The Pope in DC Means Hope in DC
In
case you don't follow the news and didn't see my first blog in three months yesterday, Pope Francis will visit the Untied States later this
month. Though my church of the past 10 years is Episcopal (also called
"Catholic Light"), I am all over this pope -- as are many non-Catholics.
He epitomizes the anti-Capitalist principles of Christ -- which is
surprising when you consider the fact that he comes from a country whose
economic system is similar to ours. Then again, it's not so surprising
when you consider the fact that Latin America has given us such saintly
people as Oscar Romero and Hugo Chavez -- the latter being more of a
revolutionary, and thus, more my type. I can appreciate the pope's
penchant for confronting Capitalism -- even if he isn't calling for
full-on revolution. That said, global Capitalism is the root of much social injustice and many other evils in the world.
I
don't know what the pope will say to Congress or to the general public
while here, though his every word is music to my ears. Maybe he'll point
an accusatory finger at the U.S. Government for its imperialism and for
being the chief promoter of global Capitalism. Let's hope. Maybe he's
heard about our localized Fascism whereby city governments oppress the
poor with laws that criminalize the life-sustaining activities of homeless people and outlaw feeding them -- the latter being in direct
contrast with Galatians 5:22-23. Maybe the pope will hear about the
HEARTH Act and the Obama administration's efforts to decrease
homelessness. He'll feed the homeless and be briefed on the issue while
at St. Patrick's cathedral on September 24th. St. Patrick's houses the
offices of Catholic Charities for the archdiocese of Washington, DC. It
also sits right across the road from a library where many of the city's homeless spend their days. Maybe he, like many visitors to the U.S.,
will be surprised and appalled to find that there are homeless people in
the capital of the (second???) wealthiest and most powerful nation on
Earth.
It's safe to assume that Mayor Muriel Bowser will accompany the Obamas to Andrews Air Force Base to welcome the pontiff on the 22nd or she'll figure significantly into some part of the pope's schedule. Well my critique of her is, by all means, a mild one. She is keeping her promise to focus on ending homelessness
and to decrease extreme poverty, even if her logic seems a bit skewed
and her plan ill-advised. One might even question whether or not she is
housing families so that she can build an Olympic village on the site of
the DC General Family Shelter before 2028. Maybe the pope has gotten
the pulse of the poor community in this country and will tell Ms. Bowser
that the Black Lives Matter Movement, recent actions by the Black Panthers and DC's recent spike in violence are indicative of a
revolution that is brewing within our borders. Maybe Bowser will replace
her policy of increased policing with a full-on social justice agenda
after Pope Francis helps her to see the light. Let's hope.
Maybe
the pope will hear about Washington, DC's rich past in terms of fighting for social justice and about how the CCNV Shelter which stands
as a testament to both the successes and unfinished work of that era has
had its future called into question -- with the current mayor having
been silent hereto now about her plans for the building (though media is
rife with negative coverage of the city block where the shelter is
located). Maybe pope Francis will get the sense that we're losing the
fight against homelessness and the fighters. Maybe he'll inject a new
sense of hope into the weary warriors who remain. Let's hope. After all,
that's all we CAN do. Hope.
Eric Jonathan Sheptock
425 2nd St. NW
Washington, DC 20001-2003 My Blog
[Click] Forcing Results from Government:Asking an advocate for the poor to be nice is like asking a soldier to fight a war without a weapon.
[Click] Forcing Results from Government:Asking an advocate for the poor to be nice is like asking a soldier to fight a war without a weapon.
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