September 12, 2021 - "Labor Day 2021"

Last Monday we celebrated Labor Day which in my childhood marked the end of the summer vacation.  The day after Labor Day marked the first day of school.  It was a day of new routines, getting to know the new teacher—in most cases our classroom teacher was a Sister of Mercy, and seeing friends after the summer absence.  It wasn’t until many years later I learned the significance of Labor Day.  Now that I have a better understanding of why we celebrate Labor Day, I look forward to the annual statement by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops for the occasion.  Their statement follows in the footsteps of that great champion of the working man and woman:  James Cardinal Gibbons, Archbishop of Baltimore from 1877 to 1921.  The statement for Labor Day 2021 was issued by Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City in his capacity as the chairman of the U. S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development.  Archbishop Coakley makes the observation that these are both encouraging signs of economic recovery and ongoing hardships related to COVID-19.
 
In his statement for Labor Day 2021, Archbishop Coakley echoes the call of Pope Francis from the encyclical Fratelli Tutti, to rise out of this crisis with an economy that expresses universal fraternity.  He writes, “It is our task not only to reflect on the present ills of the economy, but also to build consensus around human dignity and the common good, the bedrocks of Catholic social teaching, and to answer the Pope’s call to propose new and creative economic responses to human need, both locally and globally.”  Archbishop Coakley also calls attention to the Holy Father’s Economy of Francesco initiative, as well as the responses of the Churches’ many ministries to the increased needs of the pandemic.
 
The Economy of Francesco initiative refers to an online event that occurred in November 2020.  At that time Pope Francis invited young people around the world to gather virtually to consider ways of making the economy of today and tomorrow fair, sustainable, and inclusive.  The Economy of Francesco gathering, inspired by the example of St. Francis of Assisi, featured workshops, seminars, and lectures with leading experts in economics, sustainable development, and the social sciences, including Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunnus.
 
I want to close my column today by quoting Archbishop Coakley’s remarks about “Going Forward”:

 [Last]. . .Sunday’s second reading instructs us to show no partiality as we adhere to the faith. St. James tells us that we become judges with evil designs when we remain distant from the poor (James 2: 1-5). Pope Francis has made a similar point as he observes that we sometimes justify our indifference for the poor by looking the other way and living our lives as if they simply do not exist. Not only are our actions insufficient, but our sight as well, when we ignore the poor and do not allow their pleas to touch our hearts. Let us accept together the challenge of reemerging from this crisis with an economy that works for all of God’s children. Let us first pray for those who have died, their loved ones, those who are ill, those who have lost their jobs, and for an end to this crisis. Let us do what we can to protect ourselves, our loved ones, and our communities from rising infections. We also invite all who are able to volunteer and donate at your local parish, Catholic Charities site, or CCHD-supported organization in rebuilding our communities. Finally, let us engage in building “a better kind of politics” by entering into dialogue with elected officials, calling them to an authentic politics that is rooted in the dignity of the human person and promotes the common good.
 
The pandemic has universally presented us with many shared experiences.  May we build on this moment with a global fraternity that transcends partnership and eradicates injustices in all its forms.
 
Until next week,
Fr. John