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Faith, the Church, and employment

From Mathematica Policy Research: Collaborating with Faith-and Community-Based Organizations: Lessons Learned from 12 Workforce Investment Boards (PDF format)

The public workforce investment system aims to serve all job seekers, but many of those most in need of help do not use it. Language barriers, dislike or fear of government agencies, limited awareness of available services, and difficulties using self-directed services are some of the challenges that may limit the accessibility of the system. While not traditionally partners in the workforce investment system, small, grassroots faith-based and community organizations (FBCOs) may be well positioned to serve people who do not currently use the public workforce system. Some job seekers may be more likely to access services from FBCOs because they typically have earned the trust of local community members and understand their needs. Moreover, FBCOs often provide personal, flexible, and comprehensive services that are well suited to people who face multiple barriers to employment.

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has recognized that by filling a service gap and serving some of the neediest populations, FBCOs have the potential to be valuable partners in the workforce investment system. Collaborating with FBCOs may also allow the government to leverage its workforce investment funds by taking advantage of the volunteers, donated goods and services, and other resources FBCOs are often able to access. Moreover, an FBCO’s knowledge of its community and its needs may help workforce investment agencies plan and deliver services more effectively…

These efforts are important, especially as we face increased unemployment and skills gaps. Churches need to take up efforts to address the employment and training needs of their congregants – and these relationships are a great effort in that direction. I encourage pastors, deacons, and parish leaders to read this Mathematica report.

Christian Witness, Perspective, PNCC, Political,

Union busting in Scranton

From the The Wall Street Journal via The Pew Forum: Crisis of Faith Between Church, Union? (also ref. the Scranton Times Tribune and information available at the Scranton Diocese Association of Catholic Teachers website).

Many parishes in Scranton, Pa., display a picture of the Most Rev. Michael Hoban, the Scranton bishop who backed coal miners during a bitter six-month strike in 1902.

But the church and organized labor don’t see eye-to-eye in Scranton these days. Diocesan officials have withdrawn recognition of the local parochial-teachers’ union and laid off its president, angering many local residents and Pennsylvania lawmakers. It was only the latest blow-up between financially struggling dioceses and teachers seeking job security and raises. Their salaries can lag behind those of public schools by $20,000 to $40,000 a year…

While Bishop Hoban may have been friendly towards Coal Miners and the UMWA that was simply the result of two things: The majority of Catholics in Scranton were coal miners and families of coal miners and the fact that Bishop Hodur and the PNCC, who Bishop Hoban fought tooth and nail, were particular and staunch friends of Labor; he couldn’t be seen as acquiescing to the PNCC claim of support for Labor.

Many of the R.C. prelates of that day fought bitterly against Organized Labor and its friends. They branded organizations, such as the Polish National Alliance (which at the time included both Roman, Polish National, Protestant, and even atheist Poles, and was non-sectarian) as subversive elements or even communist/”Masonic”/”Jewish” frontsHistory of the Polish National Catholic Church and Its Background – Lecture I and the History of the Polish National Alliance in particular: In 1886 the Alliance became the first Polish fraternal to set up its own burial insurance plan. This move was important to its success in building its membership, despite early criticisms the Alliance received from some clergymen who charged that its recruitment of non-[Roman] Catholics made it an “anti-Catholic” organization. These charges were aggressively refuted by member activists, some of them priests, who appealed for a fair review of their program.. In fact it has been alluded to that the FBI kept watch over the PNCC right through the 1960’s because of its ties to Labor and to Poland. In the more recent past (1990’s through the present) various Diocese have fought against efforts at organizing for collective bargaining, especially among teachers ref. here, here, here and a very interesting legal perspective in Some Reflections on Labor and Employment Ramifications of Diocesan Bankruptcy Filings, wherein the author states:

Although the Catholic labor encyclicals and the Bishops’ Pastoral Letters eloquently proclaim the rights of workers to unionize, most teachers in Catholic schools are not unionized. This notorious paradox flows from NLRB v. Catholic Bishop of Chicago, wherein the United States Supreme Court held that the First Amendment of the Constitution prohibited the excessive entanglement of secular government and of secular law, such as the National Labor Relations Act and the National Labor Relations Board, in the internal governance and theology of the Church. Consequently, as a matter of federal law, teachers in Catholic primary and secondary schools do not have the right to form labor unions and to bargain collectively with their employer. Neither do faculty at Catholic colleges have any such rights.

The relationship between Roman Catholic prelates in the United States and Organized Labor is hit and miss and as stated above internally disparate from stated Church teachings. An excellent analysis of the situation can be found in Keeping Faith With Labor: Can Unions and Churches Maintain Their Longtime Friendship? from the Catholic Education Resource Center.

The PNCC remains a consistent supporter and friend of Labor among Catholic Churches. It is my sincere hope the Organized Labor rediscovers the roots of that support and in turn sees the strength to be derived from that relationship.

Christian Witness, Political

Rally in Support of Coptic Christians in Egypt

From ChristianNewsWire:

American Egyptian Coptic Christians to organize a peaceful demonstration, on July 16, 2008, in front of the White House, to protest violent attacks against Coptic Christians in Egypt.

Coptic CrossCoptic Organizations in America along with activists from Egypt, the Middle East, Europe and the United states, will conduct a peaceful demonstration in front of the White House on Wednesday July 16, 2008, from 12:00 noon to 4:00 pm. The purpose is to convey, to world’s opinion and international human rights organizations, recent incidents of persecution, discrimination and marginalization inflicted on Coptic Christians of Egypt by the Egyptian government and Muslim extremists.

The Copts of Egypt are the largest Christian minority in the Middle East. They number about 15% of Egypt’s population of 80 million. Not a month passes by without their churches, homes and businesses being attacked. According to a study made by Ibn Khaldoun Research Center in Cairo, over 240 major attacks against the Copts took place during the period from 1972- 2003. Magdy Khalil, a writer and researcher, estimates that as a result of these attacks more than 4000 Copts were killed or injured. This, in addition to damages to Coptic properties that could exceed hundreds of millions of dollars, during the last three decades alone. Hundreds of Coptic girls are abducted and forced to embrace Islam while security forces act as accomplices and helpers of the criminals.

During the last few weeks, the extremists attacked a jewelry store owned by Copts killing four Copts. The extremists also attacked Abu Fana Coptic monastery injuring many monks and kidnapping three. The abducted monks were tortured, while they were ordered to announce abandoning their Christian faith and embracing Islam. In Fayoum, Muslim extremists attacked homes and businesses owned by Coptic Christians. A Coptic Christian man was killed by Muslims in the town of Dafash, governorate of Minia, in the southern part of Egypt.

We call on the American and International Media, human rights organizations and all freedom loving people to join our demonstration in an effort to send a message to the Egyptian government to stop persecuting the Copts and take responsibility in providing adequate protection for them.

For more information, contact:
Mounir Bishay, Los Angeles (310) 641-3387
Jacob Keryacos, New Jersey (732) 414-9451
Fayez Khella, New Jersey (201) 424-0278
Selim Naguib, Montreal (514) 485-4550
Atef Makar, Chicago (630) 878-1333

Christian Witness, , , ,

I’m a cracker too

The Young Fogey blogged this item concerning a hate filled article by Dr. PZ Myers of the University of Minnesota – Morris.

Dr. Myers is of the opinion that the Holy Eucharist is something to be desecrated. In fact he urges people to desecrate the Eucharist and further states that he will gladly do so himself if someone were to bring him a consecrated host (itself an act of desecration). Dr. Myers makes these assertions in his blog post: It’s a frackin’ cracker.

For my part I would like to alert Dr. Myers to the fact that we, the people of the Holy Church, consider ourselves to be members of the Body of Christ. St. Paul states in 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 (RSV):

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.
For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body — Jews or Greeks, slaves or free — and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
For the body does not consist of one member but of many.
If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body.
And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body.
If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell?
But as it is, God arranged the organs in the body, each one of them, as he chose.
If all were a single organ, where would the body be?
As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.
The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”
On the contrary, the parts of the body which seem to be weaker are indispensable,
and those parts of the body which we think less honorable we invest with the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty,
which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior part,
that there may be no discord in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.
If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.

Logically, if Dr. Myers would like to desecrate the Body of Christ, he should be perfectly willing to desecrate any member of the Body. Members of the Church should hold no more value for him than what he claims is mere bread.

Since I am ordained member of the Body I have a particular role of witness in the Body of Christ, and since in Dr. Myers way of thinking I am just a “frackin’ cracker” too, I would like to personally invite him to meet me (he’ll have to come here as I have no ability to travel to Minnesota).

At our meeting Dr. Myers can take the opportunity to desecrate me as he would the Holy Eucharist. I won’t fight back. He can feel free to film the whole thing. He can even bring friends if he wishes. When he is done he can put me under his microscope and prove that my flesh is merely human flesh – no observable scientific difference. Dr. Myers?

Jesus, my God, I adore Thee in the Sacrament of Thy love.

Divine Redeemer, Who in Thy infinite goodness hast been pleased to leave us Thy precious body and blood in the Blessed Eucharist, we adore Thee with the most profound respect, and return Thee our most humble thanks for all the favors Thou hast bestowed upon us, especially for the institution of the Most Holy Sacrament. As Thou are the source of every blessing , we entreat Thee to pour down Thy benediction this day upon us and upon our relatives, friends, and benefactors; upon the Holy Church, our bishops, priests, and deacons; and upon all those for whom we offer our prayers. Let Thy blessings go forth far and wide. Let it be felt in the souls of the afflicted who cannot come to receive it at Thy feet. Let the weak and tempted feel its power wherever they may be. Let poor sinners feel its influence, arousing them to come to Thee. Grant to me O Lord and to all the members of Your Holy Church, a strong personal love of Thee, a lively horror of sin, a higher esteem of grace, great zeal for Thy honor and glory, for our own sanctification, and for the salvation of souls. Amen.

My Lord and my God!

Blessed and praised every moment be the most holy and divine Sacrament.

Christian Witness, Current Events, Perspective, PNCC, ,

Whither goeth the Anglo-Catholics

The Young Fogey links to several articles describing recent secret meetings between Church of England prelates and the Vatican. See Several Church of England bishops in secret talks with Vatican.

As commentor JohnT points out, in relation to Damian Thompson’s blog entry on this issue:

Cardinal Hume pointed out to Anglicans who were on the point of converting in the early 1990s that ‘Catholic doctrine is not an a la carte menu’ – and this is still true.
Nor is conversion a matter of ‘accommodation’.

Which is my thought exactly. This type of action requires a wholesale reordering of all that these prelates say, do, and believe (if it is indeed a true conversion rather than a lifeboat option).

What must they give up to come to Rome? What might they gain? Where might they find shelter?

The things they must give up are rather lengthy, but let’s focus on a few:

  • Their status as Bishops (and their entire ordained life). Look at the Anglican Use (a terminal proposition) in the United States. Any clergy member coming over has to start over in new orders. There are no direct conversions “in Orders.”
  • Their position as insiders. While they are part of the CofE they are on the inside for better or worse. In the R.C. world they will be oddities and outsiders, with their wives and children, their traditional stylings, and everything else that is part and parcel of who they are. The world’s Bishop’s Conferences will treat them like the fairly odd arms-length cousins you hope you only have to see at weddings and funerals.
  • The 39 Articles et. al.
  • As noted regarding the Anglican Use, their “traditions” such as the BCP and everything else Anglican, are terminal. Once they and their fellow converts die off there will be no more Anglican Use as no married men will be ordained nor will the BCP and Anglican Use be taught to up-and-coming celibate priests (except as a historical anecdote).

Still in all, I imagine that the issue of shelter is the real key. Is Rome the best shelter for these Bishops and their people? What other options might they have?

Certainly they cannot look to the Old Catholics of Europe (Utrecht v. 2.0). They are on the same track as the balance of liberal European/American Anglicanism. No port in the storm there. They could look to Orthodoxy who might accept them economically, conditioned on their acceptance of Orthodox Catholic faith and doctrine. The Russian Church or Antioch would be their best bet with Western Rite offerings. In any event I would imagine that the bishops could only come in as priests in an Orthodox solution. Then there is the PNCC ? Anyone for a read of the Declaration of Scranton and a trip across the Susquehanna?

In large measure, because of the long term relationship between Anglicans and the PNCC (back in the day when 99.9% of the faith was held in common), they would find a true Catholic home in the PNCC, and one where Anglo-Catholics and the PNCC share much more in common than the Bishops, their priests and people would find elsewhere. Why not study our history and our common faith.

Of course the choices are not easy regardless of the path because conversion is a full-on process. You may take a choice because you are fleeing a fire, but eventually you have to own up to the truth of your conversion. Bishops have a higher duty here because of their Order and their knowledge. Do you truly accept and believe the thing you purport to accept and believe in your conversion. I can say this much as a convert to the PNCC, if the conversion is true you gain access to the uninterrupted faith of the Catholic Church and its Traditions. What you give up counts very little if that is the Lord’s calling.

All conjecturing aside, I hope and pray that these Bishops, their priests, and their congregants find a home in the Catholic Faith. Whether Roman, Orthodox, or PNCC, confidence in faith and the commonly held doctrines of the first thousand years is a great joy. As Jesus told us in this weekend’s Gospel: “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matt. 11:30).

We pray Thee, O God, not that Thou should help us carry out our own plans, but that we may be used in serving Thine: not for man’s victory over man, but for the triumph of Thy righteousness and Thy Kingdom. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. — From A Book of Devotions and Prayers according to the use of the Polish National Catholic Church.

Christian Witness, Poland - Polish - Polonia,

Eternal rest grant onto him O Lord!

From the Green Bay Press Gazette:

Deacon Phil S. Andrastek, age 69, Manitowoc, died Tuesday evening, July 1, 2008, at his residence. He was born Jan. 11, 1939, in Manitowoc, son of the late Stanley and Viola (Krejcie) Andrastek. Phil was a graduate of Manitowoc Lincoln High School, Class of 1957. After graduation, he entered the United States Army National Guard until 1965. On Oct. 11, 1958, he married the former Lucy Schultz at St. Mary [Roman] Catholic Church, Manitowoc. He was a 15-year veteran of the Manitowoc Police Department as a motorcycle officer, logging over 100,000 miles with the department. Phil had a short career as the owner of “Polish Phil’s.” He was employed as a security guard at the Manitowoc Company for many years. During his retirement, Phil was a member of the maintenance staff at Silver Lake College and noon supervisor at LB Clarke School, Two Rivers. Phil was ordained a Deacon with the Green Bay Diocese in the fall of 1986, being assigned to St. Mary Catholic Church in conjunction with Manitowoc Jail Ministry. He also ministered to numerous local nursing homes as well as St. Francis of Assisi Parish where he was a member…

Figure larger than life; friend to the “little guy” and the oppressed; gifted storyteller; friendly conversationalist; generous spirit; loving husband; proud father, grandfather and great-grandfather; man of God.

Lord, grant eternal rest to our brother deacon.

Wieczne odpoczynek racz mu dać Panie, a światłość wiekuista niechaj mu świeci.
Niech odpoczywa w pokoju, Amen.

Christian Witness, Perspective,

Faith, Theology, Sufjan

Ben Myers of Faith and Theology has a post on Sufjan Stevens entitled Theology with Sufjan Stevens: heaven in ordinary.

I got turned on to Sufjan Steven by Huw (I am grateful for that) and have enjoyed him ever since.

I like the breakdown Ben Myers does of —Casimir Pulaski Day.— It is a striking song – painful and hopeful. I would add that outside Illinois Casimir Pulaski Day does not exist as a formal holiday, and is relatively unknown. But in the song as in life, on the holiday, the Holy Day, we find death and hope, death and reassurance. It makes me think that to many God is the non-existent, unknown holiday. He is unknown and unrecognized. Because of that the hopelessness of death is overwhelming – and in the song especially the death of a young person. For those who are cognizant of the unknown, unseen holiday it is different.

Christian Witness, Perspective, PNCC,

Home construction workers need your prayerful support

From Interfaith Worker Justice:

Every morning, thousands of residential construction workers across the Phoenix and Las Vegas areas [as well as across the nation] wake up for another day of hard, dangerous work. They work long hours in difficult conditions in order to make ends meet for themselves and their families. Unfortunately, for too many, their labor is not rewarded adequately. Thousands of home construction workers labor at sites where employers do not follow health and safety regulations, fail to pay workers all the wages they are owed, do not offer affordable health insurance, and violate workers’ rights in a variety of other ways.

Workers at a number of subcontractors that do work for Pulte Homes in Phoenix and Las Vegas [as well as across the nation] have experienced systematic disregard for workers’ rights and basic human dignity. In December and January, Interfaith Worker Justice convened fact-finding delegations of religious leaders in both cities in order to find out more about the situation. Workers reported a number of serious problems, including unsafe and illegal working conditions, long hours, wages denied for overtime worked, and lack of health insurance. Some of the workers are attempting to organize unions in order to improve these conditions but have reported obstruction, harassment and intimidation by their employers.

In order to support these workers, Interfaith Worker Justice has produced a report based on the fact-finding delegations. IWJ is also circulating a statement by religious leaders in support of the workers who build houses for Pulte.

I have joined in supporting the workers who build houses for Pulte Homes and ask you to do so as well by:

  • Praying for the workers, their families, and company executives.
  • If you are a religious leader, sign the religious leaders’ statement and fax it to 773-728-8409, or fill out the form and mail it to IWJ. The address is on the form.
  • Write to Pulte CEO Richard Dugas and urge him to ensure that Pulte’s subcontractors respect workers’ rights. Mr. Dugas can be reached at the following address: Richard Dugas, Chief Executive Officer, Pulte Homes, 100 Bloomfield Homes Parkway, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304.

Recall that the PNCC was founded by hard working immigrants, just like those who are being victimized to this very day. As a member of the PNCC I am well aware of my responsibility to lift up all mankind because all have sacred dignity before God. Recall also that two tenants of the PNCC Confession of Faith state:

I BELIEVE that all peoples as children of one Father, God, are equal in themselves; that privileges arising from differences in rank, from possession of immense riches or from differences of faith, sex and race, are a great wrong, for they are a violation of the rights of man which he possess by his nature and the dignity of his divine origin, and are a barrier to the purposeful development of man.

I BELIEVE that all people have an equal right to life, happiness and those ways and means which lead to the preservation of existence, to advancement and salvation, but I also believe, that all people have sacred obligations toward God, themselves, their nation, state and all of humanity.

This is our faith.

Christian Witness, Saints and Martyrs

My patron saint – in a movie

From Lionsgate Home Entertainment: “Anthony Warrior of God“, a film based on the life of the most famous saint St. Anthony of Padua, is now available.

Life of St. Anthony of Padua

Co-written and directed by Antonello Belluco, “Anthony Warrior of God” is an inspiring tale of historical and doctrinal resonance that doesn’t preach, but instead invites the audience to go on a journey of reflection and contemplation regardless of their theological convictions. The film stars Jordi Mollá (Blow, Elizabeth: The Golden Age), Matt Patresi, Damir Todorovic (The Nativity Story), Giovanni Capalbo (The Passion of the Christ), Arnoldo Foí  (II Caimano) and Paolo De Vita (Excellent Cadavers) and depicts the story of the remarkable man whose deeply rooted faith enabled him to challenge society in support of his people.

St. Anthony began life as a young nobleman who enjoyed all the sumptuous pleasures and privileges of that medieval Europe could offer. Yet he was compelled by a mysterious inner voice to gaze upon the unspeakable misery, disease and cruelty around him. Overcome with boundless compassion, he entered a monastery, dedicating his fine mind and fragile body to defending the poor and oppressed against injustice. This revolutionary saint dared to challenge the highest spheres of society, the government and even the Church, if they were guilty of exploiting the common people.

His story continues to this day with the many accounts of those who have been transformed by “the most famous saint in the world”, St. Anthony of Padua.

I plan to purchase the film.

Christian Witness, Perspective, Poland - Polish - Polonia

A Polish monk and his couple’s “guide”

From the Courier Mail: Catholic monk’s sex guide

A CELIBATE Polish monk has established a website [Akt małżeński]The site is being heavily trafficked because of this article. I wouldn’t try visiting for a few days. And for those with prurient interests – it’s all in Polish so good luck… offering a guide to good sex for married couples, dubbed the ‘Catholic Kama Sutra’.

Father Ksawery Knotz’s site gives graphic lovemaking hints and describes sex as a deeply spiritual act in which the couple can experience God.

“In Catholic teaching, the conjugal act is presented as a meeting that occurs not only between a husband and a wife who love each other, but also between the married couple and God,” he said.

The Franciscan monk, who runs the site with the help of a panel of married couples, is also the author of a book titled The Marriage Act: A Chance to Meet God in Your Marriage Partner.

He said on his website sex should be seen by couples as a gift from God…

This sort of fits with one of the current trends in some churches that offer sex courses and advice in order to attract people to the church. It is an interesting marketing phenomenon (see an MSNBC article about Joe Beam for instance). One of our local evangelical churches, a member of the Lifechurch network offers courses like this.

The problem with many of these is that they are perspective based. I would think that Father Knotz’s advice follows Roman Catholic teaching on the subject, which is highly regulated, so much so that people miss the core message, and focus rather on guilt for missing the regulatory mark. Minister Joe Beam’s activities appear to reach down to the level of pandering as part of marketing. How does a Christian make sense of it all?

I personally think that any message in regard to sexuality and the Christian life has to flow from the basic tenants of the Christian life. This discussion cannot be boiled down to rules with do’s and don’ts because rules are formulaic and process oriented – they are not relational. Christianity is relational and is all about community, including the family as community.

Frankly, I like that way Christianity Today covers the issue in Christian Sex Rules by Melissa and Louis McBurney, M.D. This makes sense because their message meets the standard of Christian practice. Faithfulness to essential truths, freedom in non-essentials. Sexual practice is not the core issue or problem in people’s lives (excepting the few who have physical or mental issues which inhibit them), it is rather focusing on how every aspect of married life goes to fulfilling the humanness of the couple, their mutual giving, their ability to sacrifice beyond themselves, and their ability to meet God in every aspect of their life.

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