Social Concerns Column for Sunday, January 15, 2012

The Lord defends the poor: “Injure not the poor because they are poor, nor crush the needy at the gate; for the LORD will defend their cause…” --Proverbs 22:22-23

Pope to Visit Mexico in 2012.
During his homily on the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe in St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Benedict XVI confirmed he would visit Mexico in 2012.  The pope called upon the people of Latin America to be defenders of human life from the moment of conception until natural death and promoters of peace; they must also safeguard the genuine nature and mission of the family, strengthen schools and help parents prepare their children to be good and upright citizens, promote reconciliation and solidarity, do more to protect the environment and strengthen efforts to overcome poverty, illiteracy and corruption and eradicate all forms of injustice, violence, criminality, citizens' insecurity, drug trafficking and extortion.  -- Catholic News Service, http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1104859.htm

US Bishops Speak Out on Unemployment. 
“Congress should find ways to assure continuation of unemployment benefits,” said Bishop Stephen Blaire of Stockton, chairman of the US Bishops’ Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, in a letter to Congress.  “The US Bishops have long advocated that the most effective way to build a just economy is the availability of decent work at decent wages… When the economy fails to generate sufficient jobs, there is a moral obligation to help protect the life and dignity of unemployed workers and their families.”  Read the letter: http://tinyurl.com/BishopBlaireUnemployment

Catholic Social Teaching: Dignity of Work. 
“Work remains a good thing, not only because it is useful and enjoyable, but also because it expresses and increases the worker's dignity. Through work we not only transform the world, we are transformed ourselves, becoming more a human being." -- On Human Work, Encyclical of Blessed John Paul II, #9, http://tinyurl.com/OnHumanWork

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.

Discipleship - solidarity with the outcasts of society: The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to him, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” -- Luke 15:1-2