Catholic Social Action, Interfaith Dialogue & US Identity
Dorothy Day & The Catholic Worker Movement
Many American Catholics have used principles of Catholic social teaching to address specific injustices and inequities in American life. One of the most prominent Catholics to do so is Dorothy Day. The Catholic Worker Movement that she started spread among many Catholics, creating places for the poor and underprivileged to get food, shelter, and other necessities. This good work stemmed from the idea that every person has human dignity granted by God. Dorothy Day and other members of the Catholic Worker Movement would campaign for the release of political prisoners and put their own freedom on the line to stand up for justice. Anyone was allowed into their houses of hospitality, showing that they worked for the common good of everyone. Through the Catholic Worker newspaper, people were educated about issues and injustices happening, which raised more attention to the poor and vulnerable members of society.
Nostra Aetate & Interfaith Relations in the US
The central teachings of Nostra Aetate are that all people come from God and will return to Him. The Catholic Church is willing to accept truths in other religions insofar as they reflect Catholic teaching and may lead people to Jesus. Islam shares commonalities with Christianity, such as the worship of one God, and the document encourages forgetting past differences and working together. It also teaches that Jewish people are not to be blamed for Jesus’ death. We are all created in God’s image and must not discriminate.
The document was of especial consequence in the U.S. Catholic context because it created a new starting point in the relationship of the Catholic Church with Judaism. It caused a transformation in attitude and teaching towards Jewish people.
Practical effects included increased Church ties with Judaism. The Pontifical Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews was created to maintain positive theological ties with Judaism. Another practical effect was that anti-Semitism decreased, and other religions were respected for their similarities rather than rejected for their differences.
Distinctive & Resilient Features of US Catholicism
Several aspects studied this semester highlight what makes U.S. Catholicism distinctive and resilient:
- The Catholic Worker Movement spurred many people to directly confront the challenges faced by those on the margins of society and has garnered the support to maintain its activity to this day.
- National Parishes allowed immigrants to worship and practice Catholicism in their own unique ways. This enabled the Church to accommodate diverse populations and made them feel at home.
- The prominence of Catholics in the 1965 Selma campaign for voting rights. Catholics participated visibly in the fight for justice, showing their commitment.
- Catholic sisters helped break down anti-Catholic sentiment by working as nurses and teachers. Their public presence allowed people to see Catholics as individuals committed to doing good.
- Lastly, the extensive network of parochial schools established by the Church helped integrate Catholicism into American life. With so many being educated in these schools, Catholicism was able to take root in new generations.