Survey shows our concerns, bishop says By Bishop Joseph N. Latino
In November all of our parishes were sent surveys for parishioners to complete involving their concerns on current social issues. The survey was designed by the diocesan Poverty Task Force and will help us develop an advocacy strategy for the 2008 legislative session.
According to the task force, your response to the survey was overwhelming. I truly would like to thank all of you who participated and made the survey such a success. Your thoughts and views are important in creating a sense of where the needs are in each area of the diocese.
The results of the surveys show the great commitment we as Catholics have to the teachings of Jesus Christ and the church. This was evidenced in responses citing as important issues related to the dignity of human life, education, and health care.
The task force in conjunction with the Parish Social Ministry Office at Catholic Charities will now be able to better monitor proposed legislation and make these concerns known to elected officials. Surely your participation in the survey has assisted greatly in our efforts as a church to address issues that affect the lives of all in Mississippi.
As Catholic Christians we believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ calls us to be a voice for the voiceless, to work for justice for those who are poor and marginalized and to reflect God’s mercy to all.
In St. Luke’s Gospel (4: 16-21), Jesus reads from Isaiah, the great prophet of Advent, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free….” Jesus goes on to proclaim “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”
As the season of Advent continues, I suggest we all read prayerfully that chapter in St. Luke and consider how we as Christians may carry on the mission of Christ proclaimed by him in that synagogue in Nazareth so many years ago.
Our state continually ranks at the bottom of many crucial categories. As a church let us dedicate ourselves to working for the improvement of all of God’s children. An important way to do that is to be educated on issues that affect us and those around us.
In January Mississippi Catholic will be publishing its annual Legislative Preview: A Catholic Perspective. In the preview there will be more information on the issues highlighted in the survey as well as some other issues that we have been monitoring for several months now.
I hope you will take the time to read the preview and learn how you can become involved in carrying out the mission of Christ and the church by bringing the Gospel into the lives of our fellow Mississippians.
the diocesan Poverty Task Force and will help us develop an advocacy strategy for the 2008 legislative session. 