Peace and Justice Reflection

Christmas 2011 Justice and Peace Reflection

By Br. Steve Herro, O. Praem.

This Christmas season, I received an email from a subscriber to an Advent/Christmas Reflection series that I edit.  Mary asked, “Is Catholic Charities under some kind of organized threat by people who are offended by your work….I get it that poor people are not popular….I’m sorry so many of your staff feel attacked….”

I reflected over her words for several days before responding to her.  She did not “ask” for a reply.  She sent it to a general email box and the recipient forwarded it onto me.   There is a lot to be learned over our exchange, especially as I reflect upon this Christmas season.

Yes, Mary is right.  Whether one serves in Catholic social outreach or Catholic social action, we are always challenged by financial limitations to help the poor meet their basic material needs and/or by political and economic conditions which can entrap people in poverty.  Some ministers get burned out and must leave the world of Catholic social service or social action; others make it a career.

Mary has worked in social justice programs her entire life, so she is aware of the daily challenges.  I did remind her that the current political environment, which threatens the ability of many Catholic social service providers to continue to provide services because of Catholic positions on same sex marriage and artificial birth control, has affected many in our field.  In September 2011, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops did form an Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty; its charge is to help Catholic institutions remain faithful to their Catholic identity in a political climate which can challenge their Catholicity.  To learn more about the establishment of the Task Force, click here.

And what does all of this have to do with Christmas, anyway?

My exchange with Mary this Christmas helped me articulate that persons called to Catholic social service and Catholic social action can be more impassioned by the deeper realization of God’s love for us and those we serve than in “fighting off” social, economic,  and political conditions that might make our ministry more challenging.  Yes, more Americans are living in poverty today than at any time in our history.   Yes, we are being threatened with the loss of government contracts that provided aid to individuals affected by human trafficking as well as families seeking to adopt, because of our attempt to live out our Catholic identity.  But as I explained to Mary, as one who has ministered in Catholic social action for over ten years, I have never been happier in church ministry.  God has sensitized me to the presence of dozens of men and women who reflect the hopefulness and happiness of Catholic social service and Catholic social action.  Cheerfulness can be contagious!  And when we realize the gift and honor of being some of the faces and hands of God in an otherwise stormy world, we can join the angels who exclaimed on the occasion of the birth of Jesus, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Archived Reflections
-"A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the TransCanada Pipeline Demonstration" By Brother Steve Herro, O. Praem. (Archived January 2, 2012)
-What Would St. Francis Do? By Brother Steve Herro, O. Praem. (Archived November 9, 2011)
-RELIGIOUS FAITH IN TODAY'S VIOLENT SOCIETY by By Fr. Andy Cribben, O. Praem. (Archived October 5, 2011)
-Palm Sunday - Earth Day Reflection What would Jesus lament over today? By Br. Steve Herro, O. Praem. (Archived June 26, 2011)
-A Christian Response to Budget Cuts By Bro. Steve Herro, O. Praem. (Archived April 18, 2011)
-Catholic Social Teaching and the Budget Repair Bill By Br. Steve Herro, O. Praem. (Archived March 31, 2011)
-Sudan and Advent: What's the Connection? By Marge Mattice (Archived February 22, 2011)
-"DO SOMETHING!" By Fr. Jeremy Tobin, O.Praem. (Archived December 8, 2010)
-Reflection on Isaiah 58:1-7 by Br. Steve Herro, O. Praem.(Archived September 13, 2010)
-Reflection from the Day after Pentecost by Brother Steve Herro, O. Praem. (Archived July 13, 2010)
-Our Polarized World by Brother Steve Herro, O. Praem. (Archived May 27, 2010)
-Now More Than Ever by Marge Mattice, MSN, ACNP-BC, CWON (Archived December 7,2009)
-We Need Fair and Just Immigration Reform by Rev. Jeremy Tobin, O. Praem., (Archived August 8, 2009)
-"A Justice and Peace Minister's Journey over Torture Awareness" by Br. Steve Herro, O. Praem., (Archived 06-29-09)
-Brother Steve Herro, O. Praem. Chair, St. Norbert Abbey Justice and Peace Committee March 7, 2009 (Archived 6-3-2009)
-Reflection by Fr. Jeremy Tobin, O. Praem., (Archived 3-9-2009)
-Justice and Peace Reflection for Advent 2008 By Bro. Steve Herro, O. Praem., (Archived 1-16-2009)
-Advent Reflection by Fr. Andy Cribben (Archived 12-11-2008)
- Norbertines invite your participation in national campaign against torture by Br. Steve Herro, O. Praem (Archived 12-3-08)
- Keeping the "Forming Consciences" in "Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship" By Brother Steve Herro, O.Praem. (Archived 11-12-08)
- Labor Day and Catholic Social Teaching By Brother Steve Herro, O.Praem. (Archived 09-29-08)
- Catholic Social Teaching and Climate Change By Brother Steve Herro, O. Praem. (Archived 09-02-08)