April 6, 2018 at 1:53 p.m.
PERSPECTIVE
Visiting Occupy Albany
Toward that end, several members of the Albany diocesan Commission on Peace and Justice recently visited the Occupy Albany site across from the State Capitol and, as a result, had our picture appear in a local newspaper.
Not everyone was pleased. Apparently, we live in an age where many people believe that any sign of support for a group is unquestioning approval for whatever any member of the group does.
In the past, I have seen conservatives as a group tarred with the activities of white separatists, and liberals grouped in with communist dictators. So, I was not surprised that people would get agitated that the banner of the Commission on Peace and Justice was photographed at Occupy Albany. Nevertheless, I and the other members of the commission felt it was worth the risk.
Since then, I have received emails and calls from friends reminding me of the benefits of capitalism (I am not opposed to capitalism) and asking how I can support people in New York City who threw barricades at police (I am not connected to anything going on in New York City).
Back to Albany: One of our goals was to support those who are speaking out about the current situation in our nation. A newspaper editorial that appeared before the most recent election noted that only 30 percent of local voters went to the polls last year, roughly equal to the number who are not registered to vote.
In essence, that means our futures can be decided by just 16 percent of the electorate. Something that reasonably encourages people to get involved in politics is to be encouraged.
A second goal was to make people aware of Catholic social teachings on such matters as the economy, immigration, poverty and redistricting. The latter has been a particular matter of interest to the commission, which is concerned that politicians are overly concerned with drawing election districts that guarantee their re-election.
We also took note of a news story distributed by Catholic News Service, which reported that Vatican officials said that Catholic social teaching and the Occupy Wall Street movement agree that the economy should be at the service of the human person and that strong action must be taken to reduce the growing gap between rich and poor.
We distributed a flier based on a publication from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, titled, "Examination of Conscience In Light Of Catholic Social Teaching." It offers a number of questions for reflection, including:
• Do I urge those in power to implement programs and policies that give priority to the human dignity and rights of all, especially the vulnerable?
• Does the way I spend my time reflect a genuine concern for others?
• Am I disproportionately concerned for my own good at the expense of others?
• Is solidarity incorporated into my prayer and spirituality? Do I lift up vulnerable people throughout the world in my prayer, or is it reserved for only my personal concerns?
Perhaps, in some small way, we will get Catholics thinking about our heritage of social justice.
A few years before I was ordained to the permanent diaconate, Bishop Hubbard wrote a column about the role of deacons in the Albany Diocese. I think his words also apply to all the members of the Commission on Peace and Justice: "At times, exercising the ministry of social justice will entail conflict, and even bring ridicule, scorn and rejection. But this is the cost of discipleship and price of leadership within our Catholic community."
His words offered inspiration then, and comfort today. Yet they are not the only confirmation we have found.
As Rev. Thomas Massaro, SJ, who teaches social ethics at the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry, noted in a recent issue of America magazine: "Say what you will about the protestors - as resentment-driven agitators or impractical dreamers - I for one am grateful to them for spurring our consciences, sparking a sense of urgency and offering a vision of alternative economic practices that promote the countercultural principle of 'people over profits.'
"It might just be that Occupy Wall Street has made more headway as a catalyst for change in the United States in the last 10 weeks than Catholic social teaching has accomplished in the last 12 decades."
(Deacon Ayres serves St. Mary's parish in Albany.)[[In-content Ad]]
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