A TRIP TO LONDON, VIENNA, AND BUDAPEST: WHAT DO THE PEOPLE THINK?

  

   Upon further review:  after quoting Eugene Kane of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel saying that it is disappointing to realize President Obama is no better than the others because of his willingness to bomb Syria, an out has presented itself with the Russian initiative.  Also the new connection with the Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has perhaps changed disaster into a possibility of a movement toward peace in the Middle East.  See - The Nation, “For Democracy against War,”p. 3, 9.23.13 
 

   Also Pope Francis in two interviews with Jesuit magazines has strongly indicated a change in official Roman Catholic Pastoral Theology.  The establishment of a "Benevolent Dictator" is perhaps progress but still not a revolution.

WHAT DO PEOPLE THINK?

   We traveled to London to visit the London Langes and took a side trip to Vienna and Budapest.  I asked people about the proposal to bomb Syria, and requested opinions about the new Pope Francis.  In England I talked to: 3 native Londoners, 1 person from Ireland, 2 from Sri Lanka, l from Algeria, 1 from India.  Also, I conversed with:  1 from Catalonia, 1 from Poland, l from Italy and, of course, I interviewed the London Langes which include related families with Irish, English and American backgrounds.

   On the flight to Vienna and in Vienna I also looked for opinions on Syria and the new Pope.  Among the people I talked to were, a young man from Kosovo, a young woman from Indonesia, a student from Hungary and a Chinese business man from Hong Kong.  I’ll relate a few of the encounters; I didn’t agree will all, but all were interesting.

ENGLAND

  
   I talked to a man after Mass who was the head of a youth group in London.  In his talk to the congregation he asked for support from the parish of his city-wide group.  He referred to the Young Catholic Workers mantra “See – Judge – and Act” which I was surprised to hear from the pulpit.  I asked him what he thought of Pope Francis.  He was enthusiastically supportive and noted that his own parish, following the suggestion of Pope Francis, had a prayer service for peace. He said that politics are a part of a Christian’s duty along with prayer.  The prayers worked he claimed, “After the Prayer Vigil – we had the Russian initiative - a result of Prayer.”  I came away with the notion that at best non-violent politics and prayer are twisted together as an existential act of freedom to shape history; at worst, a gothic attempt to apply magic to a difficult situation.

   A man who was collecting funds for the homeless told me that he supported the British Parliament in its decision not to go along with the U.S. in an attack on Syria.  I asked why, and he referred me to retired Member of Parliament, Tony Benn.  In his autobiography Benn wrote,

   My hatred for war and passion for peace and justice I first learned at home. But they became stronger as a result of my own experience, living through a world war and witnessing many others since 1945.

   The arguments for just wars, and the supposed merits of globalized Capitalism,  from the basis of a political consensus must be challenged if the human race is to survive.  (Tony Benn, Dare to be Daniel, Hutchinson, London, p. 198.)

   We visited Arundel Castle first established by William the Conqueror just after his successful invasion of England in 1066.  In a discussion with a tour guide I was reminded of Guy Fawkes, a famous Roman Catholic terrorist of the 17^th century.  Fawkes attempted to blow up Parliament in 1605.

Remember the 5^th of November gunpowder treason plot. I see no reason why it should ever be forgot.

OPINIONS FROM CENTRAL EUROPE AND CHINA

   The man next to me on the flight to Vienna was a Chinese business man from Hong Kong.  He was very friendly but with his long face, glasses and scraggly beard, he reminded me of a character on one of my grandson Liam’s video games.  The man from Hong Kong supported Obama, but thought that he should act through the United Nations.

   A Muslim student from Kosovo, who was selling tickets to a concert of Viennese music, talked to us in front of the St. Stephan Cathedral in Vienna.  In his opinion the U.S. should act to destroy Syria’s chemical weapons immediately.  I asked him if he favored the bombing in Kosovo.  He said that if it weren’t for American intervention he would not be here.  He said, “When I hear criticism of America it is to cry.”  There was a demonstration of the ‘Muslim Brotherhood’ from Egypt nearby.  The young man said he did not support their demonstration.

   We had lunch with a young Indonesian woman in Budapest.  She had just finished her M.B.A. at Birmingham, England and was traveling through Europe before going home.  She opposed bombing Syria and was very disappointed that President Obama proposed such action.  She thought the cause of the conflict was not oil but religion. “It’s about religion and power.”  I understood her to mean that it was a contest over world dominance between two differing cultures, – Muslim and Christian.  Could that be true?  President Bush II called the Gulf war a Crusade.  Is it that those that promote war to gain financial advantage have to sell it to those of faith?

SOME BACKGROUND TO THE CONFLICT

   Several statues adorn the outside of St. Stephen Cathedral in Vienna.  One of them is of Johannes Capistrano a Franciscan Friar.  The Baroque piece depicts the Saint as triumphant over the Muslim Turks in 1456. The Franciscan is holding a Crusader flag standing on top of a slain Muslim Turk.   Above him is a gold medallion with the initials I.H.S. and a cross.  The   I.H.S. (In this sign you will conquer) symbol is from the vision of Constantine who saw the cross in the sky before his military victory at the Milvian Bridge which was key to his becoming Holy Roman Emperor.   Capistrano looks like a portrait of a triumphant Jesus rising from the dead.  

  

   There are no records of swallows returning to the statue – that’s only at the mission in California.    

  

   A second and final Turkish Muslim attack was repelled in Vienna in 1683.  The hero for defending the city was Capuchin Friar Marco D’Aviano who preached a Crusade against the Turkish Muslims and is considered to have ‘saved’ Europe from Muslim control.  Friar Marco celebrated the Christian victory by saying Mass at St. Stephen Cathedral.  There is a story that the Crusaders captured Turkish coffee and found it to be a bit bitter, but with milk they thought it to be a wonderful drink.  They named it Cappuccino in honor of Friar Marco D’Aviano.

STRUCTURAL DIFFERENCE FOR PEACE

   Guy Fawkes, Johannes Capistrano, Marco D’Aviano fought with arms for Roman Catholic political power, but Pope Francis as  benevolent dictator advocated for peace.  Let us consider one reason for this change.

  

   At the top of the South Tower of St. Stephan Cathedral in Vienna is a double beam cross which symbolizes Church political and religious authority.  The ‘double cross’ was placed in 1433.  Could this be a difference?  Pope Francis was not under pressure for territorial gain or a maintenance or gain of power.  Vatican II was an attempt to be ecumenical – cross cultural.  (Read Vatican II document Nostra Aetate.)  Pope Francis was in a position to advocate for peace and a multicultural world.

   So many of the people who talked to us were willing to state their opinions but felt their views didn’t matter.  Higher powers would do what they wanted to do to serve their own interests.  Joanne and I still feel we have a voice.   It was a wonderful trip for us; we met some wonderful people, we were with family - the grandkids and we learned a lot.

LABOR DAY 2013 AND- ‘ALL WE ARE SAYING IS GIVE WAR A CHANCE’

Thanks to Frank Shanskey, Joan Bleidorn, Dominique Noth and Jim Lange for their responses to Labor Day questions for the Faith and Labor blog.

    The Milwaukee Labor Day celebration was encouraging. The rhetoric was inspiring, but there was more than rhetoric. It was a new Labor Day Parade. Workers from the Martin Luther King statue on the north side of the city and workers from the south side – Voces de la Frontera office - marched to a central location at Ziedler Union Park for the celebration. This was a visible demonstration of unity between black, brown and white workers. Bob Peterson President of the Milwaukee Teachers Union said,

      “As president of the largest union local in the state, I promise that the          M.T.E.A. is 100% committed to the rebuilding of a dynamic labor movement  that advocates for working people and all sectors of our community.”

   It was clear that the new vision of labor doesn’t mean just labor union members, but all of the laboring community including the unemployed, low wage workers and the un-documented. Solidarity took on a broader meaning. At the conclusion of the Labor Day March at Zeidler Park a campaign was announced to promote a living wage for Milwaukee County workers. A living wage has been an important theme for the Social Encyclicals since the 1891 Encyclical, Rerum Novarum:

   Let the working man and the employer make free agreements, and in      particular let them agree freely as to the wages; nevertheless, there underlies a  dictate of natural justice more imperious and ancient than any bargain between  man and man, namely that wages ought not to be insufficient to support a  frugal and well behaved wage earner.” (Rerum Novarum, 34)



   But the focus has changed. In order to continue the flow of oil to support ‘the American way of life,’ and the European for that matter, those that brought us income inequality want us to go it alone and bomb Syria in order to maintain control of the Middle East and its oil. The media blitz sounds like they are chanting – “all we are saying is give war a chance.” Of course the labor community is directly affected. Who will be counted as ‘collateral damage?’ It will be Syrian workers and families. We – our kids - are the ‘boots on the ground.’ There is no guarantee that missiles and bombers will preclude a ground war.

   Pope Francis called for special prayer and fasting on Saturday, September 7th. Retired U.S. Army Lt. Colonel Listecki, who is Archbishop of Milwaukee, had no comment. At St. Benedict the Moor Church we prayed and discussed the issue. Several spoke. A relatively well known theologian brought up the Just War Theory. He noted that theoretically a just war should have reasonable chance of success, but in whatever manner we attack Syria, what would be the outcome? A theologian from Marquette University’s Peace Center said that the Just War Theory was a secular response. Wasn’t it first introduced to Christian theology by North African Father of the Church, St. Augustine of Hippo? A long time Catholic Worker representative said there is no such thing as a just war – war is simply wrong. Two speakers wept as they recounted the horrible absurdity of war. All agreed – war was not a legitimate option. But it was especially difficult to go against a President we worked so hard to elect. Eugene Kane of the Milwaukee Journal – Sentinel wrote, “…it’s never a good feeling when the guy you hoped would bring hope and change ends up sounding like all the other guys.” (M.J.S. 9-8-13)



   Even after the Russian initiative, the question in Washington was – What is our National interest? Since Vatican II, the blue print for world peace, the ethical criterion for peace has been emphasized in the Social Encyclicals as the ‘universal common good.’ True enough, the language, the philosophy of the Encyclicals is secular, but since the very beginning of reflection on Faith, philosophical reasoning has been used to explain Faith. The dogma of individualism (e.g. go it alone – what’s best for us - American exceptionalism) is not a failure of Faith but of erroneous philosophy sometimes attempting to explain Faith. The violence – the threat of violence - of Pax Americana- cannot measure up to Faith filled people asking questions about justice and standing firm with Faith and faith in the future.

Labor Day 2013 - Part Three of Three

August 28th 

Comments concerning: 

INCOME INEQUALITY

Frank Shansky

This is the major issue that labor has a vital role in addressing, because it has the principles and structure to address it.

Jim Lange

Reversing income inequality is the key to any success in improving the economy. There must be massive changes to improve the lives of working people.

Dominique Noth

As to income inequality and immigration reform:
Let me answer together since both represent how unions must form coalitions regardless of union or non-union, too long it only worked for its own members while now it must address income inequality for fast food workers and others as a matter of the sort of economic justice that marked the union movement in the 1930s. Let’s stop getting hung up on acronyms and join hands.


Comments Concerning:

EFCA- Employee Free Choice Act – workers simply vote to form a legal – representative union

Frank Shansky

President Obama has been a major disappointment on this issue. He promised to push for it and then never lifted a finger.

Dominque Noth

The question defines the problem – most people don’t know what EFCA is, a simple act by Congress or Constitutional Amendment to protect the choice to join a union against legislative attacks. It’s seldom correctly explained or intelligently defended. Even union members are confused by the arguments. Labor’s operations are remarkably clean and transparent as opposed to how people are given power in corporations or government but it’s been abused and demeaned by big money on the other side and its own internal weakness. The first step it to prove its democracy and self-policing to a doubting public as part of growing support for its core values of fairness for all who work.


Comments Concerning:

IMMIGRATION REFORM

Frank Shansky
A critical issue in addressing income equality both in terms of the issues faced by the immigrant community but workers in general. The unification of working people (i.e. immigrants and non-immigrants) will be a key factor in whether we are successful in addressing the key issues of our day.

Jim Lange

Immigration reform is a necessity today let’s get it passed.

Dominique Noth 

Immigration is a similar case. For every “criminal” the right points out there are actually thousands of cases of families we should want in the US. Right now in the push to get reform, even immigration supporters are willing to accept draconian concerns over border security, setting aside more money to protect the Mexican-US border than spent on the entire CIA and FBI combined, which doesn’t address the problem but is excused as a foot in the door. It is worth the price? Would intelligent modification follow or would jackboots attitudes grow? Where does the coalition draw the line? Compromise requires clarity on underlying principles of common sense. The attraction of the right is the attitude of no compromise whether it makes sense or not. Labor as well as Faith has got to not only look smarter but be smarter.

Joan Picard Bleidorn

Regarding immigration reform, those who claim to have any real faith at all should certainly realize that the beatitudes on which our salvation depends, demands that we welcome the stranger in our land, as we ourselves were once strangers, and it will not be well for us if we fail to do this. How far should we go in cooperating with the far right of the Republican Part, in order to get some kind of immigration bill through? I am not sure to what extent here should be cooperation with the drastic compromises they see to demand in order to pass a bill.

LABOR DAY – 2013

I posed some questions and issues to social justice leaders for comment on the Labor Day postings for this year.  There will be three postings: Monday August 26th, Tuesday August 27^th and Wednesday August 28^th.  The responses are interesting and inspiring.

Questions:

August 26^th
What is the political-economic – moral strength of the labor movement at the present time? 

August 27^th
Does Faith have an important role in the Labor Movement?

August 28th
Issues: Income inequality, EFCA. Immigration Reform

The respondents are:

Frank Shansky, Business Manager Local 212 Milwaukee Area Technical College

Jim Lange, retired Steel Worker and labor activist 

Dominique Paul Noth, served as senior editor for all feature coverage at the Milwaukee Journal after decades as its film and drama critic, then was appointed special assistant to the publisher and the company’s first online producer.  For the past decade he was editor of the Milwaukee Labor Press and website, milwaukeelabor.org. He now writes as an independent journalist on culture and politics.

Joan Picard Bleidorn, retired Milwaukee Area Technical College Professor, Co-founder Local 212 part time professors unit, member of St. Benedict the Moor Roman Catholic Parish

August 26^th Question:

What is the political-economic-moral strength of the Labor Movement at the present time?

Frank Shansky

   I’ll let someone else answer the political and economic strength. But the moral strength of the labor movement is its ability to stand up to power, when very few others will. Labor encompasses the vast majority of society, if not in membership, then in principle.

Jim Lange:

   The Labor movement is too weak these days to deal with the onslaught of the companies. That’s why I applaud the AFL-CIO for reaching out and trying to find new ways of doing things.

Dominique Noth:

   Ought to be stronger but is quite weak in public perception despite clear evidence of moral and economic importance.  Some of the wound is inflicted by political excess particularly in Wisconsin and other ideologically right-driven states but some is self-inflicted from naval gazing over protecting its own members.

   Now labor has got to go back to what caused it to grow and vitalize starting a century ago, bringing in workers of like concern whether they hold union cards or not, opening the doors, forming coalitions of like-minded whom, once the issues are explained, may well be a majority. But there also must be an awareness that too many families –
struggling economically and focused on their own children as traditional family units disintegrate geographically, as cultural, educational  and social mores change – require new modes of communication and new tools of information to make them realize the importance of getting off their duffs.
  
Joan Bleidorn:

   Regarding the political strength of the labor movement at the present time, there is a need for a massive awaking to the importance increased political efforts to deal with the unmitigated attack on the rights of workers in this country.  To begin with, the fact that more than 20 or more U.S. states are almost totally controlled by Republican governors, as well as control of the House and Senate, give the extreme right-wing of the Republican party cart blanch opportunities to crush all rights for workers.  The right- wing strongly supports a ‘Righty to Work’ policy, which translates into, “if you don’t like what the job offers, too bad-leave…you are lucky to have a job at all even at slave wages, so don’t complain because we can have you replaced in a minute.”  We must lay the foundations of justice for workers at the political level first, and make sure that we learn from the effective tactics of the far right.  Those of us who believe in a strong unionized work-force , must make every effort to get our candidates in at first of all, the local level, and build a strong foundation from the ground up.  From control and power at the local level, there must be a move upward to higher levels of government, until recapture of the House and Senate can happen as a matter of course.  We also must make every effort to assure that MOVE TO AMEND the constitution to reverse the damage done by Citizens United gets on the ballot of local government all across the country.  Our work is cut out for us, and it will take real determination to undo the damage created by the far right in this country.  We must not fail to mention our rather ineffectual Democratic president who talks a good fight but seldom delivers.

   Regarding the economic strengths of the labor movement at this time, we must put our money where our mouth is.  Money is power, and consumers have great power, even if their resources are somewhat limited.  We have to shop somewhere.
If we choose to buy Palermo’s pizza then we become part and party to injustice, as we do if we take advantage of buying cheap goods from the local mall.  It is so easy to be sucked into the idea that it is better to have ten sweaters on the cheap, rather than one or two which cost you a fair price to cover the cost of just wages for the workers.  There must be a concerted effort to maintain the unions, which represent the only course of action for justice in the work-place.  Union dues are needed to provide union strength.  The police made a mistake in thinking that Governor Walker cared about their interests when he spared their unions.  After using this gullible group of middle-class cops, he is now in the process of attempting to curtail their union, if not wipe it out completely.  Too soon we get old, and too late we get smart! 

   Regarding the moral strength of the labor movement at this time, individual members must take heart and realize that it is time to dig in our heels and work even harder for justice, in whatever way we can. Refusing to shop at Walmart is a start.  Boycotting the many corporations that produce and sell G.M.O. (Genetically Modified Organism) products is a tactic available to everyone.  One thing that is important is to realize that the labor movement must not be divided, and the far right loves to use a ‘divide and conquer’ policy to defeat its enemies.  Workers must be organized and there is strength in numbers.  There is a moral component to the labor movement, as each individual has the obligation to play a part.  I recently watched a DVD entitled ‘I AM’, the story of wealthy and humorous film producer, Steven Shadyec, who was   hospitalized with mental and physical injuries after a motorcycle accident.  When he was released from the hospital, he took a look at his 17,000 square foot estate, with its two 7,000 foot mansions, and decided he was not happy.  He took a trip around the world to interview wise people like the Dalai Lama, Archbishop Tutu, Noam Chomsky and others and asked them the questions: What is wrong with the world, and what can we do about it?  He came home with the conclusions that what is wrong with the world is ‘I AM’ and what can we do about it.?  ‘I CAN’ (and I must.)  He came to the conclusion that we are not wired for continuous consumerism, but rather, we are hard wired for COMPASSION AND COMMUNITY.  He changed his lifestyle and came to the belief that whatever little we can do to make this a better world, we must do.  We must avoid the pathetic question: ‘Why doesn’t somebody do something?’  We are the somebody.

1. 
   

THE GOOD SAMARITAN STORY – USUALLY DISTORTED, BUT CAN BE SALVAGED

Remember Me

    We were at Milwaukee’s Bastille Days celebration Saturday night sitting with African American strangers who asked us to join them, when the news was relayed by cell phone; George Zimmerman was acquitted.  The mood was that of unbelief.  The young man sitting with us predicted violence all over the country.

   I didn’t look forward to attending Mass the next day even though it was going to be held at a county park. 

   First of all, it was the morning after the Trayvon Martin decision.  The seventeen year old was declared guilty by a Florida Jury of his own murder.   I was sure that the pastor would ignore the event. 

   Secondly, the Gospel for the day was the Good Samaritan story.  The Milwaukee Catholic Herald (July 11, 2013, p. 18) had a recent article by a former Seminary Professor distorting the Gospel and Jewish understanding of the commandment to ‘love God and your neighbor.’  He stated, “Jesus, in featuring the compassionate Samaritan, dared to challenge the Lawyer’s and Israel’s erroneous understanding of one’s duties toward a neighbor.”

This is a common misinterpretation and therefore what I expected to hear on Sunday.

   WRONG -  

   The pastor did mention the Trayvon Martin decision, and at the time of the Prayers of the Faithful, the congregation’s lamentations were moving.  The Pastor’s treatment of the Good Samaritan story skipped the usual; “Jesus  pronounced a ‘new law’ that even the ‘stranger’ is our neighbor.”

   Ironically the National Conference of Catholic Bishops advocates for immigration reform by reference to the Jewish Bible mandate to love God and your neighbor – the stranger.   (Strangers No Longer Together On a Journey Of Hope, U.S.C.C.B. 1-22-2003)  The use of the Good Samaritan story as a story of Christian exceptionalism is a step in the wrong direction.

   Let’s look at the Good Samaritan story in reference to Trayvon Martin.  What about civil rights?  They are now wounded and dying on the street.  Who will notice and advocate for a cure and pay the cost of civil health?  It won’t be easy; for inspiration just remember Treyvon Martin.

   

Credits for the picture belong to Methodist Pastor Bill Mefford, Washington, D.C.

OK, WHO’S INFALLIBLE ?

INTRODUCTION:  VATICAN II - PEACE THROUGH JUSTICE

   

   Vatican II brought dramatic change to the Roman Catholic Church.  An analysis of the Council shows that the purpose of the Council was to promote peace at a time when the world was threatened with annihilation.  As a reminder, we have a fifties style bomb shelter in our Wauwatosa, WI home.  World War II provided a tragic lesson.  The holocaust, the murder and torture of 6 million Jews, could be laid at the feet of the Roman Catholic Church and all Christians.  The anti-Jewish Gospel s set the historical ground work, and the refusal of the Roman Catholic Church to challenge the Nazis during WWII continues to be covered up.   Pope John XXIII saw a possible road to peace.  Faith communities and all those of Faith and good will, including those not of particular religious or faith communities, could come together to “work for justice to achieve peace.”

   Fifty years later we cannot pass final judgment on the Council, but we can comment on where we are today. Vatican II opened a window but the spirit of Gnosticism blew in, took over, and slammed the window shut.  We have to take account of the Neo - Gnostics in post Vatican II considerations. 

   Let’s look at just two issues in Catholic Social Teaching that dramatically changed with Vatican II.  Let’s ask ourselves: 

To whom are the official Vatican messages directed? 

What is the moral status of organized labor in society?

  

PRE VATICAN II – SOCIAL DOGMA PRESENTED TO ROMAN CATHOLICS

   Pre Vatican II encyclicals and official documents were addressed to Roman Catholic clergy and laity; for example Rerum Novarum: 

“To Our Venerable Brethren, All Patriarchs, Primates, Archbishops and    Bishops of the Catholic World, In Grace and Communion with the Apostolic See.”

Still other faith groups commented.   In 1918 in Great Britain a group called the International Conference of Social Service Unions which included Catholics and other denominations issued a strong social justice statement. Twenty English Quaker employers in Great Britain issued a statement similar to nascent Catholic Social Teaching in 1919. (Documents of American Catholic History, ed. J.T. Ellis, Bruce, Milwaukee, 1955, pp. 614-615)  

Opponents of this social dogma as seen by the Catholic Church were named in Rerum Novarum (1891) and Quadragesimo Anno (1931).  The first of the Social Encyclicals strongly criticized Capitalism (liberalism) and Socialism.  Commentators differed in their interpretation.  Father John Ryan in the U.S. endorsed Capitalism with limits.  Catholic Distributists in England and in the U.S. condemned Capitalism.  Roman Catholic Social Teaching was against socialism but without a precise definition.  Russian Communism was clearly the target of Roman Catholic wrath.  U.S. Bishops in 1919 issued a statement on Catholic Social Teaching written by Father John Ryan.  Steven C. Mason, president of the National Association of Manufacturers complained that it was, “partisan, pro-labor union, socialistic propaganda.”  Ten years later, just before the collapse of the U.S. stock market, a New York State Senate Investigating committee described the work as that of a group of Catholics with leanings toward Socialism. (ibid. p. 611) Fascist countries Spain, Austria, and Portugal found the “corporate economics” of the first two encyclicals to be acceptable. Concordats were made but tensions existed between the Vatican and the fascist countries of Germany and Italy.

POST VATICAN II – TO ALL - A DIALOGUE

   The vision of John XXIII was a move towards peace through justice and dialogue.  On October 20^th , 1962, just at the beginning of the Council and two days before the public was aware of the Cuban missile crisis, the Council issued a document:

MESSAGE TO HUMANITY – Issued at the beginning of the Second Vatican   Council by its Fathers, with the endorsement of the Supreme Pontiff.           THE FATHERS OF THE COUNCIL TO ALL MEN

The next year – 1963 Pope John XXIII addressed his encyclical Pacem in Terris to:

The Venerable Brothers the Patriarchs, Primates, Archbishops, Bishops…to    the clergy and faithful of the whole world and to ALL MEN OF GOOD WILL. (The Documents of Vatican II, Walter M. Abbott, S.J. General Editor, The America Press 1966, p.3)

   From this time forward encyclicals on Catholic Social teaching are addressed to “all men of good will.”  John XXIII wrote Pacem in Terris, a preview of Vatican II, and emphasized the basis of Catholic Social Teaching as the natural law, not sectarian theology.  Natural law was defined as human reason and according to Thomas Aquinas, “reason is the norm of the human will, according to which its goodness is measured.” ‘All’ then can relate to the encyclicals no matter of their religious orientation or lack of it. (Pacem in Terris, ed. W.J. Gibbons S.J. Paulist Press, para. 38)

   The social encyclicals refer to biblical revelation for support; are those without belief in the Christian Bible – Old Testament and New without connection to God’s revelation?  The Council’s document on Revelation refers to nature.

This sacred Synod affirms, ‘God the beginning and end of all things, can be known with certainty from created reality by the light of human reason.’    cf. Rom. 1:20 (op. cit. Documents of Vatican II, p. 114)

PRE VATICAN II: ON THE STATUS OF LABOR

   A shocker from Rerum Novarum (1891) was that the Roman Catholic Church dogmatically stated that workers had the right to organize.  But questions remained:  

Could Catholics participate with non Catholics in a labor organization?  Does the corporate economics of the encyclicals allow labor unions to strike?                                                                                                              Does corporate economics allow workers to choose their own leaders?

   In the U.S. it was crucial for Catholics to belong to ‘neutral’ labor unions or labor unions that consisted of workers from different denominations or no religious affiliation.  The importance of Catholic membership in ‘neutral’ labor unions was recognized by Archbishop Gibbons of Baltimore.  While in Rome to receive his Cardinal’s hat in 1887, Gibbons expressed in writing that there would be no harm to the faith of U.S. Catholics if they were members of the national ‘neutral’ labor union, the Knights of Labor.  Leo XIII agreed not to condemn the Knights in the U.S. although he had condemned the Knights in Canada and it was the year after the Knights’ eight-hour day struggle and the Haymarket Riot. (Ryan, The Church and Labor, pp. 145 – 158) However Leo XIII appointee Archbishop Messmer (1847-1930) of Milwaukee thought that Catholics should form separate labor unions. (Roman Catholicism and the American Way of Life, U.N.D., Notre Dame, Indiana, pp. 74-75)

Is it morally acceptable for labor unions to strike?

   Pope Pius XI says NO!  He wrote in Quadragesimo Anno (1931):

Strikes and lock-outs are forbidden; if the parties cannot settle their dispute, public authority intervenes. (Q.A. 93)

Detroit priest Father Charles Coughlin followed the Pope’s dictum and advocated for compulsory arbitration.  Coughlin thought that unions should be put under the direction of the Department of Labor.  Some called this the fascist approach. (op. cite. Roman Catholicism and The American Way of Life, p. 83.)

   On the other side of the coin, labor advocate, Father John Cronin, wrote in 1959:

That workers in general have the right to strike is generally conceded…  Moralists are more likely to emphasize the justice of workers’ claims as an excusing circumstance.  (Cronin, John F.,  Social Principles and Economic Life, Bruce, Milwaukee,  p. 185.)

POST VATICAN II ON THE STATUS OF LABOR

Catholic workers participating in mixed labor unions…

   Vatican II was about cooperation for justice to achieve peace so the documents issued emphasized collaboration among Christians, non Christians and Atheists.  Ecumenism came to be known as interfaith dialogue and cooperation, but it was more than that.  Let us consider the positive statement about atheists:

While rejecting atheism, root and branch, the Church sincerely professes that all men, believers and unbelievers alike, ought to work for the rightful   betterment of this world in which all alike live. Such an ideal cannot be   realized, however, apart from sincere and prudent dialogue.             (Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World,  Part I, 21)

  The challenge to communism was softened and opened the way for Liberation Theology to use Marxist categories.

The morality of a strike…

   Vatican II contradicted Pius XI’s mandate of ‘no strikes.’  The Pastoral Constitution on the Church states:

Even in present day circumstances, however, the strike can still be a   necessary, though ultimate means for the defense of workers’ own rights   and the fulfillment of their just demands. (ibid. Section 2 – 68)

Does the corporate economics of the Roman Catholic Church concede the right of workers to elect union leaders?...

    The Pastoral Constitution on the Church states:

Hence the workers themselves should have a share also in controlling   these institutions, either in person or through freely elected delegates.     (ibid. Section 2 – 68)

A footnote – commentary in The Documents of Vatican II, edited by Walter Abbott states:

Its (The Constitution on the Church) comments on the necessity of   permitting the workers to be represented by ‘freely elected delegates’ have meaning not only for countries where there are no workers associations, but also for countries which have them but, like Spain, do not allow for adequately free choice of representatives by workers themselves. (p. 277)

At the time of the Council, Spain was under the control of the Fascist dictator Franco.

   The principle of subsidiarity now extends to workers choosing their own leaders and having the clear right to strike.  The ‘corporate economics’ of the Roman Catholic Church has dramatically changed.  Perhaps it can no longer be called ‘corporate’ or ‘organic.’

WHERE ARE WE TODAY?

   Catholic Social Teaching is now moribund for both Church liberals and conservatives.  For example, there was no support for the striking Palermo Pizza workers from the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.  Only the ‘Nuns on the Bus’ lent encouragement.

   There are many causes for the separation of the hierarchy from the ‘People of God.’  Cutting back to the essentials and working for collaboration with other faith groups as advocated by Vatican II has caused a Roman Catholic identity crisis.  Also the relative economic well being of influential Catholics has pushed the politics of the Church to the extreme right.  The pedophile scandal has put the Church on the defensive, and instead of rethinking the priesthood, the hierarchy attempts to spiritualize the authority position of the clergy-hierarchy more than ever.  Musician and former Capuchin Jerry Danks wrote:

Clericalism IS the root cause and the gift that keeps on giving - the notion that Catholic priests/religious are set apart, super-human, assumed to be well-adjusted, presumed to be innocent, and deserving of special treatment for what they have "given up…"

    Women’s ordination, abortion, contraceptives, gay rights, can’t be discussed, and these issues trump any kind of workers’ rights issues.  The separation of the spiritual from everyday reality is a form of contemporary Gnosticism that has infected the hierarchy and some liberals.  It is fortunate there are other faith groups that provide an example of what Church is about.  We will hear about them in a later blog.  Post Vatican II Roman Catholic Social Teaching is still there with great potential as a guide for all to achieve workers’ rights. 

FATHER’S DAY & SENATOR RON JOHNSON

   The New Sanctuary Movement held a meeting of some of our liaisons to plan an event at Senator Ron Johnson’s office to encourage Johnson to vote for a fair immigration bill.  The liaisons are the representatives of the various faith congregations that work with us on social justice issues. 

   The event was to have a Father’s Day theme.  Latino ‘Evangelicos’ were especially excited about participating.  The difficulty of getting a clergy person came up.  “Why worry about that,” one of the Evangelists said, “As Christians, we are all to preach the word.”  A friar volunteered to try to get someone from his community to show up wearing a habit, but he wasn’t ready to do it himself.  With complete confidence a young woman said, “It doesn’t matter, Christians don’t have to wear special clothes or habits.”  “Fine,” our coordinator Nancy Flores Lopez said, and we went on with the meeting.

    Father’s Day cards were to be given to Senator Johnson expressing good wishes but noting that some children couldn’t celebrate with their fathers because they had been deported.  Johnson was asked to support an immigration bill that would stop the U.S. policy of separating families.  Large cards from various congregations, and cards made by the children would be presented to Johnson.  It was to take place in front of the Federal Building; the location of Senator Johnson’s office.  Prayers would be said, testimony of children would be given, and a Father’s Day poem would be read.  The children would release balloons expressing a hope for freedom from fear - from ICE, the Immigration Customs Enforcement.

  The event drew a large crowd and was emotionally very moving.  Nancy Flores brought a children’s Mariachi group all dressed in native attire, with their string instruments and they gave a memorable performance.

   A reading from the Bible and a commentary was given by Leonardo, one of the children from the Evangelist church:

Jesus said, Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the    kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these. (Mt. 19:14)   Senator Johnson, listen to us children…those that are here to deliver cards to you, urging that you think about their dads this Father’s Day. …’It was the worst feeling of my life to see my dad get taken away by ICE’ said my friend Salvador Rojas, a 14year old whose dad was picked up during a raid where ICE was looking for a completely different person  and took him anyway.

 12 year old Alma Nunez read a poem when the balloons were released.

Soaring free across the sky, a free spirit flying high  
I want to be like a balloon 
Ending up wherever, boarders are irrelevant                                                                                      
I want to be like a balloon
Soaring free, no fear of separation, no fear of being taken                                                                          
I want to be like a balloon
Migration is natural, and beautiful like the sunsets in June 
I want to be one day...like a balloon.                                

   The demonstration was a success.  We don’t know how Senator Johnson will vote, but many more became, through faith - CONCIENTIZADO – aware that community action is the means to change unjust political and economic structures.