BUILDING SOLIDARITY

In November, 1986, the Catholic bishops of the United States issued a landmark pastoral letter on the U.S. economy called Economic Justice for All. It challenged our nation to put concern for the poor and vulnerable and pursuit of the common good at the center of our economic life.

Ten years later as they marked the pastoral letter's anniversary, the bishops recognized that while our economy has changed dramatically, the challenges facing us are no less compelling, and the principles they outlined ten years ago are no less important. At a time of growing national attention on such issues as globalization, income stagnation, and increasing wage disparities, the Catholic tradition of ethical reflection on economic issues has much to offer. In November, 1996, the bishops issued a brief ten-point summary of Catholic teaching on the economy titled A Catholic Framework for Economic Life. They called on the Catholic community to share these ten principles as broadly as possible.

The most important place to share Catholic social teaching is in the parish, not as an optional or fringe aspect of our faith, but as a central element of what it means to be Catholic. This resource is designed to help those responsible for social concerns in the parish to incorporate an international perspective on Catholic teaching on economic life into their ministry.
 

OVERVIEW

The global economy has moral dimensions and human consequences. Decisions on investment, trade, aid and development should protect human life and promote human rights, especially for those most in need wherever they might live on this globe.

No. 10, A Catholic Framework for Economic Life
 

The Bishops economic framework reminds parishioners that the decisions we make every day as consumers have moral dimensions and human consequences. When we purchase an item of clothing made in another nation by a 14-year-old girl working 15 hours per day for pennies, we may be unwittingly supporting businesses that have no regard for human dignity and rights of workers. The bishops ask that we understand that our brothers and sisters are not just those in the pews across the aisle, in the houses across the street, or across town, but are also those who live across national borders and oceans. They indicate that parishioners must learn how our investments, how our decisions, how our "consumerism" affects the lives of brothers and sisters in other parts of the world. What follows are some suggestions for how a parish might begin to live in solidarity with brothers and sisters in other parts of the world.

 

IDEAS AND SUGGESTIONS

 

1. Take time to prayerfully seek God's guidance and support to find ways that your parish can be meaningfully connected to brothers and sisters in other parts of the world. Ask for the willingness to seek knowledgeable resources, the opportunities to develop mutually caring and helpful relationships, the patience to understand the real needs, and the endurance to carry out actions that make a real difference. Most importantly, pray that whatever is done protects and enhances the dignity and self-worth of those who are being assisted.   2. Establish a committee or subcommittee of the social concerns committee to begin to search for ways your parish might connect with sisters and brothers in other parts of the world. If possible, a very productive way to start such an effort is to invite parishioners of difference races, ethnic backgrounds, and nationalities to build understanding and relationships with each other. If these persons sense real caring and community, they can lead the group to situations and persons in their home countries needing the support and connection with your parish.   3. Contact your diocesan director for Catholic Relief Services (CRS) staff persons to request information about how your parish could begin connecting with peoples in other parts of the world. Support for increased giving to "Operation Rice Bowl", organizing a global crafts fair which sells goods crafted by artisans in developing countries, and twinning with a parish in another part of the world may be some of the choices provided by CRS.   4. Identify persons in your parish who have natural connections with other parts of the world. Business persons, military personnel, returned missionaries or Peace Corps volunteers, all have experiences that could be shared with the larger parish community. Your diocesan director of Catholic Relief Services is also a resource who can assist you in identifying appropriate speakers for parish education events. 5. Once connections have been made in another part of the world, the relationship can grow in a variety of ways. Simply sending letters with pictures, slides, and/or video-tapes is a good place to start.

These materials can be shared in school classrooms, CCD classes, RCIA groups, etc. A parish delegation sent to another part of the world to be present, to listen for needs, to worship together, to work on joint projects, is another important way to build the connection. Or persons from that part of the world can send a delegation to your parish for a week of sharing, classroom presentations, prayer, and listening. 6. Explore the possibility of establishing a "sister parish" either with a parish within your own diocese with a different ethnic and/or economic mix of people, or with a parish in another part of the world. These relationships must not be seen as going in one direction only, but must be seen as mutually beneficial. The emphasis must be on real relationship, listening, understanding, and caring between brothers and sisters. Any sharing of resources must emerge from those basic relationships.   7. Begin to learn about "consumer" issues facing your parish community. Sweat Shop labor has been in the news a lot lately. A number of clothing companies sell low-cost clothing in the United States that is being produced in factories employing teen age children, working them 70-80 hours per week, and paying them extremely low wages. These sweat shops are also appearing in several cities in the United States. An effort by your social concerns committee to fight sweat shops in the United States, or to publicize the companies and stores which support fair employment practices could be a valuable learning opportunity. Your diocesan social action director or the United States Catholic Conference Social Development and World Peace (202/541-3180) can provide more information.   8. Support bishops' efforts to work for national policies aimed at reducing global hunger, supporting human rights, encouraging sustainable development and job creation, and improving opportunities for peace. Since land mines take nearly 60,000 lives each year, achieving a moratorium on the development and sale of land mines is a priority the bishops have asked Catholics across the U.S. to address. The United States Catholic Conference Office of International Justice and Peace (202/541-3199) can assist you in learning about and lobbying on this and other important international issues.

 

RESOURCES

Documents Catholic Relief Services Development Education Office provides a wide range of educational materials for all age groups, including a "global facts poster." The materials describe the realities of life in the developing countries and offer ideas for joining in the work to relieve human suffering, address its causes, and promote justice. Contact: CRS Development Education, 209 W. Fayette Street, Baltimore, MD 21201. Telephone: (410)625-1635. NCCB/USCC Documents The Challenge of Peace: God's Promise and Our Response. National Conference of Catholic Bishops Pastoral Letter on war and peace. Washington, D.C.: USCC Office for Publishing and Promotion Services, 1983. Pub. No. 863-0. Telephone: 1-800-235-USCC. Food Policy in a Hungry World: The Links That Bind Us Together, Pastoral Reflections on Food and Agricultural Policy. Ad Hoc Task Force on Food, Agriculture, and Rural Concerns. Bishops' Statement. Washington, D.C.: USCC Office for Publishing and Promotion Services, 1989. Pub. No. 320-5. Telephone: 1-800-235-USCC. The Harvest of Justice in Sown in Peace. National Conference of Catholic Bishops. Statement commemorating the tenth anniversary of the peace pastoral. Washington, D.C.: USCC Office for Publishing and Promotion Services, 1993. Pub. No. 705-7. Telephone: 1-800-235-USCC. Peacemaking: Moral and Policy Challenges for a New World. United States Catholic Conference. Book edited by Fr. Drew Christiansen S.J., Gerard F. Powers, and Robert T. Hennemeyer including twenty-two chapters focused on developing peace in the new world. Washington, D.C. USCC Office for Publishing and Promotion Services. 1994. Pub. No. 682-4. Telephone: 1-800-235-USCC. Relieving Third World Dept: A Call for Co-Responsibility, Justice, and Solidarity. USCC Administrative Board. Subcommittee of the USCC International Policy Committee. Statement on international economic policy. Washington, D.C.: USCC Office for Publishing and Promotion Services, 1989. Pub. No. 311-6. Telephone: 1-800-235-USCC. Sowing Weapons of War. USCC Administrative Board. USCC Committee on International Policy. Statement on the arms trade and landmines. Washington, D.C.: USCC Office for Publishing and Promotion Services, 1995. Pub. No. 5-028. Telephone: 1-800-235-USCC.   Toward Peace in the Middle East: Perspectives, Principles, and Hopes. National Conference of Catholic Bishops. Statement. Washington, D.C.: USCC Office for Publishing and Promotion Services, 1989. Pub. No. 325-6. Telephone: 1-800-235-USCC. Organizations Alternative Gift Markets Telephone: 1-800-842-2243 Provides a packet of materials so parishes can have a giving fair of "alternative gifts," which fund development projects in the United States and around the globe. Catalogues are available. Amnesty International, USA 322 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10001 Telephone: 212-807-8400 Works to free prisoners of conscience, ensure fair trials for political prisoners, and to end torture and executions. They offer resources to create effective advocacy and letter writing efforts addressing global human rights concerns.   Bread for the World Covenant Church Program 1100 Wayne Avenue, Suite 1000 Silver Spring, MD 10910 Telephone: 301-608-2400 Provides a range of global education and hunger advocacy resources to help

parishioners advocate for the alleviation of global poverty and hunger. Campaign for Human Development "Middle Income Process" Diocesan Director of CHD or National CHD Education Director 3211 Fourth Street, N.E. Washington, D.C. 20017 202-541-3374 Links middle-income parish with a low-income, CHD funded community organization. Contact your diocesan Campaign for Human Development director or the National CHD Education Director to find out how your parish can become involved.   Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA) 1011 First Avenue, Room 1552 New York, NY 10022 Telephone: 212-826-1480 Offers opportunities for individuals and parishes to sponsor children in Africa, India, and the Middle East.   Catholic Relief Services 209 W. Fayette Street Baltimore, MD 21201-3403 Telephone: 410-625-2220 (Or, locally, contact your Diocesan Director of Catholic Relief Services or Church Affairs.) Catholic Relief Services Programs, especially Operation Rice Bowl, offer an opportunity to involve parishioners in helping those in need around the glove while expanding their awareness of the Church's efforts to serve people in other lands. Also contact Catholic Relief Services for information on their global development and self-sufficiency projects, which can be funded in targeted ways by parishes.   Holy Childhood Association (HCA) 1720 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20036 Telephone: 202-775-8637 Involves American children in sponsoring seasonal appeals for children around the globe during Halloween, Advent, and Lent. They provide complete packets for use by religious education programs and schools.   International Justice and Peace United States Catholic Conference 3211 Fourth Street, N.E. Washington, D.C. 20017-1194 Telephone: 202-541-3197 Provides background information, educational materials, updates, and action alerts on issues of international justice and peace.   Migration and Refugee Services (MRS) United States Catholic Conference 3211 Fourth Street N.E. Washington, D.C. 20017-1194 Telephone: 202-541-3352 Offers a variety of opportunities for parishes and individuals to assist new arrivals to our country. They also produce educational materials and a complete packet for celebrating National Migration Week in January.   National Council of Catholic Women (NCCW) 1275 K Street, N.W., Suite 975 Washington, D.C. 20005 Telephone: 202-682-0338 Co-sponsors two programs with Catholic Relief Services: "Help-a-Child" and "Water for Life," which allow parishes or individual parishioners to sponsor poor children around the world and support the clean water projects that can save their communities.   SERRV Self Help Handcrafts New Windsor Service Center 500 Main Street, P.O. Box 365 New Windsor, MD, 21776-0365 Telephone: 1-800-423-0071 Helps parishes sponsor "Global Giving" fairs by marketing goods crafted by artisans in developing countries. SERRV (a ministry of Church of the Brethren) markets the goods in a direct and just manner and has strict criteria for choosing goods: workers must receive a just return for their work; workers must be involved in decision making in the work place; indigenous craft-making skills are preserved and developed.

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Office of Social Development & World Peace
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
3211 4th Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20017-1194 (202) 541-3000