THE TABLET SEPTEMBER 23, 2005

OBLIGATORY WORKS OF MERCY

My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

During the last several weeks our attention has focused on the Gulf Coast and the terrible aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, which destroyed lives and homes and has torn apart families as well as entire communities. It also has damaged our national self-image itself and brought untold damage upon God's creation and those who had built it up. Located within the two main areas that have been ravaged are the Archdiocese of New Orleans and the Diocese of Biloxi. The Church in the United States has mustered all of its efforts to assist, in any way possible, these areas and others hurt by the hurricane.

Our call for a response from the people of the Brooklyn Diocese has been heartwarming; already we have collected $441,443.97 from 86 parishes, with well over 100 parishes still to report. The funds will be sent to the Catholic Charities USA Disaster Relief Fund and also directly to the affected dioceses.

As you might know, the Catholic Charities USA Disaster Relief Fund has been designated by the American bishops, for over 20 years, as their domestic disaster relief conduit for funds collected from dioceses around the country and distributed to the Catholic Charities network in the various dioceses. Our own experience after 9/11 certainly touched the heart. We received over $5 million through the Catholic Charities Disaster Network, which has been used to assist traumatized families, pay school tuitions, and assist with burial of victims.

As a show of solidarity, Catholic Charities of the Brooklyn Diocese has responded to a request to send one staff member to Beaumont, Tex., and will shortly send others to Houston. Twenty are available to assist in the region. Also, Catholic Charities' Family Centers are assisting evacuees who have come to New York by choice.

Last week, the Administrative Board of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, of which I am a member, issued a statement on the hurricane on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. How appropriate. That feast reminds us of the suffering that Jesus endured to save the world and how we too must join our sufferings to His in a continual redemption of the world.

The statement, entitled "Hurricane Katrina: Reaching Out, Renewal and Recovery in Faith and Solidarity," outlines the Church's program for coordinating Catholic efforts around the country, along with the establishment of a new Task Force to Coordinate the Catholic Response to Katrina. Archbishop Joseph Fiorenza of Galveston-Houston, an archdiocese that received many of the evacuees, has been named chairman. As chairman of the bishops' Domestic Policy Committee, and in view of my refugee resettlement experience, I have been named to the task force to assist in this.

The task force has been asked to support the many efforts of the affected dioceses, encourage a sustained response from the Catholic community, and coordinate the many diverse efforts in order to increase effectiveness, assure accountability and eliminate duplication while at the same time examining the future moral and policy implications of this disaster for the Church and society. The Church must look at the aftermath of disasters with her vast experience and an eye toward establishing equity in the process.

The statement says: "Beyond the stunning outpouring of money, food and water, volunteers and welcome to thousands upon thousands of displaced persons, the Catholic community has something more to contribute to the ongoing responses and recovery." This contribution will come by way of setting a moral framework to be a guide for recovery and rebuilding efforts.

The principles outlined in the statement indicate first, that we must recognize the life and dignity of every human person without distinction and regardless of social class or race, and second, that the option for the poor and vulnerable must be a guiding principle since those with little should not be at the end of the line in the recovery efforts.

Also, the principle of subsidiarity, which guides Catholic social teaching, reminds us that appropriate responsibilities and limitations of institutions should be assigned to the most appropriate and proximate level of responsibility; normally local input and control is critical. If the local community cannot accomplish its responsibilities alone, then it will ask for assistance from other more competent entities, for example, the state or the federal government. In this case, it is clear that the whole country and the federal mechanism must assist; however, this should not preclude the input and responsibility of the local people and governmental entities.

Another principle that is at stake here is that of solidarity. We must show our communion as a Church in assisting the local areas, not only by an outpouring of charity, but also by solidarity with those who are suffering. It is clear too that our social tradition begins with the right to life and extends those rights, which make life truly human. Therefore, we cannot forget the responsibility to rebuild all sectors of society, not only housing, but also the educational and labor infrastructures, as well as health care. Overall in this disaster, it is clear that we must be conscious of the damage done to the environment and that every effort must be made to restore the environment as the work of God's creation.

Finally, two additional principles must be respected, the dignity and rights of workers as well as the common good that will preclude some of the opportunism that already seems to be taking place in this area.

The statement concludes by saying: "For Christians, this is not just a work of humanitarian outreach. When we help those whom this storm has ripped from their homes and livelihoods, we are helping Jesus in our midst. We cannot be the Church of Jesus Christ unless we reach out in persistent and powerful ways to serve 'the least of these' (Matt. 25). Feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, bringing drink to the thirsty, welcoming the stranger are not simply acts of generosity, but acts of faith. These traditional works of mercy are not options, but obligations for each of us and the entire Catholic community."

I am privileged to serve on a task force that will coordinate the Church's efforts in the United States, and I ask your prayers that we will make good decisions and be able to muster all of the strength and faith of the Church to accomplish this daunting task. The words of Psalm 124 seem to be very appropriate as we put out into the deep in this momentous effort: "Had not the Lord been with us…the waters would have engulfed us, the torrent overwhelmed us; seething water would have drowned us. Blessed be the Lord, who did not leave us…" (Ps. 124:2-6).