Annual Buy Nothing Day

I am in the middle of writing a paper for my Theological Ethics course about conscience as it relates to social sin.  The social sin on which I have chosen to focus is Capitalism.  While the paper will probably not be published here in its entirety, I believe that it is vital for those of us in ministry to draw a connection between one's spending habits and one's Catholic identity.  There are moral implications when we shop.  We need to acknowledge these implications which include, but are not limited to, the following:

1) "Sweat Shops" and other abuses that relate to globalization
2) An ever-widening gap between rich and poor, both in our own country and world wide
3) The environmental impacts of consumerism

Each year, Adbusters.com sponsors a Buy Nothing Day.  AdBusters is not a faith-based organization, but its message speaks to the spirit of Christianity and to Catholic teaching.  First, AdBusters adamantly decries the environmental effects of consumerism and promotes efforts towards sustainability.  (See Care of God's Creation in Catholic Social Teaching; Genesis 1 reminds us that human beings are merely stewards of the Earth.)  Second, AdBusters observes that, "You may find that it’s harder than you think, that the impulse to buy is more ingrained in you than you ever realized" - and encourages us to fight back!  Why is buying such a large part of our culture?  Jesus reminds us that we cannot "serve two masters... You cannot serve God and wealth (Lk 16:13)."  We need this reminder more often than not.

Buy Nothing Day is also known as Black Friday.  This year, it takes place just two days before the beginning of Advent.  How poignant!  Will you take a stand and say NO! to consumerism?  Will you truly help to "Keep Christ in Christmas" by avoiding this social sin?

The Website: AdBusters
The Event: facebook
The Poster: Advertise

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this issue!  Please comment!

CST With Youth

Please visit this link to download this retreat.

Who and What:
The following is a retreat experience designed for High School-aged youth. It can be easily adapted and used with young adults. This retreat is especially appropriate with groups of Confirmation or R.C.I.A. candidates, or with Religious Education groups. The objectives of the retreat are to:

1. Introduce the participants to some of the principles of Catholic Social Teaching as defined by the USCCB
2. Encourage the participants to consider how they are applying or how they can apply the principles to their lives
3. Reinforce the importance of putting Catholic Social Teaching into practice in order to live a Catholic Christian lifestyle

The retreat is best used with groups of 10-25 youth who are put into small discussion groups of 4-5. Mature “table leaders,” whether they are adults or peers, are essential to the retreat experience in order to foster understanding and productive discussions.

Method:
There are four sections in this retreat. Each section is based on a different principle of Catholic Social Teaching:

1. Call to family, community and participation
2. Solidarity
3. Care of creation
4. Life and dignity of the human person

Each principle is introduced to the participants in two ways: first, they are given a Church statement that indicates why the principle is a Catholic teaching; second, various media (ie. a movie clip or story) are used to show that principle being lived (or, conversely, ignored) in pop culture. The participants are then invited to explore what that principle means in their everyday life through small group discussion questions that consider Church teaching and pop culture. Finally, the small group is given an activity to do together that reinforces the concept that has been presented.

Opting Out of Social Concerns

Gaudium et Spes tells us that Christians may not opt out of social concerns. I have tried to live up to that standard for several years, albeit with varying degrees of success. As this is the first time I have read Gaudium et Spes, I was not aware that the Church laid the command out in this way – certainly it is not an aspect of Church teaching that I have heard in homilies on a regular basis. As such, my initial reaction was quite positive. I have long believed that all people, and especially Christians, have a duty or responsibility to one another. I am glad that my Church also teaches this.

But by no means do I harbor illusions of grandeur! This teaching is incredibly challenging, especially as a citizen and resident of the richest nation in the world. At the risk of sounding apocalyptic, social sins seem to be rampant in this country if one is able to look around and take stock of the over-arching values of our culture. Materialism, individualism, and wastefulness are not only hallmarks of our society, but they are also the standards to which many hold themselves as they compare themselves to “American royalty” (ie. Hollywood). Even if one is aware of these traps, it is impossible to avoid them; our society is set up in such a way that prevents us from opting out of the system regardless of the injustices. For this reason, I can see how it would be easy to simply give up and ignore the Church’s call to social concern. However, I agree with the Church, which tells us that the promise of imperfection is not an excuse for inaction.

We discussed the matter of “pricked consciences” in class, and this is something with which I have been struggling lately. I have personally been boycotting Wal-Mart and limiting my patronage at other chain stores for many years. Although there is a second side to the issue, namely, that Wal-Mart is essential to the livelihoods of many West Virginians, my conscience tells me that a boycott is essential because of the multitude of injustices practiced by this company. However, the parish for which I work gets supplies and food from Wal-Mart regularly. My conscience is pricked every time my co-workers ask if I need anything from Wal-Mart for my ministry. Usually I simply smile and tell them no, thank you. I have had little success at “converting” people in the past, and so my super-ego takes over and I generally choose to maintain a friendly/stress-free/superficial work environment rather than taking the time to explain my beliefs. This is one small change I can make in my life in order to actively engage conversation about social justice.

What changes can you make in your own life to show your solidarity with the materially poor of the world?