points of understanding

Polly Duncan Collum (see accompanying article) provides training and experience in Glenmary parishes, helping to name the importance of social justice in being fully Catholic. “There’s a huge body of work known as Catholic social teaching,” she says. “Generally, the Catholic faithful might have a cursory knowledge of that, but not very deep.” She travels from parish to parish, providing catechesis, that is, “faith-learning,” on justice, peace and the integrity of creation. They are three dimensions of the same gospel truth: love one another.

In her workshops she covers three main points:

1 2 3

Where is the pain? She helps parish members identify signs of injustice such as dangerous housing, unfair work conditions, neglected children.

What can we do about it? What can a parish do to address the injustice? How can local Catholics stand in solidarity with those who are being treated unjustly? One example was the widespread hospitality that parishioners in Tennessee showed for victims of an immigration raid that tore apart families.

How can social teaching guide us in our efforts? For instance, the dignity, the human person is a key understanding in Christianity. Says Polly, “In our workshop, we talked a lot about that. Why is that important? How does that guide us very concretely and specifically in our local action?”

—John Feister

Brother Craig