Summer 2020 -"Justice for All"

Description

   In the wake of a pandemic which revealed serious social inequities around the globe and in the middle of social unrest across the country, Catholics are more aware than ever of the need for what Catholic teaching calls social justice.
   In response to the death of George Floyd, the pope said: ""We cannot tolerate or turn a blind eye to racism and exclusion in any form and yet claim to defend the sacredness of every human life. At the same time, we have to recognize that ‘the violence of recent nights is self-destructive and self-defeating. Nothing is gained by violence and so much is lost.’”
   This year’s Summer Bible Study will explore the roots of the call to social justice in Scripture.  Choosing four themes from the U.S. Bishops’ Task Force on Catholic Social Teaching, the online discussions will examine the biblical roots of justice in the Old Testament prophets, and the New Testament Gospels.  we will organize our discussions into the four sessions listed below.  Discussion will incorporate the wisdom of the biblical tradition and participants personal experiences. 
> Read “Sharing Catholic Social Teaching: Challenges and Directions,” from the U.S. bishops' Summary Report of the Task Force on Catholic Social Teaching and Catholic Education here.

Weekly Themes and Readings
Week 1: Justice Rooted in the Prophets
“Catholic social teaching is a central and essential element of our faith,” the U.S. bishops have written. “Its roots are in the Hebrew prophets who announced God's special love for the poor and called God's people to a covenant of love and justice.”
> This session will explore readings: Book of Habakkuk and the Book of Amos.
Week 2: Taking risks
According to the bishops,“This is a call to action, an appeal especially to pastors, educators, and catechists to teach the Catholic social tradition in its fullness.”
> This session will explore readings from the Book of Ruth, the Gospels of Mark and John, and St. Paul’s Letter to Philemon
Week 3: Talking with God about Justice
“Our Catholic social teaching is proclaimed whenever we gather for worship.” the bishops have written.
> This session will explore readings from the Book of Genesis, the Psalms, the Book of Job and the Gospel of Luke.
Week 4: Building a Just Society
The bishops remind us that “The Church's social teaching is a rich treasure of wisdom about building a just society and living lives of holiness amidst the challenges of modern society.” 
> This session will explore readings from the Book of Isaiah, the Book of Nehemiah, the Book of Exra, and the Gospel of Matthew.

Audience

This program is appropriate for adults and young adults who know a lot about the bible and for those who are just learning. 
It is particularly appropriate for adults and young adults in thresholds 3, 4, 5 and 6 of faith development.
> Click here to learn more about the thresholds of faith develoment.

Take-Away

Adults and young adults who participate in this opportunity will:
• Understand particular events and people in the Old Testament corpus.
• Identify underlying themes which unite these various events and people.
• Discover how these events and people from the Old Testament shape our faith and lives in
  today's world.

About the Presenter

Dr. John Waldmeir is Professor of Religious Studies and Theology at Loras College, where he also edits the publication series “Spiritual Life in the Upper Mississippi River Valley” for the Archbishop Kucera Center for Catholic Intellectual and Spiritual Life.  Dr. Waldmier received his Ph.D. in Religion and Literature from the University of Chicago and has taught at Catholic colleges in Detroit and Bismarck, North Dakota.  Dr. Waldmeir has been at Loras for twenty-two years, and has taught courses in Catholic identity, sacred scriptures, world religions, and religious traditions within the United States.   He has published six books, including Cathedrals of Bone--The Role of the Body in Contemporary Catholic Literature (2009) and (with David Cochran) The Catholic Church in Ireland Today (2015).  Most recently, he has published a book on Muslim American literature titled In-Between Identities--Signs of Islam in Contemporary American Writing.

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Registration
• By phone: call 319-233-0498.
• By email: dbqwcaf@dbqarch.org
• Online: Click here to register online

Last Update: 06.06.20