Social Justice

Around Christmas Time I had a person ask me if I supported social justice.  I said yes to which she responded that the previous pastor did too but she doesn’t.  I don’t remember exactly what her next comment was and…

If you watch the news at all, you are well aware that it is a presidential election year.  There will also be various other elections depending on where you live.  The issues remain the same ranging from abortion and euthanasia…

In Western New York where I live we have been having one of the mildest winters ever.  The temperatures have been warmer than normal and the snowfall is much less than normal.  Many people have been talking how wonderful it…

Each year our Diocesan Public Policy Committee selects three issues to promote awareness of.  This year’s issues are Sex Trafficking – Even in our own country, people are exploited and treated as objects of pleasure.  Our faith is clear that…

October is Respect Life Month for the Catholic Church in America.  Life is an awesome gift from God.  Pope John Paul II wrote the Gospel of Life recognizing the gift.  Life is indeed a gift.  Life is more than just…

I was just praying over the readings for Monday, October 3, 2011 (Monday of the 27th Week in Ordinary Time).  The gospel is the familiar story of the Good Samaritan.  A man had been robbed and beaten and left along…

I recently finished reading Render Unto Caesar by Archbishop Charles J. Chaput (Doubleday: New York, 2008.)  The subtitle “Serving the Nation by Living Our Catholic Beliefs in Political Life” really speaks to his point, ‘we must stand up for what…

“Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be satisfied.”  These are words spoken by Jesus as he began his Sermon on the Mount.  They are words we heard this Sunday in church.  Righteousness is to…

In the United States, on Monday, we will be celebrating Labor Day.  In celebrating Labor Day, we celebrate the achievements we have made through our work (The history of Labor Day goes back over 100 years.). Some people look at…

Our Catholic Teaching calls us to stand up for the poor and the vulnerable.  The fourth of the Seven Principles of Catholic Social Teaching speaks of this.  Jesus calls us to help the hungry, thirsty, and those without shelter or…

Each year, on the second Tuesday of March, the New York State Catholic Conference holds Public Policy Day.  NYS Catholics are encouraged to come to Albany to advocate for our Catholic Principles.  The Conference selects issues to encourage us to…

This year’s issue for the Diocese of Rochester Public Policy Weekend (February 13th/14th) is Comprehensive Immigration Reform.  In preparation for the weekend I have attended a presentation on Immigration Reform and doing some research on my own.  From this work,…

In my previous blogs on the parish website, I have talked about some of our social ministry efforts at St. Mary’s but I am not sure I have ever talked about why we have a social ministry program. To answer…