Justice Matters: 

Last week we were invited to act, by reading about the Laudato Si movement, born after Pope Francis published his encyclical Laudato Si.  Central to Laudato Si is the figure of St Francis of Assisi whose “response to the world around him was so much more than intellectual appreciation or economic calculus, for to him each and every creature was a sister united to him by bonds of affection. That is why he felt called to care for all that exists.” Pope Francis is encouraging us to widen our view of what it is to be human and to see the whole of creation as our family.  

SEE:     We see that often, our leaders’ actions don’t demonstrate care for all. The West’s failure to share the vaccine appears rooted in an attitude of selfishness which insulates us from others’ suffering. We see our own government's response to refugees. There is a refusal to acknowledge human suffering and our common bond with our brothers and sisters. They focus on legality and are moving to change the law in order to enforce a “tougher stance”. https://www.freedomfromtorture.org/news/everything-you-need-to-know-about-priti-patels-anti-refugee-bill  .We also see that governments can act for the common good. In 1948 the NHS came into being based on “essential values were, firstly, that the services helped everyone; secondly, healthcare was free and finally, that care would be provided based on need rather than ability to pay.”

REFLECT:     on Pope Francis’ words as he continues to speak about St Francis “Such a conviction cannot be written off as naive romanticism, for it affects the choices which determine our behaviour. If we approach nature and the environment without this openness to awe and wonder, if we no longer speak the language of fraternity and beauty in our relationship with the world, our attitude will be that of masters, consumers, ruthless exploiters, unable to set limits on their immediate needs. By contrast, if we feel intimately united with all that exists, then sobriety and care will well up spontaneously.”  LS #11

ACT:    One of the most difficult things is to enter into the pain of others.  For the last two years we have all had to live differently.  One of the most common sorrows has been the dislocation and disruption to relationships. This is a sorrow felt by people forced to move from home and family.  You could try to read more about their stories in the links above and perhaps act to defeat the anti- refugee bill.  Also celebrate those around you who act out of love whether it be in the food banks, at the night shelter or in a multitude of settings.  Perhaps find out more about the NHS and how we can support the values upon which it was founded. 

Tricia Kaminski