Viewpoint Work for justice calls for courage to change paths
By CHRIS BYRD
For 16 years I have been proud to be a Catholic working for
justice. I have marched, prayed, fasted, sung, chanted and rallied for many
causes from calling for an end to the Gulf War to supporting AIDS
funding. My passion for justice just wont let go of me.
Lately, however, I find myself more enervated than encouraged,
more frustrated than gratified, more dismayed than proud. In my view, turf
wars, personality conflicts, power plays, shrill polemics and the demonization
of the other side have derailed gains for justice activists who work from a
stance of faith. Its time, I suggest, to pour new wine into new activist
wineskins.
The following are practical suggestions to help Catholics who work
for justice to do so in new ways.
1. We must reconsider the ways we meet.
There are two key obstacles that defeat activists when they meet
and deliberate. We too often structure meetings around bylaws and making
motions, which leads to a clunky and tedious process. It makes people
uncomfortable and has little to do with discerning the will of God.
In addition, meeting means different things to
different people. Some expect tasks will be assigned for things to be
accomplished. Others seek opportunities to vent their frustrations at a system
and culture that doesnt understand them. An unhealthy tension exists
between the two camps, and our causes will not be advanced until we address
it.
When I lived in New Orleans, our anti-death penalty group
incorporated pot luck suppers into our meetings. Building community made our
work much more joyful. We need meetings that emphasize relationships before
tasks.
2. We dont always have to protest.
Whenever I travel to national meetings, visits to elected
representatives or marches on the capitol are scheduled, and if you dont
participate its implied that youre letting the cause and your
fellow activists down. This is the disposition of a grim do-gooder. We
occasionally need to get away, to enjoy each other and rest, as on the Sabbath.
The key, if activists want to endure, is knowing when to put our work down.
3. We must lose the orthodoxy.
Theres a tendency among some activists to dismiss those who
disagree as the Other Side. For the orthodox, everything is subject to
scrutiny: how you cut your hair, the clothes you wear, where you live, the car
you drive. As I read the gospels, I dont see any mention of liberal or
conservative. We must rid ourselves of the bane of political correctness and
realize that you can be buttoned-down and radical.
4. We must try to understand the fears and frustrations of
those not with us.
The problems in our society exhaust the patience of most citizens,
and the problems in our church unsettle most believers. Everything from
dwindling paychecks to how to care for aging parents to crime and violence has
isolated Americans and made them uneasy. When they turn to the church for
solace, however, they often encounter the all-too-human shortcomings and
failings of their pastors and leaders, such as sexual and financial scandals
and failure to be fair. Those of us who hope our church and society can be
restored to justice and unity must be mindful of our brothers and sisters who
find those prospects incredulous.
5. We cant have it now.
In rally after rally, we may insist that we want justice now, but
in truth problems of race and class are timeless and complex beyond
anyones full comprehension. While justice shouldnt be delayed, as
believers we must challenge a culture that demands instant solutions. We must
remain humble about the things only God can accomplish but confident that if we
all do our part, as Dr. King said, the moral arc of the universe will bend
toward justice. When that will happen, however, is beyond our control. As T.S.
Eliot wrote, Ours is the trying. The rest is not our business.
6. We shouldnt sell ourselves short.
Because we sense our views are in the minority, theres a
tendency in our circles to apologize for them. Although we dont want to
defend ourselves against a drunken churl who wants to fry em all, a
colleague in the anti-death penalty movement believes we should wear our
T-shirts and display our bumper stickers proudly. We dont know when
someone will confront us, resulting in a good conversation and new
understanding. Each such encounter has the potential to educate and evangelize.
As it says in Acts, we must speak the word of God with
boldness.
7. We must put ourselves in the equation.
We need to be more concerned with the planks in our eyes than with
the dust in our neighbors eyes. If we believe the system is racist, then
we must consider how we have been silent when confronted with racism. If we
believe our culture is violent, then we must reflect on our capacity for
violence. If we think structures oppress many to benefit the few, then we must
consider the ways we oppress others by complying with the status quo. Without
humble and contrite self-criticism, our vision becomes meaningless.
Fidelity requires we confound societys expectations. We
cant get caught up in the things that drive the world: ambition,
reputation, power, success, efficiency and the bottom line. If were
faithful, we should anticipate failure and persecution and affliction and many
moments at the foot of the cross.
In these moments, we will need hope and courage. We must hold on
to the hope that knows the cross isnt the end of things, that the society
we have passionately and painfully struggled to create will be realized. We
must also have the courage to change our paths, to make all things new.
Chris Byrd writes from Birmingham, Ala.
National Catholic Reporter, February 26,
1999
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