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Lane Center Comments

The Occupy Movement and Catholic Social Thought

The Lane Center staff recently discussed the Occupy Movement in light of our understanding of the Catholic social tradition. Our comments lift up some features of the Occupy Movement that resonate strongly with the vision of social justice developed in Catholic social teaching. At the same time, we draw upon Catholic social thought to raise questions and challenges for the Occupy Movement as it approaches an unknown future and as faith communities discern their role in that future.

The recent statement by The Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace “Towards Reforming the International Financial and Monetary Systems in the Context of Global Public Authority” echoes many of the concerns that have animated the Occupy Movement. Specifically, the Vatican identifies the growing inequalities within and between countries as a serious moral problem and they lift up the principle of solidarity as a challenge to unregulated capitalism. The Occupy Movement can also find support within Catholic social teaching for the reform of this country’s political system. The current pope has argued that democracy cannot be realized when politics are driven by the economy.

The Occupy Movement has raised important questions about how to be an effective citizen in the midst of imperfect political institutions. The Catholic social tradition maintains the positive value of the government, as it is responsible for protecting the common good. Every citizen shares the responsibility of protecting the common good. This understanding invites us to consider how citizens can use public space, both physically and politically, in a way that is mindful of the entire community. As camps are being cleared from city property, the Catholic social tradition invites us to hold in tension the rights and freedoms and individuals with their responsibility to the community. As the movement progresses, Catholic social thought calls for full participation in decision-making by all those affected and involved.

The Catholic social tradition invites us to evaluate society from the vantage point of the most vulnerable. The US Bishops stress this in their pastoral letter on the economy – we need to evaluate an economy based on what it does for people, especially the poor. Examining the Occupy Movement through this lens, we are invited to listen for the perhaps unheard voices within the 99%. Does the movement represent the 99% of our world, especially those in the global South, or only those in the United States? What do the labor leaders, longshoremen, and truck drivers have to say about shutting down the ports of the west coast? Why have reporters observed a disconnect between the Occupy movement and the black community in some cities?

As faith communities discern their response to the Occupy Movement, some interesting encounters and conversations have emerged. Some communities have had a visible presence at the camps, others have provided hospitality for protestors as camps are cleared. This presents an opportunity for dialogue on social justice from religious and non-religious perspectives. An openness to such dialogue by all parties will benefit all of us as we work to build up the common good.

For Further Reading

Resources on Contraception/Religious Liberty Debates

Theologians and ethicists analyze the issues
Lisa Fullam, Catholic ethicist quoted on conscience in the Catholic tradition, NCR

Mary Hunt, a feminist theologian on Catholics and contraception, Religion Dispatches

David Hollenbach and Thomas Shannon, on religious liberty and public policy, America Magazine

Diverse Responses from the Catholic community
From the USCCB

From the Catholic Health Association

From AJCU

From CRS

Editorial from Commonweal

Editorial From America

Women, mostly affiliated with Catholic institutions express support of bishops

Brian Cahill, former Executive Director of Catholic Charities SF in SF Gate

Additional Voices
John Carroll University

An Open Letter