The World's Next Genocide?

Catholic Social Teaching tells us that we must respond in a way that protect's all God's Children. However, we must respond in a way that does not cause any more violence and finds a compromise between both sides of the argument in order to wave thousands of innocent people's lives.

CST is not currently a guide for decisions on an international level. In fact, many leaders neglect thinking of basic human rights when they make decisions. This causes unnecessary bloodshed. It could be possible to use CST as a way to guide individual's decisions, because often times CST uses basic fundamentals of human life which its principles are based off of. However, CST used in government or on an international level may cause controversy between world powers. 

Responding to the Violence in Newtown, Connecticut

This particular event demanded such a direct call to action simply because of the sheer violence and the anger directed towards a completely innocent group of people. The events of Newtown, Connecticut are so shocking and so violent that the entire country, and even the world, are feeling the effects of this terrible occurrence. We have lost many beautiful children, who have been robbed of their potential of a full life. We have lost innocent teachers, and Newtown, Connecticut lost a part of their community.

But mostly, it leaves us with many questions: Why? Why did this man feel compelled to murder innocent people? How can he look into the eyes of an innocent child and pull the trigger? Why do we not hold stricter gun laws?

I have heard so many heart wrenching stories of the events of Connecticut. Several include a desperate letter written during lockdown by a student to his family. He was later murdered. Another includes a boy cradled in the arms of his teacher as they both passed away from their injuries. Still another includes a teacher who died to protect her students, whom she hid in a bathroom.

The Newtown, Connecticut, story affects my family personally because my dad grew up around there. His father, my grandfather, used to be a principal and a superintendent of schools in the area surrounding Newtown. It shocks him to see this tragedy occurr.

Despite the obvious losses and negative effects of the tragedy, it calls our community together. We respond as a community to grieve the loss of so many. However, as Christians, we must grieve the loss of not only the victims, but Adam Lanza, the man who killed so many, including himself. Catholic Social Teaching asks us to consider his family in a time of grieving and unanswered questions.

From here, we will not only to continue to pray for the victims and the families of Newtown, Connecticut, but for the world as a whole. Many people say that December 21st, 2012, will not symbolize the end of the physical world. It may symbolize the end of the dignity of human life. For example, abortion and the death penalty among the violence.

Personally, I believe that there is something wrong with a world that means carrying a gun for security reasons. If our society has come to that, what faith do we have left in it?

Factory Fire: Response

The U.S. is relying on other countries, vendors, and manufacturers to export their products. However, with the thousands of people that this process requires, it is easy for them to lose track of all of these manufacturers. That is what big companies such as Walmart and Disney, Inc. have claimed to do. However, they claimed this only after the fire in Bangladesh that killed 112 factory workers. 

I personally believe that consumers should be aware of how products are made and workers are treated, and that we should rally for fair trade. Additionally, I believe that the CEOs of large companies should be advocates for fair trade and fair wages instead of turning the other cheek in hopes of making more money. 

It is definitely not fair that CEOs of large companies are living the 'good life' with millions of dollars spewing out of their pockets, and the people that work for them are barely scraping by. Especially in this Christmas season, they must advocate for fair wages and support fair trade. 

Forgiveness

Immaculee's Story has many similarities and differences in relations to Pope John Paul's journey of forgiveness with the man that tried to assassinate him. The main similarity between Pope John Paul's journey of forgiveness and Immaculee's is that the people around them were both shocked at their extraordinary acts of forgiveness. They both found that forgiving the person that acted terribly would cleanse their souls. The survival of both Immaculee and Pope John Paul is extraordinary and a miracle. 

However, there are some differences between Immaculee's story and Pope John Paul's. The main difference is that it was Immaculee's family, and they were killed. On the other hand, Pope John Paul himself was shot, six times, but he was not killed. 

The World Described as... Messy

There are definitely discrepancies in how we respond and how we ought to respond. We respond and feel sympathy, often wondering how that could have possibly happened. We may or may not ever offer to help, and if we do, many seldom take action on their promises. The Gospel messages tell us that we ought to respond and take action. We need to apply solidarity, and treat everyone as our brothers and sisters. This is how we should respond. He says we need to sensitize ourselves from the world around us. That is, we need to be aware of the problems of others, not to be so oblivious as we live in our Wi-Fi and air conditioned world.

Solidarity: Girl Murdered in Afghanistan

The world definitely has a responsibility to helping abused young women who have been taken advantage of. According to Rights and Responsibilities, humans have basic rights, which this girl has not been allowed. Additionally, according to Rights and Responsibilities, we as humans have a responsibility to ensure that all human beings receive these basic rights. 

Another principle of Catholic Social teaching that should be applied here is solidarity. According to solidarity, we are all brothers and sisters and an image in God's likeness. Therefore, we must stand up for an prevent instances like these, in which innocent girls have been injured or killed.

I believe that the world responds much more when there are global issues such as tsunamis or hurricanes. There is definitely a difference in shock because natural disasters seem to affect more people and are less predictable. However, we are ignorant to the many that are killed such as this girl from Afghanistan. 

The seven principles of Catholic Social Teaching teach us that, as God's children, we must protect abused young women. 

The Year of Faith

I think that the Bishop's suggestions on how to live this year of faith are very do-able. They are ten things that Catholics should have already incorporated into their lives. However, if they have not, they can use this year of faith as a new beginning and start over in their faith. 

 There are many ways I could resolve to start my year of faith. I can be more attentive to others, and help in any way that I can. This can be within my family, if a parent needs help shuttling my brothers around to various sports activities. Or, this can be in school, if a fellow student needs assistance with a Calc problem set or with an English paper. 

 Additionally, I can attend mass more often. My family attends mass as often as we can, but that does not always mean every week. Occasionally sport events, family emergencies, or other things get in the way in our weekly participation in the mass. Attending mass may also mean going to the weekly communion services help right here at Mount. 

 Prayer is a way I can live my year of faith strongly. I can incorporate daily prayer into my routine by taking a minute out of my hectic day to say a prayer: whether it be a prayer of thanks, a prayer of asking for help, or just an ordinary prayer. 

 The fourth way that I can follow the year of faith is to live by the ten commandments and avoid the seven deadly sins. The ten commandments are especially important to follow because they are the word of God. This is a great way to live the year of faith. Avoiding the seven deadly sins is always important, but we should be especially aware of it during the year of faith.

 The last but not least way to live out the year of faith is to read the Bible daily. This is one of Bishop Ricken's suggestions, but it is of utmost importance. The Bible is the word of God, so reading it can help us become closer to God in a sense that we are understanding his words.