Manila Mania

Mabuhay! We've been in Manila for over a week now and it feels like I've been home all this time. Corvallis feels like a distant, snowy dream. Manila oddly feels like home. Vincent and I left Corvallis in a hurry because of all the ice on the roads. I can drive through madness and typhoons, but I cannot drive on ice. Must be the Filipino blood in me. Don't get me wrong... I loved the beauty of the snow and can tolerate the freezing weather -- I am just not very mobile on ice.

The adventure of making it to Portland was worth it. We've been enjoying our stay here. Vincent has been loving the food, being with family, and the f

ood. He hasn't even taken his handheld videogame out from his carry-on luggage. For those that know Vincent, they know that this is quite an accomplishment and very out of character for Vincent. He has enjoyed walking to the mall to get to stores and restaurants, swimming, and hanging out with his two-year cousin, Malina. He's been caught feeding Malina cereal, setting up the video player so that they can watch a movie together, and holding her hand. I love it! He has also had lengthy conversations with other family members and relatives, which they all enjoy.

The weather has been perfect. We're definitely not missing any of the snow that has covered Oregon these past couple of weeks. The clouds have been with us most of the time, but we've only seen rain once since we've been here. Most of the time the weather is within the 80's -- we're not complaining!

The places we've been to have been quite diverse. We go to the mall across the street from time to time. When I say "across the street", it's not like crossing the street in Corvallis. We have to go down to the underground walkway to avoid having to cross eight lanes of traffic. The mall alone is bigger than the Corvallis downtown; a series of buildings all connected with bridges for your shopping and dining convenience. The stores range from groceries to mid-level department stores to high-end department stores to small stores to boutiques to all kinds of restaurants to food courts... It's quite a dizzying experience that I don't miss when we're in Corvallis. For now, it's a slight distraction that can be tolerated since we're only on vacation.

One of our adventures was to a trip to Quiapo (kiyapo). It's the Old Manila and is located right next to Chinatown. We walked from Chinatown to a great restaurant and then over to Quiapo. Quiapo has an old Church that I am assuming has been there since the Spanish times. Behind it are streets lined with shops. Along the streets there are vendors selling all sorts of items -- food, clothing, pirated DVDs, housewares, knick-knacks, etc. Initially it looks like the streets are blocked off because of the amount of people and stalls. Then you see the sea parting to make way for a tricycle or a car trying to make its way down the street. People yell on megaphones to get you to buy some of their China-made products, vendors try to convince you that you're getting the best deal from them, and some even have demonstrations on how to use their gadget that you can't live without. This market is not where your typical Makati resident would go to because of the mass of people, the dirty streets, the inconvenience of getting there, and they don't carry department store items. I was quite happy, though, to buy my guitar there.

In contrast... We had gone to a "market" located in Makati (the city we are living in, which is considered the Central Business District and the city where all the posh villages of the Philippines are located). The stalls consisted mostly of cooked food that ranged from your typical Filipino fare to American food (one of which was a hamburger stand that challenges one to eat their biggest burger under 20 minutes and you win a prize!) to Spanish dishes and more. Plants, herbal concoctions, snacks, and more were among the other items sold here. This market is held every Saturdays in a park that sits in the middle of condominium buildings. Lots of space, everyone around you is speaking English, and a good place to spot acquaintances of the same caliber. I'm being a bit facetious, because in my mind this is NOT the Philippines. It's a nice place to visit, but it gives me this feeling of being in a fabricated environment. Sort of to make you feel you are in solidarity with the Filipinos, but really it isn't. There are quite a bit of very Filipino items and it's a fun place to visit, but just not what I would declare as a Filipino experience.

We've had plenty of family gatherings and it's been fun spending so much time with my own family. Today we are off to visit my grandparent's beach property, but just for the day. I am still hoping to get to spend some time at the beach, but will have to wait and see when.

I was hoping to post pictures, but our DSL connection is too slow for me to efficiently upload pictures onto a site. As soon as I have this up, I will let you all know. I apologize if this update is quite limited still, but the activities never stop and we'll be taking off in a few minutes. I will post again when I'm able to!

Joy To The World...

Well, it's freezing outside.  Signs of Christmas are present everywhere -- lights strewn all over people's homes, inflatable Santas waving with the wind, sale signs on all stores, and the non-stop Christmas music.  I, personally, am singing shamelessly even more nowadays AND wearing outfits with the colors red and green.  Now there's the Christmas spirit!  I haven't quite gotten myself to wear the sweatshirts with the rubberized Santa and earrings shaped like Christmas lights.  Maybe another two or three...hundred years from now.  My new thing this year is playing Christmas songs on the guitar.  I love it!  My favorites:  The Happy Christmas Song by John Lennon, Angels We Have Heard On High, and Silent Night.  I sometimes have to stop singing though because I lose my rhythm when I get too involved with the singing (my guitar teacher has told me not to play the guitar like I'm singing -- I wonder if he just wants me to stop singing?).

We leave for Manila next week and I am so looking forward to the warmer weather.  I'm also looking forward to going to a warm beach and eating yummy food with family.  Of course, I'm also looking forward to seeing relatives -- particularly my grandparents.  I am a bit anxious about the head-to-foot looks and the know-it-all comments about Vincent.  I want Vincent to enjoy himself because six months ago Vincent wouldn't dare think of going back to Manila (too traumatized by the extra-disciplinary actions taken by other people).  Our attempt at a camping trip last year left a very memorable experience for all those involved.  I am hoping that this is the start of being able to travel with him some more.

This year, though, Christmas isn't quite as Christmas-y as it has been.  Times are just tough.  Almost everyday I talk to people who are struggling to pay their rent, looking for work, worried about losing their current job, and just plain worried.  I've met more people who have told me that they have never had to go look for financial help before.  I had somebody in my office who was telling me how she used to be the one adopting families to take care of during Christmas.  Now she's needing help to pay rent and finding out sources for free food.  As we see this need grow it's hard not to take on some of the stress and anxiety that these people are feeling.  I know I've been more sensitive to things people say and do around me, but it almost feels like a way to protect myself.  I take it out on others so that I am able to sit down and listen to those who really need the help.  

Almost every week, sometimes less, major corporations announce layoffs.  Hewlett-Packard has been doing it for quite some time now.  AT&T announced cutting 40,000 jobs last week... Sony announced 8,000 today...  533,000 jobs lost last month alone.  I've heard of one person being the only one left in his department, which is a mixed blessing.  He's happy to have a job, but he's now left with more work and wondering what will happen to his co-workers.  It makes me wonder when I'll be next.  I've been told that I probably don't have to worry because more and more people will be needing help.  But where will this help come from?  My friend who runs a non-profit in town is struggling to get enough food to fill Christmas baskets for needy families.  Our emergency financial assistance funds come from donations -- where will this money come from if our parishioners are losing their jobs?  I always say that those who work for alcohol companies are the only ones with job security right now -- watch those sales go up.

As I worry about losing my job, I am thankful for a few things.  I've never had the need for more and more money, so I make do with little.  I have never felt any attachments to material goods, so not having the latest gadgets is just fine with me and everything I own fits in one bedroom.  Most importantly, I have a very supportive family.  When it was announced that AIG (American Insurance Group) was getting federal help to keep itself afloat, I was initially worried because that's where I have my retirement fund.  This was quickly replaced by relief when I remembered that I had only placed about $100 at that time.  Phew!  

My thoughts then go to other countries in the world.  If Americans are struggling, what happens to all those countries who rely on the almighty dollar?  What happens to all those people who rely on the dollars that are sent to them every month by a family member who works overseas?  What happens to industries that rely on the Americans' consumerism?  What happens to those who were already hungry before this whole mess got even worse?

I often feel the need for quick fixes, but this is just too huge for me to even come up with anything sane sounding.  My latest is...  What if we were all just considered citizens of the world and forced to spread everything equally?  I mentioned this to Aki and he said that he also valued the unique identities of each country.  Well, we would all still have our own identities -- just like those who are from the west coast are different from those from the east, or the north and the south.  We would all share resources -- natural and man-made.  It makes me wonder if we have been citizens of the world all this time, would we be as quick to go to war with each other?  Would we allow such inequality of resources?  Would we let somebody just thousands of miles away -- no body of water even separating us -- go to bed hungry each night?  Would we see each other a little more equal than we do now and not consider ourselves more superior than somebody with a different skin color?  Would we dump harmful products (such as selling cigarettes) on another country for the sake of profit?  Would we be in a mess this big at all?

I do have tips for making this holiday brighter for others around us...

1.  Donate to your favorite charity.  Choose one within your own community and one outside of your community.

2.  Live and give simply.

3.  When you go grocery shopping, buy two extra canned goods for your local food bank.

4.  Donate blankets, socks, sleeping bags, and tents for the homeless (I had a mountain of these in my office -- it was glorious!).

5.  Give to your Church; especially if they provide assistance to the needy (like St. Mary's!).

6.  Volunteer your time at your local soup kitchen, food pantry, or other non-profit organization that help the needy.

7.  If you're able to, volunteer for organizations that help the poor in other countries (can be short term, too).

8.  Be a support to someone who is feeling the stress of these economic times.

9.  Be an advocate for policies that protect those weakest in our society.   

10. Remember the true meaning of the season -- to prepare the way for the coming of our Lord, Jesus.  Think of Mary's example of humility, acceptance, simplicity, and her call for justice (Magnificat).  If we truly believe that Jesus lives in each of us, we learn to value those around us and even those we don't see.    

For now...  Let's try to bring glad tidings and joy to the world!  (I can come up with more, if you want!)

  

Life and Love Lessons

Now wouldn't that be funny if I were to start teaching about life and love? Ha! I am far from the expert on these things. Unusually enough, though, the people I've been learning from lately are not from people one would expect to learn from also. Well, I take that back... I've just had lunch with a friend of mine (one of my retired lady friends) and she shared so much with me that further reaffirmed thoughts I've had brewing in my mind.

Love According to Stretch and Dale

I've become quite acquainted with two men who are a part of our homeless community. I see them from time to time. I've mentioned Dale before in a previous blog entry -- he's the MacGyver of Corvallis. He's got the information and tools necessary to do anything. Dale has talked to me in the past about a certain lady that he has fallen so deeply in love with. He talks about how the room lights up the moment she walks in, how he's never felt this strongly about any other person, and how after 61 years he has finally met the person he would love to share the rest of his life with. You see there are some complications. This lady friend of his has issues about committing, has fetishes I dare not mention in this blog entry (he has felt the need to tell me in detail what these are and I try hard not to react), and was actually more like Dale in a lot of ways before she became the woman that she is now (you will just have to figure this one out for yourselves :) ). Unfortunately, thoug, these have left her unable to believe that anyone would want to be in a relationship with her. Yet he loves her more than anyone he has ever loved. His biggest fear now is to die alone. He comes from a line of men that did not live to an old age, has diabetes, and he is homeless. So basically he is feeling that his time to go will be coming very soon and he doesn't think much of himself. I must say that Dale's story is the first I've ever heard of unconditional love to this degree. He came looking for somebody to talk to about his problems with her, but not because of anything she has done or the revelation on her real identity. No. His problem was more of trying to understand this feeling that has ovewpowered his emotions and coming to terms with the knowledge that he has met somebody he would like to be with. He is also having a hard time seeing how he could possibly convince her knowing that he is homeless and doesn't have much to offer to her. What surprised me the most was my reaction to him and the words that kept coming to my mind as we spoke. I kept trying to hold them back because these are the very things I have denied myself, yet here was this man I had to tell these things to. I listed all the traits that I saw in him that were such gifts -- he is intelligent, he is funny, a gifted musician (he is very good and this is how he met his love), and has the capability to love unconditionally. He has had major setbacks in his life, but he has survived so far. I found myself telling him that if he is truly sure about his love for this lady, then he should show her the patience she needed, be there for her as a friend, and, most importantly, to recognize the good in himself first. The nice part of this conversation was that he has had thoughts about coming back to the Church. I don't know if he actually has, but it's a good step that I will further pursue.

Stretch is quite the trouble-maker at times. He has been known to be quite rowdy and possibly violent, but he has been pleasant with me. He came to my office wanting to know where he could stay before the winter homeless shelter started. Unfortunately there was nothing I could do for him (he has burned bridges with all other options), but we ended up having a great conversation that lasted for over an hour. He told me about his life. This started by his telling me that he could only see his "little girl" for an hour and a half, three times a week. So I asked him how old his daughter is. He then told me that this was his wife. Stretch is 7'1" (hence the name Stretch) and his wife is 5'4", so she's his "little girl". Apparently, she was Stretch's girlfriend when he was 17 years old and she was 14. Her mother made him break up with this girl or else she would call the police on him. They were on horseback in Texas at the time he was told this, so he rode off and hopped on a train to get away. He has been roaming around since. They then got reconnected again after 30+ years and decided they still love each other. She left her partner to be with Stretch and she and Stretch have been "married in the eyes of God" ever since. I wonder what God has to say about that. She is dealing with mental issues herself, so she is in a home that cares for her. After all these years, Stretch says that they cry everytime they have to part. Imagine a 7'1" man with the reputation of causing fights and having been put in jail numerous times sitting in front of you with tears in his eyes as he talks about his "little girl". It was very touching for me and even I thought I was going to cry (yes, this wouldn't have taken much anyway).

LIFE ACCORDING TO ME

One thing I learned from Stretch and Dale is that love knows no mental issues, homelessness, fetishes, odd pasts, etc. Here are stories of men and women who have found each other in the midst of all their issues. Not just that. Talking to these men have taught me that lessons on how I live out my life and faith come from everywhere. I found that they have a different sense of what a community is like, but it's the most accepting community I've ever seen. They have issues such as developmental disabilities and addictions, but they exist around each other, help each other at times, and accept each other. Yes, they have times of stealing, fighting, and more, but what community doesn't have its own problems. I've seen them share their food stamps in order to have a special treat like liverwurst and onions on french bread. They have the time to sit around to talk, play music, and share their stories. This is something I don't get to see much anymore in my own community.

Which leads me to my time and how it affects my faith. I have been B-U-S-Y! I have not had a single weekend that was completely my own. I find myself exhausted on Monday morning up to Sunday evening. I do all that I do for the sake of my ministry, for the sake of other ministries, and for the sake of living out my faith. Yet what am I left with? I am happy because of all the interaction I've had with people, but the feeling of happiness doesn't last because I'm too exhausted. I end up too tired to see Jesus in all that I do anymore. All I see is a busy schedule. I have asked myself if happiness the end product or the by product of all that I do. I find that in all that I've done where happiness is the end product, it has only led to short-term happiness and long-term exhaustion and dissatisfaction. But when happiness is simply a by-product, I find myself being happier in the long run because there was much more substance to what I had just done. Honestly, there were times when I didn't want to have to meet with people like Stretch and Dale because my schedule was just too tight. Yet, those were the most rewarding times I can recall.

We've been asked to see Jesus in the stranger, the hungry, the thirsty, the prisoner, the sick. My busy schedule has caused me to not recognize and even reject Jesus in everyone I meet and in all that I do. I have once again been reminded that love and happiness does not come from the busyness I can offer. It simply comes from the acceptance of Jesus in each one. I don't think Dale and Stretch would ever tell you that they love who they love because they see Jesus in their respective women. Yet, that's what I see. They accept them for their complete being -- good and bad. Jesus asks me to see Him in all that I encounter, not to busy myself with the expectations of being accepted or loved. I already am loved and accepted by Him -- just as I am.

Happy Respect Life Month!

I haven't finished writing about my Peru trip yet and I promise I will! You've seen the pictures that I've posted. I promise to write about it all soon. I am in the process of dealing with quite a bit as Todd and I have broken up. It's not easy for me and re-living my trip to Peru causes a lot of emotions to rise up to the surface, so I am needing a bit more time on this. I promise that I am nearing that time. We are still friends (with a lot of Todd's patience, of course) and I'm thankful for that.

Back to the whole purpose of this blog... Happy Respect Life Month! October has been named by the US Bishops (I believe it's just the US Bishops) as Respect Life Month. This is in where we honor the human dignity from conception to natural death. For a lot of people Respect Life brings up one topic -- abortion. My oh my, Respect Life covers so much more. We are called to respect ALL aspects of life. We are made into God's image from the time we are tiny, tiny embryos to the time we die.

"Let us rededicate ourselves to defending the basic rights of those who are weakest and most marginalized: the poor, the homeless, the innocent unborn, and the frail and elderly who need our respect and our assistance,"

Abortion is definitely a very important aspect of respecting life. I remember being asked my view on abortion during my interview and I could feel myself shaking. I am very much against abortion and feel strongly that even at the earliest stage of pregnancy God is present. I admit that this was not always my view on abortion. At one point in my life I would have told you that the woman had every right to make that decision. I am now appalled at having even thought that. Why am I so against abortion now? Vincent. He's all the proof that I need. Even though I was being abused by his father while I was pregnant with him, I could not imagine detaching a very special life inside of me no matter how hard times were. I honestly did not know what was going to happen to me during that time. My relationship was miserable, but my pride would not let me give up on something I had gotten myself into. My pride also prevented me from thinking that I would rely on my family. I would cry in the bathroom not knowing what steps to take next, but knowing for sure that this life growing inside of me was to be the most special being in my life. I am thankful that Vincent and I made it out of that situation alive because there were times that I was sure he could harm us greatly. The whole experience of being pregnant and being a mother has made my views on abortion even stronger. For every step that Vincent takes in his journey through life, the more I am thankful for this precious gift that God has lent to me during my lifetime. He's now very involved with the presidential election and is such a joy to listen to as he analyzes each candidate.

Let's look into other aspects of Respect Life. I admit that I will not be able to cover all as it's getting late and we could go on and on. In our parish we are educating our parishioners on Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship. This is a statement put out by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops that guides Catholics to look at the issues and to base decisions on our Catholic Social Teachings. In my ideal world I would write a backgrounder on the social teachings, but that would take up too much time. I love these teachings because it helps keep me focused on how Scripture teaches us to live out our lives. Whenever I feel this rebellious side of me starting to stir (or is it the cynical side?), I turn to these teachings to keep me grounded.

There I go again -- on a tangent and pulling a Sarah Palin :) OK... Let's look at the opposite end of the spectrum -- Euthenasia/Assisted Suicide. This is a difficult topic because as humans we long to ease the suffering of our loved ones or long to be free from pain. We are to keep in mind that this life is not for us to take. Honoring the divine in us means honoring His decision as to when we go. I struggle with the power that humans have in deciding when it is time to die. Why is it so easy for people to administer this death? I know that I've never been faced with this situation, but this pain and struggle is part of our living process. At all times, God is in us and with us.

Capital Punishment -- again in way, shape or form are we to control another person's time of death no matter what crime he/she may have committed. A human being is a human being even when they have made bad decisions in their life. I don't care if you try to convince me that this person is the devil himself; it is not for you and me to decide. As God is willing to forgive us, so should we. Pope John Paul II forgiving his would-be assassinator, the Amish community that forgave the assassinator of their children and other members,... This is how we are called to love. We love not just those we can easily love; we love those that are hardest to love.

I will now start to end this as I'm fading quickly because my day started even before there was day(light, that is). So what do we do with everything in between? How do we respect the poor and marginalized? How do we respect nation's declaring war on another country? How do we respect those who turn to terrorist acts? How do we respect those who administer inhumane torture tactics? How do we respect those who are in need of adequate health care? How do we respect the mentally and physically handicap among us? How do we respect the need to let science prevail over nature? There are so many issues that fall under Respect Life and I could go on and on.

As a lot of Filipinos are used to, we as Catholics are called to political life. OK, my opinion, though, is that the Filipino Archbishops tend to dictate too much. Anyway... We are still called to advocate for the issues that revolve around our Church teachings. We are called to fight for policies that would benefit the common good. We are called to love one another -- from the moment of conception to the time we are called to join our maker.

These thoughts are a bit brief on each point (some more than others). I will try to get back and address more of these issues. This month is going to be very busy for me, but most exciting in my Social Justice career so far. I will share more as we go along.

A couple more things, though... I will be teaching English to a group of Filipino and Hispanic women starting October 11th. This is so exciting for me because this is also the start of another exciting venture for me. I am in the planning stages (more like talking stages, but it's getting there) for a women's ministry. I plan on creating a community of women for strength and support in our faith and to teach other women to empower themselves as well. We are in a community that has two extremes -- very strong, educated women and those who are economically challenged because of various situations. I long to bring these two groups together to teach each other to live by faith, to let go of fear, and to be stronger because of each other and our love for God. Very broad description so far, but I will get into details as it progresses. We deserve that R-E-S-P-E-C-T!

Snapshot of Homelessness or Sad Story?

I am actually in the process of writing about my trip to Peru, but just had to release some thoughts about a recent article that was published at our local newspaper. I have tried my best to let this article not disturb me, but I find myself angered and saddened by what was written. In the article he interviewed two homeless men he found at the camp, drinking beer, and just laying around. They scoff at the organizations that have been providing them with money, clothing and food. The author -- through his interview with these two men -- portray their surroundings as dirty and full of dangerous people and he is "disconcerted" by the fact that they have decent-looking clothes and seem to be well-fed.

I do not blame the men he interviewed for giving this impression. I am angry towards the author for focusing on the two men who would perpetuate the myths our society holds about homelessness. At the same time he did a great disservice to the many people and organizations that are pulling all their resources together to provide those around us in need with their basic needs and their dignity. He did not bother to interview those who choose to look for work, those who choose to spend their time at the daytime drop in center for a structured and safe environment, he never bothered to mention that the gentlemen he interviewed are known to have mental illnesses that they cannot seek treatment for because 1) they do not recognize their real need so they self-medicate with alcohol; and, 2) they do not have the services and money available to them.

He chose to leave out the families that live in their automobiles or transfer from one temporary home to another as they try to sort out their situation. He chose to leave out the students who cannot afford to pay for tuition and pay for rent in Corvallis. He chose to leave out those who have had to turn to the streets because they have either lost their jobs, have had to pay for high medical expenses, or have had to leave sad, sad situations. Almost everyday I receive requests for assistance from people who have just had one misfortune after another, but are working their hardest to turn their situations around.

I am mostly saddened by the fact that this author would use an avenue seen as being credible to continue to perpetuate the myths that have hindered our society from reaching out to the homeless in our community. He has hurt those who need help so much more than he could imagine. Already there were online responses saying that we need to get rid of these dangerous people, that we should really be getting rid of gay people, etc. Why do we do this to each other?

I have invited the author to spend time in the Corvallis Daytime Drop In Center (they provide breakfast, lunch, and structured activities for the homeless) and to volunteer with the numerous organizations that are trying so hard to provide for those in our community that so desperately need our help. I don't expect he will actually take me up on this, but I hope that it will at least challenge him.

How do we challenge ourselves to truly understand the families that live under the bridge, the ones we see as lazy and not doing anything with his life, the people that we see as "crazy" or "wierd"? How often do we actually try to find out why their lives are the way they are? How do we challenge ourselves to walk in the shoes of those who don't have what we have? How do we see Jesus in the man who sits around the camp drinking his beer all day long and seemingly refusing to help himself?

If you are interested, here is a link to the article... http://www.gazettetimes.com/articles/2008/09/05/news/community/3loc31_clmwray.txt

And if you're interested as well, here's a copy of the letter that I sent to the editor... (Watch out! Michi's at it again!)

I am so deeply saddened by the article written by Mr. Pat Wray entitled “Homeless in Corvallis: A Snapshot”. I would like to request Mr. Wray to take a wider angle to this snapshot. This article perpetuates the myths that pervade our society about homelessness and does a great disservice to the numerous people and organizations in our community that are working hard to provide our brothers and sisters with their basic needs and give them their dignity.

Mr. Wray does not take into account that the gentlemen that he interviewed represent a minority of our homeless population. The faces that represent the homeless of Corvallis consist of hardworking men and women who are struggling to meet their basic needs for one reason or another. There are the faces of the children who have to live in automobiles or temporarily in the homes of others – unable to call any place “home”. There are the faces of those who are mentally ill who are unable to gain control of their illness because of lack of services and resources. Perhaps rather than flashing a snapshot of laziness and drunkenness, Mr. Wray could have shown us the true reality of the way of life our homeless population has to live with.

He should also recognize that the process that the organizations he mentioned in his article take the steps that they do in order to fairly distribute the limited resources that are gathered. The gentlemen he interviewed very obviously could use more services that our community is unable to serve them. Mr. Wray should applaud the organizations and individuals who have provided these gentlemen decent clothing and nourishing meals. If there are some who have learned to use the system to their advantage, perhaps the organizations that continue to serve them would rather err on the side of compassion than in being judgmental and cold-hearted.

I find it disconcerting that you would use an avenue of credibility to play on the sad state of others. It is through harmful articles such as these that hinder our society from taking on its true role – to ensure the safety, the basic needs, and the dignity of those in need.

Mr. Wray, I invite you to spend one morning with the Corvallis Daytime Drop In Center and listen to the stories of those who choose to spend their day in a safe and structured environment. I invite you to interview or even volunteer with the numerous organizations (Stone Soup, Vina Moses, St. Vincent de Paul, Men’s Winter Shelter, WeCare, St. Mary’s Church Poor Fund, and many more) in our community that serve those who you have given us a snapshot of. I would like to see what kind of picture you portray after doing so.

Michi Gonzalez

Social Justice Coordinator

St. Mary’s Church Corvallis

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TORTURE IS A MORAL ISSUE -- PART 2

TORTURE IS A MORAL ISSUE: A CATHOLIC GUIDE

We continue on with our guide about Torture. The text below are excerpts from Torture is a Moral Issue: A Catholic Study Guide developed by Catholic members of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture and the Office of International Justice and Peace of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

PART 2 – THE PROBLEM WITH TORTURE

Catholic social teaching today opposes torture in the treatment of any detained or imprisoned person. For the Church is convinced that every human person bears a God-given dignity; respect for that dignity must always be present. The Church also is careful to point out that torture is illegal, prohibited under international law.

Pope Benedict XVI talked about this in September 2007, when he addressed an international congress of Catholic prison ministers. “Means of punishment or correction that either undermine or debase the human dignity of prisoners” must be eschewed by public authorities, he said. Immediately he added the following statement, which incorporates a quote taken from the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church: “The prohibition against torture ‘cannot be contravened under any circumstances’” (No. 404).

What constitutes torture? Here’s the full definition written in the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment adopted by the U.N. General Assembly in December 1984:

For the purpose of this Convention, torture means any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him or a third person information or a confession, punishing him for an act he or a third person has committed or is suspected of having committed, or intimidating or coercing him or a third person, or for any reason based on discrimination of any kind, when such pain or suffering is inflicted by or at the instigation of or with the consent of acquiescence of a public official or other person acting in an official capacity. It does not include pain or suffering arising only from, inherent in or incidental to lawful sanctions.

Hope Is the Solution

“How in our fearful times can we remain hopeful?” That question was posed in 2001 by Cardinal Godfried Danneels. It is a crucial question, he proposed, because “hope is not located somewhere at the edge of human existence: it is its heart. If it is hit, the person dies.” Cardinal Danneels, Archbishop of Mechelin-Brussels, Belgium, spoke about this at Jesuit-run John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio, shortly after the attacks of 9-11.

“The cardinal asked, “May we still hope?” There is, he observed, “so much war and violence, genocide, unemployment, crime and terrorism.” Thus, “a sort of existential angst hangs in the air,” and “humankind wishes to fight back.” But “do we always choose the right weapon?” The cardinal, responding to his own question said, “Often we become cold, businesslike, cynical or even indifferent. The real solution lies elsewhere. It is hope.”

Summing Up

The use of torture in the treatment of prisoners or of people considered to be enemies is opposed in Catholic teaching. In the Church’s eyes:

Torture violates a human person’s God-given dignity.

The end does not justify the means; torture is a moral issue.

Torture violates international humanitarian law.

The torture and crucifixion of Jesus, and the torture and abuse of many saints down through history also are never forgotten by the Church. What do we learn from the interrogation, flogging, and crucifixion of Jesus? How does the torture of Jesus and many saints remind us of our nation’s response to threatening developments in the world today?

Some think that a sense of desperation began to influence people’s thinking in the period after 9-11. What do you think?

The Catholic Church always wants to contribute to the world in positive ways and to help cast light on the most pressing issues of the times. That is why the Church and her people enter into the public discussion of an issue such as torture.

What constructive contribution do you think the Christian community or its individual members can make to the conversation about key issues our nation faces, such as its response to terrorism?

Concluding Prayer

“From now on, Lord,

Help me to bring your love everywhere:

to schools and hospitals,

to marketplaces and theaters,

to press and television.

No one should be deprived

of the environment of love.

Lord, love is the means you want me to use

to bear witness to you,

or you would have shown me another way.”

(From “Prayers of Hope, Words of Courage”,

by Cardinal Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan,

Pauline Books, 2002)