Posted on 07/27/2013 4:55:27 AM PDT by Kaslin
"The only way to survive here is to become a drug dealer. The lucky ones drive cabs and don't have to," Donovan explained to me. He is groundskeeper at Our Lady of Fatima Church in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. I thought of Donovan as the first American pope greeted millions in Rio for World Youth Day.
There is a "selfishness that prevails in our society," the pope said. He spoke of "dealers of death" who "follow the logic of power and money at any cost," and a "scourge of drug-trafficking, that favors violence and sows the seeds of suffering and death."
To solve this problem requires a societal act of courage. He dismissed "liberalization of drug use" efforts, insisting that "it is necessary to confront the problems underlying the use of these drugs, by promoting greater justice, educating young people in the values that build up life in society, accompanying those in difficulty and giving them hope for the future."
He went on to challenge and encourage us to make that confrontation: "We must hold the hand of the one in need, of the one who has fallen into the darkness of dependency perhaps without even knowing how, and we must say to him or her: You can get up, you can stand up. It is difficult, but it is possible if you want to."
It was hard not to be moved by the scenes this past week of the pope visiting the favelas -- slums -- of Varginha. Beautiful children, delighted mothers, beaming fathers -- they all held out their hands, hoping for a word and a prayer.
Pope Francis talked about our common humanity to these people. No one should remain insensitive to the inequalities that persist in the world. Everybody, according to his or her particular opportunities and responsibilities, should be able help put an end to social injustice. A "culture of solidarity," he said, "seeing others not as rivals or statistics, but brothers and sisters" is what "builds up and leads to a more habitable world."
There are moral guideposts being celebrated and highlighted in Rio that can enrich our civic lives and help civil society flourish.
Donovan in Jamaica has gotten the message that the pope seeks to deliver to the world. Just before Thanksgiving, when I ran into him, still cleaning up from Hurricane Sandy, he was expectant. That coming weekend, he would be receiving Communion for the first time. "When I am at a celebration of the Eucharist, I delight in the Eucharist. I know God is here. I feel his presence," Donovan told me, standing in the small prayer hall adjacent to the church. The declaration came in the midst of grinding poverty of the kind that could breed envy, as tourists from luxury cruise liners come through town day after day. And yet there is a hope on some faces.
"I know my life has purpose. I don't know what God's will for me is, but I know he made me with a purpose. I know he loves me. And I just try to share what I know of him. Sometimes God's purpose for us is in small things. Sometimes it is a smile to someone who is having a bad day -- we all have bad days. We all have worries and troubles, sometimes our purpose is to show a little love."
In Rio, Pope Francis talked about his desire to knock on every door in Brazil. Obviously, he can't do that. But the Church he leads is one in which every single member has a missionary mandate. At the heart of that mandate is a hope that is more powerful than politics and can never be fully seen on TV. Whatever you believe, perhaps we can at least all start with respect for our common human dignity, which no culture, no form of politics, no addiction should rob us of. And thank God for that.
James 2:16
If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?
I await the other shoe...
At least HALF of OUR country knows HOW OUR folks got into dependency.
The problem is now how to END that without massive societal disruptions.
He is telling people to pick THEMSELVES up, no matter how hard it is. He didn't say the government should pick them up, he said they should do it themselves.
Then you come back and say somebody should give them stuff?
Additionally, a look slightly further up in James 2 confirms the doctrine of the Catholic Church in a more general matter.
And if a brother or sister be naked, and want daily food: 16 And one of you say to them: Go in peace, be ye warmed and filled; yet give them not those things that are necessary for the body, what shall it profit? 17 So faith also, if it have not works, is dead in itself. 18 But some man will say: Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without works; and I will shew thee, by works, my faith. 19 Thou believest that there is one God. Thou dost well: the devils also believe and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, offering up Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 Seest thou, that faith did co-operate with his works; and by works faith was made perfect?
James 2:16
If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?
I await the other shoe...
Not sure where you're going with this snippet. Are you implying the Pope, through the Church and the thousands of Catholic charitable organizations around the world, "does nothing about their physical needs"? You would have to be kidding.
I guess the implication that teaching and preaching is bad? There is this other quotation that comes to mind—how does it go? It was the devil who was making your side of the argument, when he demanded Jesus turn stones into bread.
Jesus told him, "Not in bread alone doth man live, but in every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God." (Matthew 4:4)
It can be confusing, between the two kinds of anti-Catholic myna birds. The other kind, the sola fide enthusiast, would be spending his energy avoiding this same epistle of James, which adds, at 2:26, "Faith without works is dead."
It was inspiring seeing this Pope wander through throngs of crowds, kissing babies and shaking hands, fearlessly. It was troubling watching it, knowing what happened to John Paul II, who was shot by a muslim (and later visited his prison and forgave him). This new pope seemed unconcerned about any danger. It was clear that the impoverished people of the slum he visited were overjoyed at his visit. God bless Pope Francis and all other Christian leaders who reach out to the poor of the world.
In YOUR haste to attack me; YOU have failed to note that the POPE did NOT say those things!
You, too, appear to miss the FACT that the POPE did NOT say these things; but someone called Donovan!
You see the destructive results of Obamabot socialism alive and well in Brazil!!! You see millions of the little people turning out to see, admire and respect Pope Francis. You see little if any coverage of his historic visit to South America on USA TV or media!!! Sad to say....I have to watch the BBC news to follow the Pope’s visit!!!
Want to see what Obama has brought to Black Americans...just visit the inner city slums that he fosters on with its crime, murder, massive abortions, broken families, no fathers, poor education, no opportunities, etc. And...yes America is slowly sinking into a controlled Obama socialist/communist state!!! America is losing her heart, her soul, her vision, her religion, her freedom, her liberty, her opportunity, etc.!!! Shame on you.....American public!!!
Actually, I gave a direct quote from the pope.
Yes; you did.
But I did not state ANYTHING the pope said:
"We must hold the hand of the one in need, of the one who has fallen into the darkness of dependency perhaps without even knowing how, and we must say to him or her: You can get up, you can stand up. It is difficult, but it is possible if you want to."
He went on to challenge and encourage us to make that confrontation: "We must hold ...
"HE" is Donovan.
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