Response
Mary, thank you for your thoughtful response to my letter.
It is truly important to adhere to the principles contained in the preamble to the U.S. Constitution –
We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity …
Those who signed the Constitution, the Articles of Confederation and Declaration of Independence and participated in the Constitutional Convention were a diverse group of 204 individuals with only 3 Catholics represented. Regardless of their affiliation, they would have been familiar with the following scripture passages.
‘I assure you, as often as you neglected to do it to one of these least ones, you neglected to do it to me.’ – Matthew 26:45
If one member suffers, all members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all members share is joy’ – 1 Corinthians 13:26
Woe to those who enact unjust statutes and who write oppressive decrees, depriving the needy of judgment and robbing my people’s poor of their rights, making widows their plunder and orphans of their prey! – Isaiah 10:1-2
I commend you for being involved in farming. You are a co-creator with God in a most direct manner. My family is from Illinois, and they were farmers during the Great Depression. My father was a sales manager and business owner. He impressed upon me – ‘without work an individual will those their sense of dignity.’ You mentioned frustration regarding entitlements. I can only comment that there are times when a potential worker has no one to look after their children. The issue of poverty is complex.
As our Catholic Bishops wrote in A Place at the Table 2002 see http://nccbuscc.org/bishops/table.shtml.
Addressing poverty depends upon four institutions carrying out their roles and responsibilities –
- what families and individuals can do,
- what the community and religious institutions can do,
- what the private sector can do, and
- what the government can do to work together.
Families and individuals contribute by their hard work and respecting the dignity of others. The community and religious institutions help families make good choices, and confront structural injustice and holding public official accountable.
The private sector contributes by being an engine for growth and productivity. Importantly, the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church notes – The free market cannot be judged apart from the ends it seeks to accomplish and the values it transmits to on a societal level – Par 348. Government has positive role by serving the common good, providing the safety net for the poor and ensuring equal opportunity. When other institutions fail, government must defend the weak, protect human life and rights.
The graft and excessive bonuses paid are more than frustrating. They are unjust. As Catholics, we need to hold ourselves to a higher standard and be an example to our nation and abroad.
I would disagree that foreign aid is the major contributor to our financial situation. It constitutes slightly over 1% of the federal budget.
Much has changed since our found fathers gathered. Over 60% of the members of the U.S. Congress are Catholic. Still, these truths remain –
1) We are called to serve the poor and the vulnerable – Matthew 26:45
2) We are called to live in solidarity – when one suffers we all suffer. 1 Corinthians 13:26
3) Our government must protect the poor and needy. Isaiah 10:1-2
In closing, I would again refer to the Catholic Bishop’s document A Place at the Table. Efforts to overcome poverty should not be distorted by ideological agendas. We hear debates about more personal responsibility versus broader social responsibility — personal virtue versus public policies. All those are necessary. Families must make good choices and wise public policies are needed to help them.
As believers, let us work together to address the pressing issues of our time.
In Christ and Peace,
John M. Kingery
