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Christian Social Responsibility in A Post-Katrina City
Christian Social Responsibility in A Post-Katrina City
a Post-Katrina City
Edward B. Arroyo, S.J.
Based largely on the thought of the late Richard McCormick, S.J.
A City on the Banks of a River
At first all was well
Then
Physical ailments
More and more sickness, among plants and
animals too
Even the fish got sick
It got so serious, it seemed nothing could help
A City on the Banks of a River
The people met to discuss their options, and asked:
1. What steps would I personally think about taking?
2. How far would I be willing to go toward discovering the
root(s) of the problem?
3. How far would I be willing to go toward changing these root(s)
in order to alleviate the problem?
4. What are some societal problems in our country or world that
are similar to the one portrayed in this story?
5. What does our Christian faith tell us about these problems?
6. Which of these societal problems could God be calling us to
address?
A City on the Banks of a River
Tonight, my friends, we are those people in such a city!
We ask ourselves:
1. What is our Christian Social Responsibility?
2. What can I do?
3. What can we do?
3000+ Years of Biblical
Justice Teaching
Social Covenant
Prophetic Challenge
Poor, Widows, Orphans, Strangers
2000 Years of Christian
Justice Teaching
Good news to the poor
Release of the captives
Freedom for the oppressed
What you do for the least…
2000 years of Christians
committed to social discipleship
Saints in service of neighbor, such as
Vincent de Paul
Peter Claver
Others closer to home, such as
Katherine Drexel
Henriette de Lille
117 Years of more
specific Catholic Social
Teaching
Why? Why?
Feeling Feeling
Feeling Feeling
Why?
Why?
Once you have identified your feelings and their sources you can then bring this to
prayer or talk it over with someone.
What are some of the feelings
surfaced in your groups?
What are some of the sources of
these feelings surfaced in your
groups?
Creating a Socially Sensitive
Conscience:
Against Apathy Feeling Right