Catholicism and Social Activism

Image taken from https://www.globalsistersreport.org/news/selma-effect-catholic-nuns-and-social-justice-50-years-21201

In 1965, America, a Catholic periodical, endorsed participation in the Civil Rights Movement by arguing that when Catholic clergy participated in the Civil Rights Movement, they “spoke more clearly and directly than any conciliar decree could ever do about the effective presence of the Church” (America 1965b: 629). An article titled “Selma’s Shame” argued that “when State or local governments abuse their power to keep citizens from voting and otherwise working to realize their dignity as citizens and human beings, they reduce authority to a mockery, and leave no choice to the national government but to step in again and again” (America 1965a, 386).

It gives me great pleasure to say that Catholics in the United States have supported and contributed to the Civil Rights Movement as well as various labor movements. I do not expect anything less considering that much of Jesus’ beliefs and the Catholic social teaching center around human rights and dignity. Yet, in past presidential elections, we see increasing signs of racism and nationalism among white Christians and Catholics.

Understanding Catholics’ past social activism helps us understand what Catholicism is and what it could be. It teaches valuable lessons regarding one’s social responsibility of confronting evil, caring about the underprivileged, and having respect for each other’s humanity. It demonstrates the imperatives of interracial and interdenominational cooperation. It also shows what religious communities should aspire to do. They should be a force for good. They should be advocates for change. And, perhaps more importantly, they should be lighthouses for morality.