Tattoos on the Heart Exam 2020

Due: 11:59 pm, May 7, 2020

Directions: Choose any three of the following questions. Respond to each in an essay of 250--
300 words. (This means 250-300 words for each question. Your exam should be a total of 750-
900 words.)

Write the essays on this document and click the Turn In tab when you have completed them.
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You will be graded on the following criteria:
Analysis of the text (40 pts.)
Relevant quotes from the text (10 pts.)
Application of Catholic Social Teaching to the material (40 points)
Written Expression (10 pts.)
1.) Certainly a place like Homeboy Industries is all folly and bad business unless the core of
the endeavor seeks to imitate the kind of God one ought to believe in.
a.) Describe Greg Boyle’s God giving direct quotes from the book.
b.) Apply at least ONE concept from Catholic Social Teaching (Key Themes of CST,
Living Justice/Sources and Methods and Reimagining God Presentations) to the
material.
c.) How is this God different or similar to the “kind of God” that has been presented
to you by teachers, the Church, society?

2.) Define what Greg Boyle means by the word kinship.

a.) Give one or two specific examples from the book.
b.) Apply at least ONE concept from Catholic Social Teaching (Key Themes of CST,
Living Justice/Sources and Methods and Reimagining God Presentations) to the
material.
c.) Describe an experience of kinship that you have observed in your own life.

3.) Greg Boyle sums up his vision in the following words: Soon we imagine, with God, the
circle of compassion. Then we imagine no one standing outside of that circle, moving
ourselves close to the margins so that the margins themselves will be erased. Explain
what the author means by the word margins.
a.) Give one or two specific examples of someone on the margins from the book.
b.) Apply at least ONE concept from Catholic Social Teaching( Key Themes of CST,
Living Justice/Sources and Methods and Reimagining God Presentations) to the
material.
c.) Think of your major. How will/have your studies at SHU prepare you for “erasing
the margins” that you encounter.
 4.) In describing his work and his belief in God, Greg Boyle states: Not much in my life
makes any sense outside of God. Certainly a place like Homeboy Industries is all folly
and bad business unless the core of the endeavor seeks to imitate the kind of God one
ought to believe in.
a.) Agree or disagree with this statement.
b.) Apply at least ONE concept from Catholic Social Teaching (Key Themes of CST,
Living Justice/Sources and Methods and Reimagining God Presentations) to the
material.
c.) Is belief in God a necessity for the work that Greg Boyle does with gang
members? Can you imagine this work being done in a totally nonreligious
context?
Analysis of the 31-40 pts. 21-30 10-20 40
text Student shows Student shows a Student shows
familiarity with the fair familiarity little familiarity
text and a deep with the text with the text and
understanding of and a cursory a shallow
the material. understanding understanding.
of the material.

Relevant 9-10pts. 7-8 3-6 10

quotes from Student chooses Student chooses Student uses
the text quotes that have an quotes that random quotes
exact loosely relate to or no quotes at
correspondence to the theme. all...vague
the theme. references to the
text.

Application of 31-40 21-30 10-20 40

the material It is evident that Essay shows Student gives
the student has some thought, little or no
thought deeply but a cursory attention to the
about the text, the and broad details of the
question and application of text, question or
Catholic Social the material. life experience.
Teaching and
applied these to the
question.

Written 9-10 7-8 3-6 10 It has been

Expression Few or no Several Grammatical, an honor and
grammatical, grammatical, spelling or a joy to have
spelling or stylistic spelling or stylistic errors. you in class
errors. stylistic errors. MacKenzie.
 You are a
woman of
great faith and
intelligence.
Thank you for
an intense
semester.

***Some of my page numbers may be different because I have the Kindle version of the
book!*** Thanks for the heads up!

2. When Greg Boyle uses the word kinship, he doesn’t mean it like a blood relationship, but
rather as a relationship as strong as a blood relationship, even though it’s not. Even going further
than that, he states that “kinship—not serving the other, but being one with the other” and
compares that to how Jesus wasn’t a “man for others”, but rather was one of them (Boyle 188).
It’s standing with someone, no matter what, and not turning your back on them. One of the
biggest examples of this in Tattoos on the Heart is one of the pillars of the book itself—
Homeboy Industries. Homeboy provides a place for people who may not be “blood”, family, or
even from the same gang to work together and be understanding and compassionate of one
another. Another example specifically occurs when Greg is explaining true compassion, and then
tells the story of his visit to Helena, Montana with two homies, Julian and Matteo. On that trip,
kinship was exemplified through Matteo’s blessing of Greg during mass, and the newspaper
article written about the homies, as well as the people who stop to talk to the homies. Those
people make the homies feel like they are somebody, like they’re equals, like they’re important.
To me, this exemplifies many themes of CST, but the rights and dignity of every
individual and solidarity in particular. Everyone is important, valued, and has rights, which
sometimes seems to be lost when taking gang members into consideration. In addition, the
solidarity of all of the homies together, as well as anyone who works with them (as equals), is
kinship.One wonders how our society would be different if everyone were able to experience this
feeling of importance/worth.
I feel as though right now is a time in which kinship is both very common and very
important. Recently, with the loss of senior year and many milestones for the Class of 2020, my
community has come together for an “adopt a senior” initiative, in which people/families sign up
to sponsor a senior and make them a gift basket. The response was so overwhelming that each of
the 147 seniors have 3 sponsors each. This is a perfect show of kinship, as people are “adopting”
children other than their own and providing them with gifts, keepsakes, and college supplies for
the next chapter in their lives.A lovely example, MacKenzie.

3. To Greg, margins are the edge and dividing line of those who are outside, who are not
considered “someone” (either to others or themselves), and who are struggling with something in
their lives. The people outside the margins are those who are considered “troubled”(or trouble)
and outcast for one reason or another. Many of the people Greg works with are marginalized. A
perfect example of this and the shift to erase margins is from Julian and Matteo’s trip to Helena,
and Greg’s response of how they are two of the many on the margins. Greg writes that “Matteo
and Julian had never been inside before. Now a new place of fellowship has been forged, some
roof in Montana has been ripped right open, and those outside have been let in,” Do you
remember the reference of “roof ripped off” here MacKenzie? Boyle is referring to the Gospel
passage where the four people lower their friend through the roof. One of the amazing thing that
Boyle does is to insist that the Gospel is being played out in front of our eyes. (Boyle 79). Not
long after presenting that example, Greg also talks about some of the work that he did in Bolivia,
and his first ever wedding. He talked about how the Quechua (native) couple and congregation
refused to receive communion, because when they were “converted” they were baptized, but not
allowed to receive communion. They were made to believe that they are lesser than those who
“converted them” (which they really didn’t truly convert them)One could say the ones who
baptized them were never really converted themselves!. While they were baptized, “no roofs
ever got ripped open”, and they were still left on the outside looking in (Boyle 80).
This is an example of the CST of solidarity. The goods of creation are meant for all, no
matter their background, who they are, or where they come from. Leaving these people on and
outside the margins is the complete opposite of treating people with equality and equity of all
aspects of life, as they should be treated.Yes. And the challenge for us is to look for roofs that
need to be ripped open.
As for my major here at SHU, I am a biology and secondary education major. Being a
teacher is a perfect platform for erasing margins that I encounter. There are many ways to do
this, and teaching science is a great way because I can help those who do not have quality access
to science education, those who experience prejudice in the field, I can choose to work in a
lower-income district, and most of all, I can reach kids from all walks of life as a teacher.I
remembered the Biology, I had forgotten that you were in the Secondary Ed. Program
MacKenzie. Indeed! You will be a powerful force in the lives of your students and a genuine
roof “ripper offer!”

4. I would agree with Greg Boyle’s statement. He felt as though he was called to start
Homeboy Industries in order to work with the homies to transform their lives, to destroy
margins, and to share the compassion and kinship of God’s love. He even simply says that
“compassion is God,” (Boyle 81).Pope Francis says something similar: “Mercy is Doctrine!”
Additionally Greg enables those he works with to recognize others “as the shape of God’s heart”,
which is not often something the homies believe they can achieve (Boyle 205). I’m not entirely
sure that Homeboy would be considered “folly and bad business” without God as the core, but it
definitely does help the cause and I’m sure it puts some people at ease and encourages the
support it receives. Also, without the Church and the aid it receives from the community,
Homeboy Industries may not be able to exist. Yes. On a very practical level, many people who
support HI do so because of a desire to do something “religious” with their money.
 Father Greg Boyle perfectly exemplifies all aspects of CST in his everyday life. He
closes Tattoos on the Heart with the quote “And so the voices at the margins get heard and the
circle of compassion widens. Souls feeling their worth, refusing to forget that we belong to each
other” (Boyle 212). While he acknowledges his work is never really done, he is consistently
working towards breaking barriers for those marginalized, giving everyone the dignity they
deserve, as well as standing in solidarity with our brothers and sisters. Additionally, he is
providing people with jobs in which they are not being taken advantage of, and enabling and
inspiring those he works with to value their lives and their roles within their family (like those
who had decided to be the father that they never had for their children).
Although Greg’s work is awesome and inspiring, I do believe that the belief in God isn’t
necessarily a need to be able to do this work. I can see it being done in a non-religious context.
Much of what he has done doesn’t even have direct ties to God or religion (such as cutting gang-
related homicides from 1,000 down to 250), yet is still so important (Boyle 218). With that being
said, I think that the belief in God definitely helps the cause, as that and CST provide a guide for
his work. His faith is powerful, and that shows through his work and progress he has made.
Fair enough.