A Social Concerns Blog from Members of the Passionist Community
International Day of Non-Violence
International Day of Non-Violence: October 2nd When I despair, I remember that all through history the ways of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants, and murderers, and for a time they can seem invincible, but in the end they always fall. Think of it–always. Mahatma Gandhi This Sunday is the International ... Read more
July 4th Reflection on Religious Liberty
July 4th weekend is here and I for one am very much excited about the celebration that our local community is planning. We will be having a field day for the kids during the day accompanied by BBQ and a neighboring town will be having a Blues concert throughout the weekend. Of course there will ... Read more
“The Moral Measure of this Budget Debate” Part 2: A Just Budget and Beyond
In light of the current budget/deficit debate and the looming threat of cutting essential services to the poor and the vulnerable the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops (USCCB) have signed on the “Circle of protection” statement. The Circle of Protection is an ecumenical coalition of the Christian faiths that have come together to develop ... Read more
“The Moral Measure of this Budget Debate” Part 1. The Catholic concern
Early in May the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops wrote a letter to Congress expressing their concern with regards to the budget debate. In this letter they offered a creative and moral challenge to congress to design “a budget that reduces future deficits, protects poor and vulnerable people, advances the common good, and promotes ... Read more
Corporate Political Contributions
With the Supreme Court Case Citizen’s United Corporations were given the freedom to flex their political muscle by eroding the regulation of their political contributions on the basis that it infringed on their freedom of speech. In this Supreme Court Case Justice Anthony Kennedy stated that this freedom ought to be further exercised by the ... Read more
Engaging Economic Subsidiarity: embracing the struggle between Freedom and Equality
One’s perspective on issues determines what one sees. Broader perspectives engulf more than narrower ones. Retrieving the most fundamental perspective, at least for believers in God, entails acknowledgment that all is gift, all is grace. This is a creation perspective. Everything that we have and we possess is a gift from God. Taking gift/gratuity seriously ... Read more
Rerum Novarum and the Catholic legacy of Economic Justice
The current budget battle between the two dominant American political parties involves two familiar, age-old, disagreements on how to provide prosperity for as many people as possible. From the political forces on the right we have a firm belief that economic growth happens through a free and unregulated market system. This tradition comes to us ... Read more
Good Friday: A Transcendental Accompaniment
To enter any room you must first go through a door. Before one can authentically celebrate Easter and the Resurrection one must first celebrate Good Friday and the Passion. The liturgical celebration which we call Holy Week reminds us that our hope in God and His promise of eternal life comes at the price of ... Read more
The Japanese Situation: A Problem?
It was almost one month ago that a 9.0 earthquake off the coast of Japan triggered a massive tsunami with devastating consequences for the people in that region. Just this past week a 7.1 aftershock was felt in the area. The Passionist have a community in that area that was founded by the American community and we ... Read more
In Passion for Justice | Tagged Fr. Sebastian MacDonald, Japan, Nuclear, nuclear power, tsunami
Christian Nonviolence and the Catholic Social Tradition
When 2011 began many of us could hardly have anticipated the tidal wave of popular uprisings throughout North Africa and the Middle East. It is amazing to observe the domino effect of these popular movements and the lasting repercussion they will have within the regional balance of power. However the current Libyan situation has brought ... Read more
Recent News & Blogs
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International Day of Non-Violence
Lectionary Reflections,Passion for Justice - September 28, 2011
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Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: “The Wisdom to know the Difference”
Lectionary Reflections - July 21, 2011
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Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: The Good and Evil Wolf
Lectionary Reflections - July 14, 2011
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Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Comprehending the Incomprehensible
Lectionary Reflections - July 7, 2011
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July 4th Reflection on Religious Liberty
Passion for Justice - July 1, 2011
