Progressives Hail their "Moral Issue"
I have to study for a take-home tonight, but wanted to quickly recommend this Times Magazine article on the newest political "moral issue," the living wage (What Is a Living Wage? - New York Times).
Rev. Jerome Martinez, a supporter of Santa Fe's living wage movement, said "I have gotten a lot of grief from some people, business owners, who say, 'Father, why don't you stick to religion?' Well, pardon me - this is religion. The scripture is full of matters of justice. How can you worship a God that you do not see and then oppress the workers that you do see?"
I hope this article inspires more Christians in power to think seriously about how they can support the vision of worker dignity contained in Catholic social teaching. Legatus is an organization of Catholic executives, "witnesses to Christians ethics in the field of business," their website says. A list of goals written by one Catholic CEO doesn't invoke these beyond recommending examination of "ethical business practices," (which could have to do with consumers rather than workers)--but he does recommend using religious stamps.
posted by Theologienne @ 11:50 AM
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3 Comments:
I found the piece on covering in the same issue of the NYT Magazine to be pretty thought provoking as well...
there is a catholic priest in Rochester, N>Y> Rev. Cool who has taken to the barricades in defense of social scurity and against the current administration's efforts to dismantle it. Social justice, indeed
It is always so easy for us to say that someone else -- often, as in this case, the government -- should work to help the poor. Jesus did not ask Caesar to help the poor; he told his followers to do so. Why does the American church focus so much on what the government should do, rather than challenging us as individuals to look after our neighbors?
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