Stimulus Packages, Bailouts, & The Truth About Charity

by Jason D. Christensen

Last month leaders of the G-8 Nations gathered and at the top of their agenda was the global economy which stands fragile and in recession for most places.  Chief among their concerns was our domestic economy – which so many other nations are dependent upon its success. 

As governments like the United States take a Keynesian approach to stimulating their respective economies and bailing out various sectors of the market, Pope Benedict XVI’s issuance of his encyclical “Caritas in Veritate” (“Charity in Truth”) could not have been timelier.

The Holy Father cautioned that any approaches for economic recovery must genuinely serve the common good and not simply be for immediate relief at the expense of others.  He declared:

“The truth that God is the creator of human life, that every life is sacred…and that God has a plan for each person must be respected in development programs and in economic recovery efforts if they are to have real and lasting benefits….In the search for solutions to the current economic crisis, development aid…must be considered a valid means of creating wealth for all.”

Benedict is casting a vision that says the way we do things must go deeper and further than what we have done before.  There’s another message that is being sent to us as well; which he stated in his very first encyclical, “Deus Caritas Est.” He essentially says that we cannot abdicate to the state our responsibility to be charitable.  It falls upon all of us.  He’s also suggesting that we look beyond the causes of poverty.  We can easily identify them.  What we really should be doing, as author Michael Novak has proffered is to examine the “causes of wealth.”

Catholic Charities and other faith-based non-profits are proving that we have a far-better handle on people’s situations, needs and struggles rather than governments.  Hurricane Katrina exemplified that fact.  The efficacy of government was practically non-existent.  But who was there early in the crisis and who remains to this day?  Faith-based organizations.

Here at Catholic Charities and at our newly created Hanifen Center at Marian House we have developed our programs around a model of efficiency and by identifying all of the factors that keep people trapped in poverty.  Briefly stated, we’ve taken a holistic approach in the treatment of poverty among our consumers.  Those who access services can self-direct if they wish.  Others may not have the capacity.  Either way, everyone will have contact with a Catholic Charities’ employee who will provide love and accountability.

Love and accountability.  They’re not qualities often applied to government services and probably won’t be found in a bailout or stimulus package.  But, it’s something that is in abundance at Catholic Charities.  And it’s a far more worthy and cost-effective way to be charitable. 

It’s The Rage

A host of Academy Award nominees and A-List actors including Gary Sinise, Joan Allen, Andrea Braugher, Jeff Daniels, and David Schwimmer to name a few came together in the 1999 drama/comedy “All The Rage.”

The story focuses on nine people whose lives are interwoven throughout the film and the relationship handguns have in their respective lives.

In one day last week – two national stories – gave us a mere glimpse of the impact gun violence has on our society.  In particular, these two incidents were disturbing because the acts appear to be politically motivated.  We in America have been experiencing our own real-life version of the movie “All the Rage.”

On Sunday, Scott Roeder walked into the Reformation Lutheran Church in Wichita, Kansas and gunned down Dr. George Tiller, a late-term abortion provider. Tiller’s wife, while performing in the church choir, watched the event unfold before her eyes.

That same day, Abdulahkim Mujahid Muhammad shot and killed Private William Long and wounded Private Quinton Ezeagwula at an Army-Navy recruiting office in Little Rock, Arkansas.  Don’t let the name of the assailant mislead you; his real name is Carlos Bledsoe and he is an American.  Muhammad’s actions were done for “political and religious reasons” in what he asserts as the US military’s treatment of Muslims.

How is it that we have a supposed “Pro-Lifer” and a convert to Islam – a religion whose main tenet is the advancement of peace –engaged in such horrific acts of violence? 

Perhaps one explanation is the growing absolutism in religious and political circles that polarizes their respective constituencies.  Look at the state of the Republican Party today and we find it in disarray and dwindling in relevance because its so-called leadership has set a standard for what constitutes a “True-Republican.”  They’ve almost become a “remnant” party.  The divide among Muslims is not much different.

The other explanation for such violence is our societal inabilities to communicate and act in healthy ways.  Heated rhetoric and public ostracizing of those with whom we disagree is far more prevalent than from our previously polite society.  And now, violence is quickly becoming the chosen the course of action.

Don’t get me wrong:  Violence has been with us since the beginning of mankind. But shouldn’t we be a more evolved society?

Stricter gun control laws will not remedy the present problems related to gun violence.  The bottom line is our culture lacks respect for life….We are, what John Paul II described as a “Culture of Death.”

Video games today measure success by the number of people killed and the manner in which they were killed.  We idolize characters like Al Pacino’s Tony Montoya in “Scarface” and celebrate the gangster lifestyle whose philosophy is to “get rich or die tryin’.”

The opening of “It’s the Rage” pulls up a quote from Al Capone who declared, “You can get a lot more done with a kind word and a gun, than with a kind word alone.”

Perhaps if we used more kind words, there wouldn’t be a need for guns and/or violence to get what we want.

No Need For Discussion….

During the Democratic primaries, then-candidate Barack Obama was sharply criticized for his openness to dialogue with the heads of state that have traditionally been anti-American.  Attempts by Senator Hillary Clinton to portray the junior senator from Illinois as someone willing to cozy up to the likes of Kim Jong Il, Hugo Chavez, or Mahmoud Ahmadinejad fell flat — even though Senator Obama openly stated he would meet with each of these leaders personally.

President Obama is not lacking in political deftness. He skillfully fended off criticism by offering the JFK approach:  “We must not negotiate out of fear.  But we must also not fear to negotiate.”

Obama’s approach, like President Kennedy’s, has merit.  It certainly didn’t hurt the new President to do much more other than “show up” and be somebody else given the unfavorable international view of the Bush foreign policy. 

So what is it that has Robert Finn so troubled? 

You might ask:  Who is Robert Finn and why is he troubled?

He’s actually “Bishop” Robert Finn, the Bishop for the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph and he is troubled not so much by President Obama’s controversial commencement address at Notre Dame as he’s troubled by one word, in particular, uttered by President Obama during that address.

The word is “irreconcilable.”

President Obama declared he and the Church have “irreconcilable” differences on the matter of abortion.  To Bishop Finn’s point, these words were an admission by the President that he has shut the door on any dialogue.

“As a country we want to see an end to racial prejudice.  We want a more secure peace in the world.  We want sound economic justice for people.  So we can’t give up on working with the administration, ” said Bishop Finn.

Finn sees a genuine role for the Church to work with the Obama administration — which protects abortion — by addressing “many associated elements that have to do with taking care of women in distress, offering alternatives to abortion.”  He added, “We have to work together, discuss and study how best we can provide for the needs of women and families.  How can we reduce the number of abortions?  These are elements for dialogue.”

But can a dialogue even take place given the President’s declaration of “irreconcilable differences?”  Is this because he knows deep in his heart abortion is wrong and he is the one fearful to negotiate?

A frequent — and often justified — criticism leveled at Obama’s predecessor was the prideful and stubborn ways of President George W. Bush which kept him from seeing the larger picture when it came to the war in Iraq and, to some extent, the war in Afghanistan.  The criticism by Obama and the political Left was their assertion that there was little or no room for dialogue, much less dissent.

So what makes President Obama’s firm irreconcilable position any different from President Bush’s

And why is President Obama willing to give time to the likes of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad — a man who denies the Holocaust and seeks total destruction of Israel — but is completely unwilling to work out differences he has with the Catholic Church and her people? 

A majority of Catholic voters cast their ballots for President Obama in this last election.  But as issues are purportedly “irreconcilable,” will that majority of Catholic voters be there for the President during his re-election?

Source:  CNA (www.catholicnewsagency.com)

Where God Left His Shoes: Poverty Is For Everyone

 

The apartment was ramshackle.  A tight kitchen accentuated by dirty dishes left in the sink. Non-perishables in the cupboard…perishing.  This depressing environment is only further accentuated by a broken light fixture. 

Equally discouraged and relieved, Frank Diaz spins the broken light fixture and says, “Well, it’s not exactly where God left his shoes…But it’ll work.”

That line becomes the title of a Salvatore Stabile’s indie-film Where God Left His Shoes.  It’s a film mixed with despair and hope.  It’s a film that also stings with an unspoken, ignored reality in our nation.

Frank Diaz, portrayed by John Leguizamo, is happy standing in this substandard apartment because it is much better than the homeless shelter where he and his family have been staying for the last two months.  In that same scene, he pulls his stepson to the kitchen window and excitedly points out Yankee Stadium and verbalizes his wishes for what the two of them will be doing on Opening Day.

Diaz is hopeful, but in a non-saccharin way.  He’s rooted in realism; he just wants what is best for his family.

His circumstance came about with the loss of work.  Like so many hanging by an economic thread, Frank Diaz’s family has been living paycheck-to-paycheck. It has now been a couple months without those paychecks.  The eviction notice arrives and they have two hours to gather their belongings.

After time in the shelter, Frank gets good news:  He and his family have cleared the waiting list and are now eligible for this apartment.  Frank’s relief and measured enthusiasm abruptly departs when it’s determined his work as an “off-the-books” day laborer don’t qualify him as being gainfully employed or having regular income — a requirement of all tenants.

This sets off a sequence of events that provide a glimpse into what it is like to live a life of poverty — a life perpetually on the edge.  I do not wish to give away important details of the story; however, Frank’s obstacles to getting his family out of their situation are palpable.  They are powerful examples that hard-work and determination are not a guaranteed escape from poverty.

Today in America, over 37 million people live at or below the poverty level.  It is estimated that by the end of 2010 the number will rise to 50 million.  This is not a collection of so-called “lazy people” lacking motivation.  As much as we don’t like to think this happens in our prosperous nation, those living in poverty are examples of the serious injustices in our economic and social structures.  Sadly, these injustices make casualties out of people like Frank Diaz and his family….As well as families and individuals in our own communities.

To better understand the impact of poverty — even upon the most-determined people — I highly recommend picking up a copy of Where God Left His Shoes.  Fret not that the film is one of despair.  As I mentioned, this is also a story of hope and there are shining examples of redemption that champion the human spirit in this film.

 For more information, you can also visit the Official Website 

When 900 Came Knocking….

It’s been a year now. 

Few, however, outside of the small town of Postville, Iowa may recall what transpired on May 12, 2008.

Nestled in the extreme northeast portion of Iowa, this town of 2,200 people was visited on that particular day by two helicopters of the federal government and 900 Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents — an amount that’s roughly 40% of the town’s entire population.

The purpose:  Round up nearly 400 suspected illegal immigrants at one of the town’s agri-processing plants.

It’s considered to have been the second largest workplace immigration raid in our nation’s history.  Cost to the taxpayers: $5.2 million.  That amount does not even account for the economic devastation experienced by the townspeople — documented or undocumented.  Suffice to say, this came at a high price.

These raids have more than an economic impact; there’s a societal impact when families are split apart.  And it’s not something exclusive to Postville, IA. It’s seen in places all across the U.S. from Greely, Colorado to Greenville, South Carolina.  Typically, the breadwinner of the family is detained, thus leaving the spouse — and children in many cases –  not knowing that person’s status or whereabouts.  Now what is a single parent to do?

I found myself in the midst of a conversation with a colleague who is very overt about his faith.  For a non-Catholic, he has been a very good supporter of Catholic Charities and our efforts to feed the hungry.  However, he took issue with me about “your church’s social teachings.”  I played along.

This colleague — and very well-intentioned Christian I would add — told me “The law is the law and it must be followed.”  I responded, “You mean, like Roe vs. Wade, correct?  Because that’s law now. Or are you talking about how under our Constitution African Americans were once considered 3/5ths human beings for voting purposes?”  He began to give thought to what I had said. That’s not to say that he wasn’t thinking before he formed his opinion, but there is something to be said about positions formed out of ignorance….They’re typically ignorant.

When I explained to this person that such raids split up families and in most cases forced mothers and children to rely upon government sources and private charity in order to live, his eyes opened up and it dawned on him:  For all of his “pro-family” rhetoric on other societal and political matters, his so-called hard-line approach to illegal immigration was now sounding quite “anti-family.”   It certainly wasn’t “pro-life.”

One of the unexpected heroes during the Postville raids was a rather unassuming Catholic priest. Fr. Paul Ouderkirk was a man looking forward to a quiet assignment as he approached retirement.  Instead, he found himself in the eye of a political storm.  Many of his parishioners at St. Bridget parish were either employees or relatives of employees who were picked up during the raid.  It was the pastor and the parishioners of St. Bridget’s that rallied to the aid of the families separated from their imprisoned spouses/parents.

Not everyone agreed with the actions taken by the faith community:  “I am disturbed that local religious leaders in Postville seem to think it is immoral to arrest people who violated federal laws,” said Roy Beck, president of NumbersUSA, a group that believes in limiting immigration.

Here’s the rub:  Why did these so-called “law-breakers” break federal law in the first place?  I have not heard a more succinct or reasoned explanation than what I heard from Fr. Dan Groody, CSC — a so-called “religious leader.”  Fr. Groody asks a very simple question:  “How can we expect people to obey Civil Law, yet ask them to disobey Natural Law?”  To further that point, how do people of faith reconcile their Gospel call to “Welcome the Stranger” by vociferously opposing the immigrant’s presence or right to migrate?

As the Director of Notre Dame’s Center for Latino Spirituality and Culture, Groody’s point is this:  Everyone has a right to migrate to support themselves and their families.  His position has authoritative backing in Blessed John XXIII who declared that while the state has a right to maintain its sovereignty and protect its borders, it simply cannot overlook the common good.  Is it any wonder why so many Mexicans who are struggling in abject poverty will risk their lives getting to the U.S. so that they may have a better life?

The economic downturn and the scarcity of jobs has somewhat quieted down the issue of immigration.  Nonetheless, we are still in need of comprehensive immigration reform.  One of the biggest proponents of such reform was President George W. Bush.  Unfortunately members of his own party managed to sabotage any legislation.  There is hope that President Obama will be able to accomplish something given the large majorities of his party in both houses of Congress.

We should not have to wait for another Postville incident — or anniversary of such an incident — that gets us sound immigration reform which protects our borders and simultaneously honors human dignity and looks out for the common good.

For more information and a genuine human perspective on the issue of migration, please check out the work of Fr. Dan Groody at the following:

> Dying To Live

> One Border One Body

Lessons Learned From Monsters

One of my daughters’ favorite movies is the Pixar modern-day classic Monsters, Inc. Admittedly, it’s one of my favorites as well.

In the movie, a “Monster” society generates its power by scaring children and capturing their screams as a source of energy.  Our main characters-Sulley (John Goodman) and Mike Wazowski (Billy Crystal)-make this notion of acquiring screams entertaining.  It certainly gives reason to laugh at our own childhood fears of the Boogeyman lurking in our closets. 

But as the story unfolds, we see the desperate measures taken by Monsters, Inc. CEO, Mr. Henry J. Waternoose (James Coburn) to acquire more energy (screams) which has become more difficult to obtain as children have been desensitized to the “scary things.”  It concludes when the jokester Mike Wazowski discovers that far more energy is generated by capturing the laughter of children-and there’s no limit to the amount that can be collected.

 So what is to be learned? 

Let me take a step back before answering that question and state the following:  We take ourselves, and our issues, far too seriously and far too often; we become so self-absorbed in our own opinions and agendas that we fail to see the larger issues that surround us.

This, of course, is only exacerbated by our sense of being on the “right side” of things.  Our language and behavior becomes less civil.  We resort to factionalism and fear.  We try to scare not just our opponents, but those either ambivalent or undecided. 

And, I have to ask myself, “Is this approach limiting our ability to capture energy and sustain our society?”  And since Sulley and Mike Wazowski are merely fictional characters, how do we harness positive energy today?

Over the last 15 years, America has been a particularly polarized nation.  We’ve seen it divided into Red and Blue states.  But, polarization and factionalism is not something exclusive to American politics.  It’s global.  It’s seen between East and West.  It’s among the “haves” and the “have-nots.”  It’s inter-religious….And, it’s intra-religious.

As Americans, we are in challenging times and it appears it will be that way for a bit longer. It has been said that as the size of the pie grows smaller, so do the table manners. With our economy lagging, it’s easy to be worried.  But, do we let our own fears and interests blind us or make us insensitive to others?  Or worse, do we turn that fear against each other?

The Congress has been grappling with a stimulus package and a federal budget that, as proposed, has a $3.5 trillion deficit.  Yes, that was trillion with a “T.”  Debate likely will be divided sharply among party lines.  Additionally, this summer President Obama will nominate a new member of the Supreme Court to replace retiring Justice, David Souter.  My estimation is the polarizing forces will be out in full strength.

I pray that our processes are marked by reasoned dialogue and not divisiveness and fear.  It is far too idealistic to think that everybody will have a good Mike Wazowski-induced laugh about the many issues facing our nation at the present time.  After all, we ARE faced with a lot of serious issues.  But, that doesn’t mean we have to take our ball and go home if we don’t like it.

A debate about health care reform will take place.  There are some very strong sides on this subject and we’ve seen the language can be inflammatory.  Whether you believe in a Canadian-style Universal System or an unbridled free-market approach, it does not change the fact that at the end of the day 45 million Americans have no health insurance at all.

As it presently stands, 37 million Americans live in poverty — 9 million are children.  Estimates say that by the end of 2010, 50 million Americans will live at or below the poverty line.  How can the most prosperous nation in the world allow this to happen?  Are we too busy or do we just not care?

While proposed solutions to these problems will differ between the Left and the Right, there must be a common moral imperative to resolve these problems and address societal injustice. 

For that to happen….

We must ask ourselves, “Can I put aside my personal agenda for the common good?” 

We must ask ourselves, “Will I be an instrument of mercy, or an instrument of fear?”

We must ask ourselves, “Will I be life-giving, or life-taking.”

And when we go to bed at night, would we rather be laughing or screaming?

War on poverty: Who’s winning?

Catholic Charities USA president pushes forward bold plan to cut poverty in half by 2020.

Father Larry Snyder admits it’s a daunting challenge: start work to cut the U.S. poverty rate in half by 2020 at a time when thousands of Americans are drowning in debt and organizations that serve the poor are straining to meet their clients’ needs. But not only is Catholic Charities USA, which Father Snyder heads, committed to the goal, he and the organization are convinced that it’s vital for the country.

>  read more

Jack Kemp, R.I.P.

Late last night I settled into my hotel room here in our nation’s capital and as I’m strolling through the channels I learned the sad news: A man who spent so many years working in this city – for the betterment of our nation — had passed.

Jack Kemp’s enthusiasm was infectious. His enthusiasm wasn’t just for his party and its policies – an area where he sometimes differed with the GOP. Jack Kemp was a man enthusiastic about America and, more importantly, he was a man enthusiastic about people.

Jack Kemp was All-American. Blessed with good looks and tremendous athletic ability, Kemp spent ten years as quarterback for the Buffalo Bills and San Diego Chargers twice leading his teams to AFL championships. He parlayed his celebrity into a political career by serving a decade and a half as U.S. Congressman from western New York.

Kemp was not the stereotypical jock trying to find a place to settle in and ride out his career. He was a key player in the U.S. House of Representatives to advance the Reagan Revolution of the early ‘80’s. An ardent advocate of Supply-Side Economics, Kemp believed by freeing up restrictions on the market (e.g. lowering taxes) all people would benefit which was in the JFK philosophy that “a rising tide lifts all boats.”

Public policy experts and historians will debate where Supply-Side Economics went wrong. Certainly if government hadn’t overspent the increased revenue it actually received as a result of SSE we wouldn’t have had the deficits we had from that era. (For a better understanding, read David Stockman’s Triumph of Politics.)

Secondly, Kemp genuinely believed that by freeing up the market all areas of the private sector would reinvest in people and provide opportunity to those on the margins of the economy. As we know, that wasn’t always the case. Not everyone in the private sector recognizes – as they should — that with liberty comes responsibility. (John Paul II, Centessimus Annus)

But Kemp never stopped in his effort to promote liberty and an ownership culture…for everybody. This was evidenced during his tenure as Secretary for Housing and Urban Development under President George H.W. Bush, but was ultimately formed during his professional football career as we became a more racially integrated society.

He was a self-professed “Bleeding Heart Conservative” which generated so much enthusiasm for people like me and my political peers during his Presidential candidacy in 1988. Like Kemp, we believed in limited government, respect for life in all its forms (not just for the unborn), a strong defense as a deterrent, and opportunity for all.

Jack Kemp was a person, who in the words of his good friend Bill Bennett, “led the party to the inner-city….He wanted to take the party to everybody.” That did not always earn him praise from party-insiders who sometimes found it to be a political waste of time.

When candidate George W. Bush declared himself a “Compassionate Conservative,” many Kemp supporters such as I thought we finally had our guy. Sadly we all know how that story turned out.

This weekend leaders of the Republican Party are on retreat in Virginia searching for its soul as they undergo their own public “Extreme Makeover.” Perhaps it would behoove the GOP to finally listen to what Jack Kemp had been saying…and to whom he was speaking.

Kemp was never afraid to engage anybody because he believed dialogue was healthy. One of the things I admired so much about him was the project he had recently undertaken with another former Vice Presidential candidate, Senator John Edwards. These two men – of largely differing political views — toured the nation conducting forums on the issue of poverty.

Jack Kemp believed we can have differing political views; however, we should never let them blind us to our common goal as Americans, as evidenced in his Poverty Forums with Senator Edwards.

I shall miss the gravelly-voiced enthusiasm that Jack Kemp brought to the political arena. But I am hopeful we are entering a new political era that is less about bluster and demagoguery and is more characterized by constructive dialogue and a fearless discussion of ideas.

Jack Kemp was probably a man ahead of his time. He was certainly a man ahead of his party.

Thank you for your service to our country and for your love of people, Jack. God bless you. You will be missed.

NOTES: Deepest condolences to Jack’s wife, Joanne, his children Jeffrey, Jennifer, Judith, Jimmy, and his 17 grandchildren. For a glimpse into the character of Jack Kemp, please take a look at this open letter he sent to his grandchildren last November:

http://www.kemppartners.com/about-jack-kemp/column/a-letter-to-my-grandchildren

Catholic Charities of Colorado Springs Tweets For Poverty Reduction

Catholic Charities of Colorado Springs–who provides services to people in need, advocates for justice in social structures, and calls the entire church and other people of good will to do the same–has joined the micro-blogging phenomenon Twitter.

Twitter is a service for friends, family, and co–workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing?

And what exactly is CCCS doing? “We’re getting the word out,” says President and CEO Jason Christensen, “We want to be on the cutting edge with regard to Poverty Reduction in Colorado Springs. This effort is part education/part call-to-action. People have got to know that 37 million Americans are living at or below poverty level!”

Estimates of 4-5 million people use Twitter every day and it is ranked as the third most used social network globally (Facebook is ranked #1). That puts the number of Twitter’s unique monthly visitors at roughly 6 million and the number of monthly visits at 55 million. In March 2009, a Nielsen.com blog ranked Twitter as the fastest growing site in the Member Communities category for February 2009.

Catholic Charities of Colorado Springs, the social service arm of the Diocese of Colorado Springs, provides social services throughout a 10-county area with most of the services targeted to people living in Colorado Springs and El Paso County. The agency is accredited by the Council on Accreditation and provides services to people of all races, backgrounds and beliefs.

> Twitter: Catholic Charities of Colorado Springs   

> Facebook: Catholic Charities of Colorado Springs 

> Myspace: Catholic Charities of Colorado Springs

Digging for Diamonds

Catholic Charities of Colorado Springs recently achieved yet another accomplishment in its effort to alleviate poverty in the Pikes Peak region with the opening of The Marian House Self-Sufficiency Center. 

A compliment to the hot meals provided in the Marian House Soup Kitchen, the Self-Sufficiency Center goes beyond stabilization services; our programs focus on helping people fully realize their God-given talents and abilities. To reach this goal, Catholic Charities of Colorado Springs has enlisted the talents of the many fine, local human service agencies with specific areas of expertise.

Their role will be to help our consumers develop a holistic treatment plan designed to get them out of poverty.  The eight areas to be targeted include the following: Housing, Employment & Income, Medical Care, Education, Life Skills, Mental Health Care, Transportation, Child Care.

The trouble with poverty is that while someone may have adequate means in all but one of the areas mentioned above, that person can still be caught in the poverty cycle.  Persons in situational or acute poverty may only need support in a few of those categories.  Sadly, however, those whose experience generational poverty will likely need assistance in most, if not all of the categories mentioned.

It is certainly easy to say that we can help people by providing a meal, clothes, or a place to stay for a night.  This is all good and well, but is it enough? Does this fully honor the dignity of the person? One of our great modern saints, Therese of Lisieux opined, “Instead of wasting time picking up little bits of straw, one can dig for diamonds.”

 Known as “The Little Flower,” she was rarely subtle when it came to our responsibility of loving one another. I don’t in any way mean to diminish any act of charity.  But to St. Therese’s point, we often need to go further than just picking up the little bits of straw. 

 We should be digging for diamonds.

 Please Note:  If you like what we’re doing to alleviate poverty, please visit us at www.helpmarianhouse.org or at www.ccharitiescs.org.  Thank you!