Week of October 18-24
ECONOMIC JUSTICE

Prayer:
God of Justice, we thank you for all the blessings in our lives including food to eat and a bed to sleep in.
Remind us that not all people have these basic things that we often take for granted.
Help us to work in solidarity with others who are in need of economic justice for survival.
God of Justice, as we grow increasingly more dependent on each other throughout the world,
help us remember that all people are interconnected, and help us grow in the understanding that
people are not truly free until their basic needs are met.
God of Justice, instill in us the dedication to work in community with others,
for the good of all people and to ensure that all our sisters and brothers have economic justice and access to all earthly goods.
Amen

Reflection:
Our world is unbalanced.  We have brothers and sisters suffering around the world because of the economic injustice in our world.  “In its teaching, the Church has noted a number of basic human rights in economic life, including the right to productive employment, the right to just wages, the right to an adequate income, the rights of workers to organize and bargain collectively, the right to own property for the many as a protection of freedom, and the right to participate in economic decisions.” (U.S. Bishops, To Do the Work of Justice, (1978), #28)  When these basic needs are not being met we must ask ourselves, how can we in the United States be a part of working to change the economic injustices in our world?

Often, we can feel like things are bigger than we are.  One of the beauties of this country is that we have a voice in a democracy.  Our policies reach far beyond these borders and there are things we can do.  We can demand that trade be “fair” rather than “free”.  We can call for transparency in trade negotiations and call for the voice of civil society to be heard.  We can support businesses that buy fair trade or pay fair wages and sufficient health benefits.

ACTION SUGGESTIONS: Take one or more of the following actions this week as preparation for the election:
1.  Spend time reflecting on each candidate’s position in regard to“...basic human rights in economic life”:
     a.  Right to productive employment
     b.  Right to just wages
     c.  Right to adequate income
     d.  Right of workers to organize
     e.  Right to own property
     f.  Right to participation in economic decisions

2.  Support fair trade, environmentally and economically sustainable items.  The only way we can mainstream these products is if show a demand for them at the stores where we shop.  Some items that are widely available are coffee and tea.

3.  Write a letter to the editor or e-mail a friend expressing your views.

4.  Reflect on the following passage from Amata Miller, IHM, “The prosperity of any people can be assessed not so much from the total of material goods as from their just distribution, so that every one can live in dignity.”(Network, 2004) Do you agree with her statement?  Why or why not?

Resources:
U.S. Catholic Bishops, “To Do the Work of Justice,” (1978), #28.
“Harvesting Justice–Catholic Social Teaching and the Role of Government,” Amata Miller, IHM. Network, 2004.
Visit www.greenpages.org to find stores and products and businesses that are committed to sustainablity.

Prepared by:  8th Day Center for Justice Election Reflection Committee