on how pious we appear to be. Think about it.
The Catholic tradition teaches that human dignity can be protected and a healthy community can be achieved only if human rights are protected and responsibilities are met. Therefore, every person has a fundamental right to life and a right to those things required for human decency. Corresponding to these rights are duties and responsibilities--to one another, to our families, and to the larger society.
-- from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/projects/socialteaching/excerpt.shtml
As Catholics, we respect life from conception to natural death, and every step in between. Certainly, we want to do everything possible to support mothers and their babies. We also want to replace the Death Penalty with life imprisonment without parole, fight euthanasia and physician assisted suicide: all these need legislative advocacy -- writing letters to Congress and informing our parishes -- this is not "politics", it's morality. But we also must support the poor and vulnerable -- the mentally ill, the homeless and poor, those in other countries who are denied access to medical care and participation in their own government. Again, this is putting our faith into action, this is all part of discipleship -- as important as going to Mass, prayer, Bible study, and almsgiving.
"The Church’s social teaching is a rich treasure of wisdom about building a just society and living lives of holiness amidst the challenges of modern society. Modern Catholic social teaching has been articulated through a tradition of papal, conciliar, and episcopal documents. The depth and richness of this tradition can be understood best through a direct reading of these documents."
-- from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website
http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/projects/socialteaching/excerpt.shtml
Following blogs will highlight several of the key themes that are at the heart of our Catholic social tradition.
Give farmers and their families a way up (not a hand out).
The Coalition for Fair Trade in the Diocese of Oakland tells us that fair trade supports artisans and farmers around the world by promoting an alternative to business-as-usual. Through Catholic Relief Services Fair Trade coffee, chocolate, and Work of Human Hands crafts programs, disadvantaged producers earn a fair price for their labor, get access to credit and training, and develop mutually beneficial, long-term relationships with organizations dedicated to the principles of human dignity and economic justice.
In my town, Fair Trade certified coffee and tea have been seen at Trader Joe’s, Costco, Safeway, and Target.
Next time you shop for coffee or tea, please take 2 extra minutes and look for the fair trade logo clearly printed on the front of the package.
For more information on fair trade products, what they look like, and where to buy them, see:
TransFair USA: http://www.transfairusa.org
Catholic Relief Services: http://www.crs.org
