Brother Steve Herro, O. Praem.
Chair, St. Norbert Abbey Justice and Peace Committee
March 7, 2009

Born in 1962, I am not privy to the conditions faced by Americans during the Great Depression.  However, most would agree that the current economic situation is the worst since the Great Depression.  A quick skim of today’s Green Bay Press Gazette’s “National jobless rat hits 8 percent” lays it out pretty bluntly:

• The 8.1 percent national unemployment rate is the country’s highest since 1983
• 4.4 million people have lost jobs in the United States from December 2007-March 2009
• 2.2 million jobs were lost from November 2008-February 2009
• There are 12.5 million people unemployed in our country today

I also reflect on my ministry as Diocesan Director of Catholic Campaign for Human Development; four years ago, CCHD reminded us that 37 million Americans were living in a state of poverty.  Today, 50 million Americans live in a state of poverty. 

Amidst all of the bad news, how can we remain Christians of hope?  How can we respond to the current crisis?  What good can come from the crisis?

• Let us respond by being even more conscious and recommitting ourselves to the premises of Catholic social teaching.  The United States Catholic Bishops, in Sharing Catholic Social Teaching: Challenges and Directionsdescribe two priorities especially relevant to this time:

Option for the Poor and Vulnerable
In a world characterized by growing prosperity for some and pervasive poverty for others, Catholic teaching proclaims that 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.

The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers
In a marketplace where too often the quarterly bottom line takes precedence over the rights of workers, we believe that the economy must serve people, not the other way around. Work is more than a way to make a living; it is a form of continuing participation in God's creation. If the dignity of work is to be protected, then the basic rights of workers must be respected—the right to productive work, to decent and fair wages, to organize and join unions, to private property, and to economic initiative. Respecting these rights promotes an economy that protects human life, defends human rights, and advances the well-being of all.

• We may examine our life styles and standards of living.  By embracing a more simple life style, we might be forced to borrow materials from the library instead of buying them, preparing food at home instead of going out for supper, etc., but appreciate the newfound freedom of less rat races, clutter, and stress.
• Think twice about entertainment options.  We might be forced to forgo the distant trip to any of the U.S. coasts, but if we replace it with more time spent with our local neighbors, family, and friends, do we not bolster personal relationships with those that we are most connected to?
• Carl A. Anderson, Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus, delivered the address, “A Neighbor’s Helping Hand:  Volunteerism and America’s Economic Recovery” at FairfieldUniversity on January 23, 2009.  He challenged us to respond to the crisis by volunteering more in the community.  Whether we volunteer by packing boxes at a food pantry, tutoring a displaced worker in a computer software program, providing child care when mom or dad must leave for a job interview, or driving someone to an appointment, our time is often worth more than money.  If the recession can advance President Obama’s call for an increased personal commitment to community service, there can be some good that comes from the downturn.

 

I was introduced to Ben Lee’s song We’re All in this Together by St. Norbert College students with whom I helped build a Habitat for Humanity house and from a friend who joined us for a service trip to New Orleans in 2007.  Lee’s opening words inspire a healthy response as we attempt to navigate this storm:

“Woke up this morning, I suddenly realized
We’re all in this together
I started smilin’cause you were smiling
And we’re all in this together.”