Friends,
We begin this edition with a significant article by lay theologian Rafael Luciani showing how Pope Leo’s vision combines an understanding of Vatican II with the development of a synodal Church. Continuing our watch on the Vatican, we note the appointments of four more Americans to the vital Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.
We further highlight a battle for labor rights taking place at St. John’s University and ponder if Democratic Socialism is compatible with Catholic Social Teaching.
We share news of the 50th anniversary commemoration in Argentina of the Catholic Action martyrs, Bishop Enrique, Fr Gabriel Longueville, Wenceslao Pedernera and Carlos Murias OFM. And we share Jessica Friday’s insightful article on the success of the Catholic Social Teaching-inspired Mondragon Cooperatives in Spain.
Richard Pütz reflects with Cardijn and Thomas Merton on building community in a shopping mall. Finally, we share some events to celebrate the start of the Season of Creation, Labor Day and prepare for election season.
The Cardijn Associates Team
Leo’s twin tasks: Vatican II and synodality
Pope Francis devoted his 12-year pontificate to recovering synodality as a constitutive dimension of the church, rooted in the church’s long historical tradition and matured by the reception of the Second Vatican Council’s ecclesiology of the people of God, writes Rafael Luciani.
Pope Leo XIV appears to be increasingly focused on translating that vision into permanent forms of governance, participation and shared discernment through collegial decision-making bodies, particularly through organisms of participation such as pastoral councils.
This approach is significant since the fundamental question the Catholic Church faces today is no longer whether synodality matters, but how it is received and implemented as a constitutive mark of the whole church’s life. Synodality is not an option anymore. It is essential and the church’s way of proceeding in our day.
READ MORE
Why Vatican II and synodality are the twin tasks of Leo’s papacy (National Catholic Reporter)
Four more Americans appointed to key Vatican office
This month, the first US-born Pope Leo XVI appointed four more Americans to advise one of the most vital Vatican departments: the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, joining four other Americans appointed in March. The Dicastery advises the Pope on major global issues like poverty, war, human rights violations, and climate change.
Pope Leo names 3 Notre Dame-affiliated experts to advise major Vatican office (National Catholic Reporter)
4 US leaders named to Vatican dicastery that promotes the Church’s humanitarian vision, work (OSV News)
Labor battle at St. John’s University
St. John’s University faculty are currently embroiled in a bruising labor battle with university leaders, writes Arwin Alaigh at Commonweal. The administration fired the opening salvo on the afternoon of February 19, when it informed its faculty, in the midst of contract negotiations, that it would be unilaterally derecognizing their two unions: the local chapter of the American Association of University Professors and an independent, standalone Faculty Association.
St. John’s Turns Its Back (Commonweal)
Is socialism compatible with Catholic Social Teaching?
Although it feels new to have a socialist mayor in America, it is not unprecedented. Milwaukee has had three different socialist mayors, and socialists won a smattering of city halls in the early 20th century, writes Nathan Beacom. But the election of Zohran Mamdani, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, last year in New York City has raised the visibility of candidates who identify as socialist or endorse a socialist agenda.
But is socialism, or more precisely the democratic socialist label claimed by Mr. Mamdani, compatible with Catholicism?
Socialism is back in style. Is today’s version compatible with Catholic social teaching (America Magazine)
Mondragon model inspires Spanish government
Spain just told its biggest companies to hand workers a seat at the table, writes Jessica Friday.
Here’s what it calls for:
Firms with 50 to 1,000 employees give workers a third of board seats.
Firms with over 1,000 employees give workers half.
Worker share ownership becomes mandatory, starting at 2%.
A sovereign wealth fund helps workers buy out owners when they retire, solving a succession crisis that’s quietly putting 600,000 jobs a year at risk.
Spain’s fight to end corporate rule (Connectioning)
Enrique Angelelli, Carlos Murias, Gabriel Longueville & Wenceslao Pedernera: 50 years
The Argentine Diocese of La Rioja is commemorating the 50th anniversary of its martyred bishop, Blessed Enrique Angelelli, who was killed on 5 August 1976, and his companions, Franciscan Carlos Murias, French worker priest Gabriel Longueville and lay catechist Wenceslao Pedernera.
As a young priest, Enrique Angelelli helped found the JOC (YCW) and (JUC) (University YCS) in the Diocese of Cordoba while Fr Longueville was chaplain to the JAC (rural YCW movement) as did Wenceslao Pedernera.
Blessed Enrique Angelelli, 50 years
Reflection: Finding community in a mall
On 18 March 1958, Thomas Merton — cloistered, famous, and by his own admission somewhat pleased with his separateness — was standing in downtown Louisville at the corner of Fourth and Walnut. He wrote:
In Louisville, at the corner of Fourth and Walnut, in the center of the shopping district, I was suddenly overwhelmed with the realization that I loved all these people, that they were mine and I theirs, that we could not be alien to one another even though we were total strangers. ~ Thomas Merton, Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander
On one hand, architect Victor Gruen saw that our built world made community nearly impossible: no center, no square, nowhere to gather. Merton, by contrast, recognized that community is woven into our very being, present before any walls go up. One diagnosed the problem; the other named what was at stake.
Richard Pütz, The mall that was supposed to be a town (Cardijn Reflections)
Events
September 1, 9:00 am ET | Ecumenical Prayer Service for Creation
11th World Day of Prayer for the Season of Creation, Message from Pope Leo XVI
“In order to build a peaceful society, therefore, we must not only reform structures but also renew our hearts. The deep-set causes of conflict and the exploitation of creation stem from an ethical and cultural crisis, including the loss of a sense of limits, the desire for domination, the pursuit of immediate profit, and the inability to recognize the God-given dignity of each human person.”
In anticipation of the Season of Creation from September 1 to October 4, we embrace Pope Leo’s Message “to transform individuals, renew communities and heal the wounds of our world.”
Two Catholic Labor Network events:
September 6, 11:00 am ET | Labor Day Mass | St Matthew’s Cathedral
Cardinal McElroy will celebrate Mass with a reception immediately following. RSVP to attend in person. Or join via live stream.
September 9, 7:30-9:00 pm ET | Economic Justice and a Commitment to the Future
Join the Catholic Labor Network for a Labor Day webinar as we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the U.S. Catholic Bishops’ pastoral letter, “Economic Justice for All,” and its continued relevance for today.
September 16 & 17, 7:00pm-9:30pm ET | Participation | Dignity | Elections: A Virtual Catholic Theological Conference |
Cardijn Associates USA
Contact
Email: cardijnassociates@gmail.com