Social Concerns Column for Sunday, January 8, 2012

In those days, and at that time, will I cause a Branch of righteousness to grow up to David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. -- Jeremiah 33:15

January 8th – January 14th is National Migration Week.
The U.S. Bishops have made this year’s theme, “Welcoming Christ in the Migrant.”  We have many images from the Bible:  On the road to Emmaus, Christ appeared to the disciples in the guise of a stranger.  The Holy Family fled to Egypt to escape King Herod.  Jesus told a prospective disciple, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."  Archbishop Gomez states, “We are called to open our hearts and provide hospitality to those in need, especially for migrants who find themselves far away from home and in vulnerable situations.”  Read more at: http://www.usccb.org/news/2011/11-240.cfm

Bishops Speak Out on Immigration. 
In a letter to immigrants dated on the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, 33 U.S. Hispanic and Latino Bishops expressed their solidarity with and concern for immigrants in the United States, particularly undocumented immigrants.  “We recognize that every human being, authorized or not, is an image of God and therefore possesses infinite value and dignity,” said the Bishops. “We open our arms and hearts to you, and we receive you as members of our Catholic family.”  Acknowledging the challenges of all migrants and the political pressures and misconceptions surrounding the issue, the Bishops renewed their call for comprehensive immigration reform: “Immigrants are a revitalizing force for our country. The lack of a just, humane and effective reform of immigration laws negatively affects the common good of the entire United States.”  Read the letter: http://tinyurl.com/LetterToImmigrants2011

Catholic Social Teaching: Participation.
It is wrong for a person or a group to be excluded unfairly or to be unable to participate in society.  The ultimate injustice is for a person or group to be treated actively or abandoned passively as if they were nonmembers of the human race. To treat people this way is effectively to say they simply do not count as human beings.  -- Catholic Charities Office for Social Justice, http://www.osjspm.org/

Would you like to pursue a social justice project?
The St. Michael Parish Social Concerns Ministry would like to help you to help others!  Call Joanne, 443-1422.

He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. --Micah 6:8