April 17, 2020
Posted by ICTC on Friday, April 17, 2020 at 9:35 AM PDT
Sign of the Times
PEACE ON EARTH:
Catholics continue to work for justice for all
April 11 marked the 57th anniversary of the publication of Pacem in Terris (Peace on Earth), the final encyclical issued by Pope John XXIII. Written in the midst of the Cold War, the Pope emphasized human dignity and equality among people and the rights and responsibilities of individuals and of the state. As we currently wrestle with these very issues it is a helpful reminder that the wisdom we seek may seem elusive at times, but also is a thread woven throughout the Catholic intellectual and social traditions.
Catholics continue to advocate for justice in the time of COVID-19; here are a few current headlines:
- Catholic leaders urge governments to protect indigenous during pandemic (NCR)
- R.S. gears up for global response to coronavirus pandemic (America Magazine)
- Pandemic exacerbates fear, challenges for undocumented immigrants (NCR)
- How are Jesuit ministries coping with the spread of coronavirus? (Society of Jesus – Social Justice and Ecology Secretariat)
- Life and Dignity, Justice and Solidarity: Moral Principles for Responding to the COVID-19 Economic Crisis (Georgetown University YouTube video)
Pope Francis, hope in the pandemic, and the critical role of women
Pope Francis seems to be in the news almost daily. Commonweal published an interview with him in early April, where he discussed “A Time of Great Uncertainty,” reflecting on the experience of isolation, ecological concerns, the Church’s role in this crisis, and hopes for Lent and Eastertide. On April 8 it was announced that Pope Francis is creating a new commission on women deacons (NCR), followed by his Easter Monday prayer where he “singled out the crucial role women have played in combating the pandemic, comparing them to the faithful women of the Gospel” (America Magazine).