Faith and Ethical Mandates

Christian Justice Response

Christianity has always  emphasized equitable behavior for all and lifting up those who are less than. So the same is believed to apply for education. If everyone moves along and helps each other out together, then it is not only giving an equal chance but most importantly showing God's love for each other.

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I also interviewed my parents and asked them what it means to them to have equal education regardless of race, sex, able-ism, or economic access. My mom indicates that education is the key to success and anything in life. When one has knowledge, they know better and can thus do better. Education has traditionally been held from African Americans, immigrants, and other ethnic groups. To limit the ability to learn, communicate, and access information keeps people bound and ignorant. Thus when one is ignorant, they turn to crime and other means to escape the crippling nature of poverty and ignorance. My dad also note that he enjoys teaching and helping others. He is not worried about himself because he knows that he is fulfilling the commitment to community and God blesses those that remain humble.

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Scripture Connection

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• Proverbs 22:6

Start children off on the way they should go,

    and even when they are old they will not turn from it.

This verse states the importance of children having a solid foundation from the beginning. That if they are taught right, then they can be successful and have the knowledge to understand and value it. This calls to the jobs of parents, guardians, and the community. This applies to the Anawim project because as I worked with small children, the goals of the staff and teachers were exactly what this verse proclaims and as a part of service anywhere, this ought to be the goal, for children are the future.

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• Genesis 1:27 

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

In translation, God made us all in His own image, therefore male or female, black or white, we are all made the same. We are all loved, so this challenges us to reevaluate the injustices centered around race and sex, since we are all the same, all equal. This verse applies to the Anawim in that it encourages and challenges those who volunteer to have an open mind and put aside bias associated with physical characteristics of different people.

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• Proverbs 22:2

Rich and poor have this in common: The LORD is the Maker of them all.

This verse calls us to think about human dignity and equality. We are all made the same, by God, who loves us all. Many people face such injustice around race, color, religion, sex, etc. but we are all made by God, which unites us as one. The Anawim is connected to this verse because  as we serve our community, we serve any and all kinds of people, as we are one.

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• John 13:34

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

This verse makes a simple but challenging call; to love one another. God loves each and every one of us, but we must show that love to others. Lastly, the Anawim connects to this pice of scripture as a part of service. When we serve we are challenged to serve others as we would ourselves, in the from of love.

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Wink Connection

Walter Wink wrote the book The Powers That Be: A Theology for a New Millennium. Wink is a theologian and biblical scholar and in this literary work, writes about the reformulation of ancient concepts (such as powers, demons and angels), and applies it to with what we know currently. The book contains a chapter that explains the Domination System and its impact on our society. Wink describes the system as "this overarching network of Powers is what we are calling the domination system. It is characterized by unjust economic relations, patriarchal gender relations, hierarchal power relations, and the use of violence to maintain them all"(Wink 39).

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The Principalities and Powers that make up the domination system, are defined as "institutions, structures, systems, and spirits that are the spirituality at the center of political, economic, and cultural institutions"(Wink 24).

The Powers were put in place as gifts to cultivate, but Wink notes that "when a particular Power becomes idolatrous--that is, when God created it and it makes its own interests the highest good---the that Power becomes demonic"(Wink 24).

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This definition of Powers can be applied to the systems of education, prison, economics and issues of race, sexism, and able-ism. The Powers are the systems but the flaws in the systems, such as racism, sexism, and other discriminatory practices are the Powers that have become "demonic" due to human idolatry.

Society continues to execute the Domination System because the "demonic" practices continue to provide wealth and materialistic things to the people who control the systems.

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Catholic Social Teaching

• CST 1: Life and Dignity of the Human Person

This principle emphasizes that "human life is sacred and that the dignity of the human person is the foundation of a moral vision for society. This belief is the foundation of all the principles of our social teaching."(Catholic Charities USA)

Life and Dignity of the human person is carried out at my service site as all children and staff are treated with respect and seen as valuable people. This principle however many be violated when the children move to further their education in others institutions that are not as inclusive as Free to Bee. Racism seeks to discriminate a group of people based on false assumptions and relegate people to sub-human status, which is not showing dignity. Dignity is stripped when a person a stripped of the basic status if being human. Students face racism in school, sexism, and implicit bias which implement barriers that make it difficult for many diverse bodies of people to achieve success.

• CST 2: Call to Family, Community, and Participation

"How we organize our society in economics and politics, in law and policy, directly affects human dignity and the capacity of individuals to grow in community. Marriage and the family are the central social institutions that must be supported and strengthened, not undermined.

We believe people have a right and a duty to participate in society, seeking together the common good and well-being of all, especially the poor and vulnerable."(Catholic Charities USA)

Free To Bee fulfills this principle by contributing to educating students and building up great people. It is a community effort in raising the students that sets them up for the right to be able to participate in society later in life. This principle can be challenged when the community is not prepared to raise up great people and students. Communities and families can be limited to participation when poverty causes shortages of resources, including great teachers, that may be used to help prepare people to participate and help for the well-being of all.

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• CST 3: Rights and Responsibilities

"Every person has a fundamental right to life and a right to those things required for human decency. Corresponding to these rights are duties and responsibilities–to one another, to our families, and to the larger society."(Catholic Charities USA)

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Free to Bee fulfills this principle by giving equal rights and treatments to all of the students and teachers  and treating them all with respect. This principle is violated when many times in other education institutions, people are not treated with respect based on gender, race, physical ability, religion, or economic status.

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• CST 4: Option for the Poor and Vulnerable

 "A basic moral test is how our most vulnerable members are faring. In a society marred by deepening divisions between rich and poor, our tradition recalls the story of the Last Judgment (Mt 25:31-46) and instructs us to put the needs of the poor and vulnerable first."(Catholic Charities USA)

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At my service site, there are many children from different economic backgrounds, but all are allowed in and Free To Bee actively engages in community service to keep the option for the poor and vulnerable first. This principle may be violated when systems accept/choose people based on economic background and do not engage with the poor community, but instead choose money, even above the dignity of others.

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• CST 5: The Dignity of Work and Rights of Worker

"The economy must serve people, not the other way around. Work is more than a way to make a living; it is a form of continuing participation in God’s creation. If the dignity of work is to be protected, then the basic rights of workers must be respected–the right to productive work, to decent and fair wages, to the organization and joining of unions, to private property, and to economic initiative."(Catholic Charities USA)

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Free To Bee upholds this principle by treating the staff with respect and with brotherly love as a family. All staff have the right to all workers rights. However, in some institutions and systems the dignity and rights of workers is cripples by the desire for money and success at all costs, even if that means putting aside human rights and individuals. Additionally racism and sexism is used many times as base for lack of dignity and rights. The equal pay  issue is an example of how the dignity and rights of women are crippled by bias and not given the opportunity to represent oneself.

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• CST 6: Solidarity

"We are one human family whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic, and ideological differences. We are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers, wherever they may be. Loving our neighbor has global dimensions in a shrinking world. At the core of the virtue of solidarity is the pursuit of justice and peace. Pope Paul VI taught that “if you want peace, work for justice.” The Gospel calls us to be peacemakers. Our love for all our sisters and brothers demands that we promote peace in a world surrounded by violence and conflict."(Catholic Charities USA)

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Solidarity encourages love among one another and caring for one another. Free To Bee holds solidarity at its core and teaches the children to always look out for another regardless of physical differences because in the end we are one big family. Solidarity is unfortunately violated constantly as many seek to separate people based on differences. Whether that be race, ethnic background, economic, or ideological differences, many systems and institutions still enact such biases.

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• CST 7: Care for God's Creation

"Care for the earth is not just an Earth Day slogan, it is a requirement of our faith. We are called to protect people and the planet, living our faith in relationship with all of God’s creation. This environmental challenge has fundamental moral and ethical dimensions that cannot be ignored."(Catholic Charities USA)

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Care for God's Creation is upheld at my service site through gardening classes, practice of recycling and composting, and educating the children on the environment. The goal is to inspire children to love the outdoors and have compassion for animals just as we do for people. This effort creates a value within the children, that they may cary with them to bring justice in the future around the issue and continue to love.

Care for Creation is unfortunately a constant challenge as global warming threatens whole ecosystems and with leaders of countries choosing political and economic gains over the well-being of the environment and people(especially those in poverty).

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