Letter From the Board President
From Old Testament to New, the emphasis on right conduct, which runs throughout sacred scripture, speaks inherently to the issue of social justice, a key element of our Judeo-Christian heritage down through the ages. The prophet Amos condemned those who “trample the head of the poor into the dust of the earth and push the afflicted out of the way” with a passion unparalleled anywhere in the Bible – eight centuries before Christ. Yet no prophet is more easily related to the modern world. The unjust behavior he so strongly denounced is still very much with us.
The first lesson to be learned from Amos is that social justice is the business of religion, a concept that resonates strongly in Catholic life and thought today. In their Pastoral Letter on Catholic Social Teaching and the U.S. Economy, the American bishops expressed concerns very much in line with that long-ago messenger of God and insisted that “government has a moral function: protecting human rights and securing justice for all.” They tell us “the fulfillment of the basic needs of the poor is of the highest priority.” Amos would tell us that the true test of piety is what happens in the marketplace rather than what happens in the church or temple.
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul’s focus on alleviating the plight of the poor reflects the life and philosophy of our founder, Blessed Frederic Ozanam, who Pope John Paul II hailed as “a pioneer of the social doctrine of the Church.” Frederic believed that “the order of society is based on two virtues: charity and justice.” In one of his lectures at the Sorbonne, he noted, “Charity is the Samaritan who pours oil on the wounds of the traveler who has been attacked. It is justice’s role to prevent the attacks.”
The Rule of the Society, the document that guides our work, calls Vincentians to address injustice as part of their mission of service to the poor. It commits us to identifying the root causes of poverty and contributing to their elimination. Our Rule exhorts us to speak out clearly against situations “where injustice, inequality, poverty or exclusion are due to unjust economic, political or social structures or to inadequate or unjust legislation.” We do this through our advocacy arm, Voice of the Poor, which works to educate Vincentians and decision-makers about the impact of government policies and legislative initiatives on the poor and marginalized.
Some recent examples of Voice of the Poor’s success in supporting beneficial legislation are the First Things First initiative on early childhood education and healthcare screening, an increase in income eligibility for pre-natal care for low-income mothers, a raise in Arizona’s minimum wage, and additional funding for the Low Income Heating and Energy Assistance Program.
The necessity and significance of giving such voice to the voiceless bring to mind the beautiful observation of St. Thomas Aquinas, “Justice is the full flowering of charity: its triumphant realization.”
Under the heading of “A Vision of the Civilization of Love,” our Rule again points the way: “Affirming the dignity of each human being as created in God’s image, and Jesus’ particular identification with those who are excluded by society, Vincentians envision a more just society in which the rights, responsibilities and development of all people are promoted.”0
In his address to the U.S. Congress in 2001, Pope John Paul II eloquently expressed a timeless tenet of our faith: “To see the truth of Christ is to experience with deep amazement the worth and dignity of every human being, which is the good news of the gospel and the heart of Christianity.”
Blessed Frederic Ozanam lived that good news in all aspects of his life and left an inspiring legacy of love for the poor.
Voice of the Poor is the advocacy arm of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, promoting social justice on behalf of the poor and needy. For more information, contact the Phoenix Voice of the Poor committee at vop@svdp-phx-az.org or visit www.stvincentdepaul.net
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Past Letters
2008
February Letter
2007
December Letter
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