Deacon Mike's Monday Musings

Happy Monday to all,

On this date, August 25, 2017, President Donald Trump pardoned ex-sheriff Joe Arpaio for criminal contempt of court, a misdemeanor. The court convicted Mr. Arpaio two months earlier for disobeying a federal judge's order to stop racial profiling when detaining individuals suspected of being in the U.S. illegally.

As the local Sheriff, he instructed his deputies to detain Hispanic residents and inquire about their legal status. He then disregarded a federal judge's ruling that he did not have the legal authority to do so. Evidence showed that his officers were detaining people simply because they supposedly looked Latino/a, without the reasonable suspicion of crime needed to justify a seizure. In addition to automobile stops, sheriff Arpaio specialized in so-called “saturation patrols” of Latino neighborhoods and places where day laborers gathered. 

US District Judge Susan Bolton wrote in a July 3, 2017 order-- finding him guilty-- “Not only did (Arpaio) abdicate responsibility, he announced to the world and to his subordinates that he was going to continue business as usual no matter who said otherwise,”. Mr. Arpaio was awaiting sentencing when he received the presidential pardon, thus the conviction was not formalized.

Prejudice, racism, denial of legal rights and violation of the God-given dignity afforded to every single human person born anywhere on Earth are never supported by the Church. Catholic Social Teaching (CST) stands on three primary and foundational principles: Human Dignity, Solidarity, and Subsidiarity. The Church teaches that the penultimate principle is the principle of Respect for Human Life and Dignity.

Pope Francis stated, “No actual or established power has the right to deprive peoples of the full exercise of their sovereignty.”  St. Cyril wrote, “Outward appearances will no longer be our standard in judging other men.”  And Pope St. Paul VI stated, “The members of mankind share the same basic rights and duties, as well as the same supernatural destiny…all should be equal before the law, find equal admittance to economic, cultural, civic and social life and benefit from a fair sharing of the nation’s riches.”

Solidarity emphasizes the interconnectedness of humanity and the responsibility to care for one another, especially those in need. It requires a commitment to the common good and a willingness to share material and spiritual resources.

Subsidiarity lies at the center of a stable social order built on freedom and human dignity. Subsidiarity informs how and at what level decisions should be made. It fosters personal responsibility, which is a bedrock of individual liberty. This principle ensures that the interests of individuals do not clash with the interests of society. Subsidiarity reconciles individual desires with the needs of the common good.

The Catechism, following Pope John XXIII in “Mater et Magistra” and Vatican II, defines the common good as: The sum total of social conditions which allow people, either as groups or as individuals, to reach their fulfillment more fully and more easily.” The common good applies to each human community, but its most complete realization occurs in the political community where the state’s role is “to defend and promote the common good of civil society, its citizens, and intermediate bodies.”

Catholic Charities frequently serves victims of racism, ageism, ableism and sexism, seeking to both provide for their material needs as well as healing the wounds caused by prejudice and marginalization. Our programs are specifically designed to address the needs of those who have been ignored, turned away and denied previously… the elderly, disabled, immigrant, veterans—all who society often deems unworthy of the compassionate care our God calls us to provide. 

Thank you so very much for compassionately caring through your donations, volunteering, partnering and day-to-day work. Your contributions are healing our community and elevating the dignity of all our brothers and sisters.

Blessings,
Deacon Mike