PRAYER - STUDY - ACTION
Pax Christi San Antonio has chosen to support the position taken by Pax Christi USA
which follows:
NOVEMBER 9, 2021 PAXCHRISTI USA STATEMENTS
“Blessed is the one who stays awake” – Our response to criticism of today’s movements for social justice
Ed. Note: The following is an official statement from Pax Christi USA. We invite other Catholic institutions — Pax Christi state chapters and local groups, parishes, religious orders, universities and schools, peace and justice organizations — to join us by adding your organization to this statement or issuing one of your own in support of the work being done by movements criticized in Archbishop Gomez’s speech. Click here to sign on and add your organization’s support.
Click here for additional information, responses and context regarding Archbishop Gomez’s speech and responses to it.
In a speech given to the Congress of Catholics and Public Life in Madrid, Spain on November 4, Los Angeles Archbishop José Gomez, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, characterized today’s movements for social justice as anti-Christian pseudo-religions. We reject this negative and misleading stereotype of movements which we support and with whom we act for justice in solidarity. We are motivated by their very commitment to the values that we believe to be at the heart of the gospel of Jesus and expressed so eloquently in Catholic social teaching.
There are too many mistaken charges and judgements made by the archbishop to address comprehensively, but we want to raise one that we find particularly scandalous. Archbishop Gomez condemns what he calls ‘woke’ movements that he believes are ‘dangerous substitutes for true religion’. His derisive use of the term ‘woke’ is commonplace among those who feel the power they have traditionally wielded is threatened by those who call for greater justice, equity and social change.
But the concept of ‘waking up’, of having one’s eyes opened to see more clearly what was hidden or ignored should sound familiar to Catholics. To lament ‘becoming woke’ is to miss the message of the gospel, the language of Jesus, John the Baptist, the apostles and the early Christian community for whom ‘waking up’ was a metaphor for an experience of transformation, the Christian concept of conversion, metanoia.
Whether one finds themselves inside or outside the world of institutional religion, the hunger for justice that results from a change of heart and mind and is incarnated in new attitudes and actions is something to be celebrated, not condemned. The language may not always resemble traditional ‘church-talk’ but the prophetic work of today’s social justice movements all across the globe provides a crucial contribution to our ability to ‘read the signs of the times’. Like John the Baptist, these prophetic figures are not necessarily found in churches on Sunday, nor do they find favor in the halls of religious power, but their message is as challenging as John’s: “Repent, for the reign of heaven has come near” (Matt. 3:2).
We need look no further than Pope Francis for the antidote to the criticism levied by Archbishop Gomez. When the pope addressed the Fourth World Meeting of Popular Movements in October, his words — directed specifically at young people who are so often the engines of today’s movements for social justice — were words of encouragement and praise. He called them “social poets” because they have “the ability and the courage to create hope where there appears to be only waste and exclusion.”
Recognizing the importance of listening to the voices of those who live on the peripheries of power and entitlement, Pope Francis told these social justice activists:
“Sisters and brothers, I am convinced that the world can be seen more clearly from the peripheries. We must listen to the peripheries, open the doors to them and allow them to participate. The suffering of the world is better understood alongside those who suffer. In my experience, when people, men and women, have suffered injustice, inequality, abuse of power, deprivations, and xenophobia in their own flesh – in my experience, I can see that they understand much better what others are experiencing and are able to help them realistically to open up paths of hope.”
Where some like Archbishop Gomez have chosen to condemn, Pope Francis chooses to “bless the ones who stay awake” (Rev. 16:15).
“Do you know what comes to mind now when… I think of the Good Samaritan? …The protests over George Floyd,” stated Pope Francis. “This movement did not pass by on the other side of the road when it saw the injury to human dignity caused by an abuse of power.”
We will always stand with the marginalized, the discounted and those demonized by the powerful. We stand with all our friends in social movements in the U.S. and around the world who live on the peripheries and call out for all of us to awaken to the promise of social justice. We hear in these voices St. Paul who encouraged the Ephesians, “Sleeper, awake! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you” (Eph. 5:14).
Signatories:
Pax Christi USA
Franciscan Action Network
Association of U.S. Catholic Priests
NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice
Sisters of Divine Providence
Sisters of Saint Joseph of Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, PA
National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd
Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd
Office of Peace, Justice, and Ecological Integrity/Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth
International Thomas Merton Society
The Quixote Center
Gospel Nonviolent Working Group, Association of U.S. Catholic Priests
Pax Christi Texas
Saint Susanna Parish (MA)
Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
St. Teresa of Avila Church, Audubon, PA
Good Troublemakers of Roman Catholic Women Priests (RCWP): Committee on Racial Justice
Pax Christi Baltimore
Pax Christi Lansing (MI)
Catholic Scholars for Worker Justice
Pax Christi Little Rock (AR)
Pax Christi Houston (TX)
Pax Christi Greensburg (PA)
Pax Christi Manasota Chapter (FL)
Pax Christi New Jersey
Pax Christi Harrisburg
Pax Christi Michigan
Pax Christi Memphis
New Wineskins Catholic Worker
Peace and Social Justice Committee, Christ the Servant Parish (IL)
Pax Christi Orange County (CA)
Pax Christi Whatcom (WA)
Pax Christi Australia
St. Rita Catholic Church (CA)
Pax Christi Illinois
Saints Francis & Thérèse Catholic Worker, Worcester, MA
Dorothy Day Catholic Worker House, DC
Pax Christi Hilton Head (SC)
Equality for Women in the Church
Pittsburgh Area Pax Christi
Whole Health Outreach
Pax Christi Maine
The Assisi Project
Pax Christi Maryknoll (NY)
Lakeshore Pax Christi (WI)
Pax Christi Western NY
Pax Christi Austin (TX)
Gesu Church Peace & Justice Committee, Detroit, MI
Pax Christi Florida
Kairos Peace Community, NYC
The Interspiritual Empowerment Project
Voices for Racial Justice
Pax Christi Seed Planters (IL)
William & Mary Catholic Campus Ministry Service & Justice Book Club (VA)
Oaxaca
Sadako House Catholic Worker, Norfolk, VA
Hampton Roads Pax Christi (VA)
Pax Christi San Antonio (TX)
Agape Community (MA)
Association of Pittsburgh Priests (PA)
We ask that you continue to offer prayers for Tony Blasi and Fr. Joe Wagner who are experiencing health challenges.
We ask for health in mind, body and spirit and for our communal prayer to ask for blessings and strength for those dear to us.
From our National Pax Christi Office:
“The revolution is at hand, and we must free ourselves of the chains of political and economic slavery. The nonviolent revolution is saying, ‘We will not wait for the courts to act, for we have been waiting hundreds of years. We will not wait for the President, nor the Justice Department, nor Congress, but we will take matters into our own hands, and create a great source of power, outside of any national structure that could and would assure us victory.’ For those who have said, ‘Be patient and wait!’ we must say, ‘Patience is a dirty and nasty word.’ We cannot be patient, we do not want to be free gradually, we want our freedom, and we want it now."
~Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., August 28, 1963
Ultimately, we know that even once the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act are enacted, there is still work to be done. People who are incarcerated or living with a felony conviction, those without citizenship, survivors of power-based violence needing to maintain anonymity for their safety, and countless other populations will continue to face barriers to voting access unless we push for even more reforms. These essential pieces of legislation remind us of the many reasons to continue working towards the elimination of barriers in every facet of our democracy.
In peace,
Lauren Bailey
National Field Organizer, Pax Christi USA
You are asked to act join us in opposing the Death Penalty.
Scheduled Executions in TexasScheduled Execution Last NameFirst NameTDCJ NumberDate of BirthRaceDate ReceivedCounty
10/27/2021 Gutierrez Ruben 9993080 6/10/1977 Cameron
11/10/2021 Chanthakoummane Kosoul 999529 10/01/1980 Collin
11/17/2021 Gonzales Ramiro 999513 11/05/1982 Medina
Several persons have been taken off the schedule for execution.
And we are grateful.
Position of Pax Christi USA ON MASS INCARCERATION AND THE DEATH PENALTY
The United States has the highest per-capita incarceration rate in the world, clear evidence of a “throwaway culture,” as Pope Francis describes it in his first Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium. The U.S. criminal justice system upholds and perpetuates a racial caste and economic disparities by criminalizing poverty, addiction, and mental illness. Jim Crow laws morphed into the targeted mass incarceration of Black people and other people of color, while racialized migrants fleeing violence and oppression fed by U.S. foreign policy are caged in prisons (‘detention centers’) at the U.S. Southern border and other prisons around the country. As a community of conscience, we stand together to support the creation and implementation of restorative justice practices rooted in respect for human dignity, healing, accountability, repair, and restoration; we call for an end to immigration incarceration and for the abolition of the death penalty.
Pax Christi Social Justice Principles
There are many, many social justice issues, which at times find us overwhelmed and wishing we could be more effective. The Pax Christi principles will be listed here in summary and should you have an interest in addressing one or more in our meetings, please share your thoughts and resources.
Extracts from Pax Christi Statement of Principles
Land Acknowledgement: We acknowledge the displacement of Indigenous peoples.
Acknowledgement of the Legacy of Slavery: We recognize the profiteering and the continuing to benefit.
Acknowledgement of the Role of the Catholic Church: We acknowledge and repent for the sins of anti-Black racism, enslavement and segregation.
On Racial Justice: Violence inherent in systemic racism is an affront to the God who creates.
On (Im)migration: Migrants and refugees are fleeing poverty, violence, and environmental devastation. We support refuge, citizenship and justice.
On Climate Change: We support action on a condition which fuels poverty, food insecurity, displacement and violence.
On Militarism: We support the abolition of nuclear weapons, the funding of nonviolent solutions to conflict.
On Palestine: We support pressure of the leaders of Israel toward a just peace.
Covid-19: We support people of color, the elderly, people with disabilities.
Healthcare: We support a universal healthcare system.
LGBTQ+ Equality: We affirm the right to equality and an end to criminalization.
Mass Incarceration and the Death Penalty: We support restorative justice practices and an end to the death penalty.
On Education: We support an educational system which supports a historically accurate curricula.
Homelessness and Housing: We support affordable and accessible housing.
Gun Violence: We support reasonable measures and universal background checks.
On Labor: We support the dignity in all work, fair wages, and the ability to join unions.
The complete reference to the Principles are located at:
https://paxchristiusa.org/2020/09/16/statement-of-principles-elections-2020/
Learn more of San Antonio Pax Christi and consider joining our monthly zoom educational gatherings on the first Saturday of the month. https://www.paxchristisa.org/ Also learn of more at paxchristiusa.org and international Pax Christi https://paxchristi.net/
Future events of Pax Christi San Antonio will address Social Justice and Minorities, and International Peace. We will continue to address Mass Incarceration and the Death Penalty.
Join us in promoting Nonviolence and collaborating with and supporting others in our community
toward Nonviolence, promoting of youth and minority leadership, and all others who wish to
promote peace.
Pax Christi is an international peace action which grounds in the gospel and Catholic Social Teaching. We welcome all advocates of peace and invite issues and presentations by those who are not Catholic and share our concerns. We hope to extend our hospitality.
Grounded in the Gospel and Catholic social teaching, Pax Christi San Antonio is a membership organization that rejects war, preparation for war, every form of violence and domination, and personal and systemic racism. As a section of Pax Christi International, we are a Catholic peace and justice movement that seeks to model the Peace of Christ in our witness to the mandate of the nonviolence of the Cross
Grounded in the Gospel and Catholic social teaching, Pax Christi San Antonio is a membership organization that rejects war, preparation for war, every form of violence and domination, and personal and systemic racism. As a section of Pax Christi International, we are a Catholic peace and justice movement that seeks to model the Peace of Christ in our witness to the mandate of the nonviolence of the Cross
TCADP San Antonio, TX
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Check the notices for details.
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You are invited to engage in this process, help us identify leaders and engage in collaboration.
Arthur Dawes, MA, MSW
Coordinator
Pax Christi San Antonio
arthurdawes@att.net
210-213-5919
Notices
Anti-Nuclear Weapons Banners: Please take a look at the picture of the banner in the attachment. It refers to an international treaty that the Holy See has ratified. Pax Christi Dallas is working with the Nuclear Free World committee for the Dallas Peace and Justice Center to find good places in Texas to put them for the month of January--high traffic areas near a traffic light or stop sign where cars have to stop so then the drivers will have a chance to read them. In the bottom corners you will see the website link to ICAN (www.icanw.org) so that folks can go there and finds lots of information. ICAN is the International Coalition to Abolish Nuclear Weapons and won the Nobel Peace Prize about a year ago. For a banner, contact Joyce Hall: hallmj@sbcglobal.net
What really happens to the used clothing you donate? Read this revelatory article by Anna deSouza: https://www.rd.com/article/what-happens-used-clothing-donations/
Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act. First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Antonio was the first local organization to endorse this bill, which has also been endorsed by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. See https://mail.yahoo.com/d/folders/1/messages/AL3K2mRHejHBX9ewnwO9CKEAaFY
Texas Death Penalty Developments in 2020: The Year in Review, Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty. Access the report at: https://tcadp.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Texas-Death-Penalty-Developments-in-2020-FINAL.pdf
Watch Pax Christi USA’s Michelle Sherman, interviewed in the “Young Peacebuilders” series of Pax Christi International: https://paxchristiusa.org/2020/12/16/watch-pax-christi-usas-michelle-sherman-featured-on-young-peacebuilders-series/
Executive Director, Hope Border Institute
Sr. Norma Pimentel, Executive Director, Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley
Access the webinar at: https://justiceforimmigrants.org/webinars/border-realities-and-migrant-protection-webinar/
Online Resource for families or small groups:
If you’re needing some social interaction with depth, more than just listening to zoom webinars, longing for the social time that used to happen before and after Mass, consider using the Maryknoll Weekly Reflection Guides. Gather as family or small group and use these guides in Facetime, Skype, Zoom etc. This an easy online structure with prayer, an introductory theme, a link to the Sunday Readings and some reflection questions to guide group conversation. Using the SeeJudgeAct methodology, you will be led as a group to consider where, in light of the shared reflection, the Spirit is calling you this week. The Global Solidarity charism of the Maryknoll family will feed you spiritually for these challenging times. Find the Guides in both Spanish and English at:
https://www.maryknoll.us/home/resources/mission-spirituality/ordinary-time-2020
Pax Christi International
http://www.paxchristi.net/
Pax Christi U.S.A.
http://www.paxchristiusa.org
Pax Christi Texas
http://www.paxchristitexas.org
Pax Christi San Antonio
http://www.paxchristisa.org
COPS / Metro Alliance
www.copsmetro.com/
Marianist Social Justice Collaborative
www.msjc.net
Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, International JPIC Committee
http://saccvi.blogspot.com/
San Antonio Peace Center
http://www.sanantoniopeace.center
Interfaith Radio, (Interfaith Voices)
http://www.interfaithradio.org/
Texas Catholic Campaign to End the Death Penalty
www.txccedp.org
Pax Christi International
http://www.paxchristi.net/
Pax Christi U.S.A.
http://www.paxchristiusa.org
Pax Christi Texas
http://www.paxchristitexas.org
Pax Christi San Antonio
http://www.paxchristisa.org
COPS / Metro Alliance
www.copsmetro.com/
Marianist Social Justice Collaborative
www.msjc.net
Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, International JPIC Committee
http://saccvi.blogspot.com/
San Antonio Peace Center
http://www.sanantoniopeace.center
Interfaith Radio, (Interfaith Voices)
http://www.interfaithradio.org/
Texas Catholic Campaign to End the Death Penalty
www.txccedp.org
