Franciscans and the Economy:
Serving the Christ Before Us
by Russell Testa
FAN Executive Director
October 16, 2008
The news is filled with stories of people facing financial chaos and hardship; many for the first time. While the middle class undoubtedly is experiencing great pain, those all too familiar with financial hardship, persons who are poor, now find themselves in even more dire straits.
So many among us, be they middle class or poor, find themselves having to seek help. Many are in need of the most basic of resources – “survival” supplies. They are filled with fear and panic, for their families and for themselves. They also experience shame for “needing to ask for help.” In our individual-focused culture, such actions are seen as weak.
As Franciscans, how are we invited to respond?
Clearly, our tradition invites us to care for the poor and marginalized among us, both those who have been on the margins for a while, and those who have just arrived as a result of a foreclosure or unemployment notice. Our task is two-fold: we are called to care for their immediate needs and to care for their very personhood These two charges arise out of our Christian belief, one perhaps held even more fervently by those with a Franciscan heritage, that the person before us IS Christ.
The two aspects of our response may seem obvious, but the ability to care for the actual person -- to listen to their story, to show solidarity -- is often easier said than done. We readily can see the immediate needs of those before us. Consequently, we focus on taking care of the problem they face (e.g., lack of food, lack of housing, the utilities are to be turned off…) and often fail to provide the care they need as persons (e.g., listening to their story, sitting with them in the struggle…).
So, how do we aptly care for the person of Christ before us?
One step each of our ministries can take right away is to begin to prepare for the increased number of people we already may be seeing or will see in the next months, as the crisis continues. These preparations will allow us to serve the full person and not just focus on providing for their immediate needs.
Obviously each of our ministries cannot do everything for everyone. So, each ministry should put together (or access) a listing of local resources for those needs the ministry cannot provide. Such a listing (a “cheat sheet”) will enable ministries to more efficiently direct people to the organizations they need and allow the ministries to focus on caring for the complete person.
Suggested categories to include in basic assistance listing:
a. Food—pantries, kitchens
b. Shelter—emergency shelters, rental assistance, mortgage counseling
c. Spiritual and Emotional—Crisis Hotline
d. Utility assistance
e. Medical resources
f. Transportation
g. Clothes
h. Other (credit/debt counseling)
Compiling this list will take some time, but having it will enable a ministry to focus on the person as “Christ among us” instead of as “a problem to be solved.”
Where might one find this type of information? Here are some places to begin:
a. Diocesan Catholic Charities/Catholic Social Service Organizations
b. Lutheran Social Service Organizations and other religious service groups
c. St. Vincent de Paul Society
d. Neighboring church communities
This particular action may seem obvious and somewhat meager in the face of the financial crisis we are experiencing; however, it does allow us to be our most fully Franciscan selves by enabling us to be wholly present to the persons in need before us.
Obviously, many other actions can be taken to offer immediate assistance to our brothers and sisters in need. Since FAN is all of us, we need to continue this conversation. We invite you to share your best practices and ideas for how to be assistance, and to reflect on what others have to share by visiting the discussion groups section of the FAN website. (Member login required. Select "Economic Justice" in the "topics for discussion" drop down list at the top of that page.)
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