Beyond the Swoosh

The mistreatment of workers is so prevalent in today's society that to boycott every single company that does so would prove nearly impossible. However, there are other steps that we, as advocates for Catholic Social Teaching, can take in order to affect change among these big businesses. The first of all being to raise awareness. Although I have heard throughout my life of sweatshops and people working in Asia and the Middle East for pennies a day, it never truly hit home to what exactly that meant. Seeing the true inability to live on such meager wages struck me, as I did not realize the true reality of the situation. Another step we can take is getting people to sign petitions to insist that the company pay their workers adequate wages. If we all raise our voices as one, we cannot be ignored. As Christians, it is our duty to stand up and speak out against the injustices of the world.

Church and Scripture

Church has always been a source of community and salvation in my life. As noted in our textbook, God intended for the world to exist in community and that we seek to love everyone equally. God demands justice as is evident in the promises made with Noah and Abraham in the Old Testament. God calls all of us to respect the lives of other people. The Church and my faith have always remained the sources of these beliefs in my life. Church blends the individual aspect of faith (the relationship between myself and God) and adds a more social aspect where I can share in my faith among other people. Without fear of judgment or ridicule, I can enter Church on Sunday morning, knowing I will become a part of a true faith community based on love and faith.

How's The World? Messy....

When I hear stories of immense suffering or sadness on the news, I feel helpless. To fully understand that there are people out there starving while I complain that there is no "good food" in the house is almost more than I can manage. That could have been me. I could have been born into that life, and not the privileged one I now live. And even though I do live a privileged and excellent life, everyday I find something to complain about. When I hear about these horrific events on the news, I can't help but think that I'm more than a terrible Catholic, but a terrible person as well for not realizing all that I have and giving it back to others. The more despicable thing, however, is how easily I forget this revelation and move on with my everyday life. It's almost as if these horrible situations occur in a different world, and after hearing about them, I travel through a portal back to my own.
I agree with this article in that we need to remember, no matter how painful or uncomfortable it is. Regardless of whether or not we want to acknowledge their existence, these stories of suffering are happening every day. It is our duty as Christians to raise awareness and not push these horrific tales to the far recesses of our minds. How can we DO anything if we pretend like these things aren't happening? If everyone sees the story on the news about that group of people being tortured under a dictator and says, "That's terrible" and moves on with their life, then who will affect change and stand up for those incapable of raising their own voices? Naturally, it's easy for me to say that we all need to take a stand and not be afraid to put aside our mundane lives to do what we know is right. I have had many an opportunity to do this and have failed to do so, whether it be helping 9/11 victims or my neighbors who have been victimized by hurricane Sandy. I am not perfect. But I hope with the realization of my own imperfections, I can rise above them and bring about justice in the world.

Justice and Charity

Project H.O.M.E. works for justice by giving people the opportunities they deserve. People who were once homeless are sold homes at discounted prices, which they then can call their own. Project H.O.M.E. also offers medical help, and educational and career opportunities for people so that they can defeat the cycle of poverty and make their own way in the world. Everyone deserves an education and equal opportunities, so these works provide by Project H.O.M.E. are works of justice and not charity. However, some people may view these works as works of charity.
Project H.O.M.E. is very different from most shelters in that nothing is freely given to those who need it. Rather than there be an atmosphere of a giver and a receiver - that of someone being inferior to someone else. Project H.O.M.E gives those people who may have been placed into an unfortunate situation the opportunities they need to achieve their fullest potential on their own terms and by their own means. Project H.O.M.E. offers people the ability to achieve what they deserve
I think that their most important program is the education they provide for young children and even adults. The ability to become educated and eventually obtain a career is one of the sole means of breaking the cycle of poverty. If all of the children of the homeless can become educated, they will have the ability to provide means for not only their parents but future generations to come.