This is wonderful, full stop. This sounds a lot like pro-life action groups, but for Catholic social teaching more broadly, albeit with a very understandable special focus on immigration. They're basing themselves squarely in magisterial teaching, not hitching themselves to specific political bandwagons, and carrying out both education and works of mercy. They're truly doing the Lord's work.
What a fun article to see in my feed- I recently joined the Dorothea Project and the work of the Holy Spirit there is so tangible!! I learned about Catholic Social Teaching from my Catholic high school- if I hadn't attended, I would never have heard of it from my parish. For anyone not familiar these are the pillars:
Thanks for writing this. The Dorothea Project has been mentioned in several past Catholic News articles, but their website is very minimal, and because of the lack of information, some Catholics I know have expressed suspicion about the group and its legitimacy. I appreciate that the Project is operating in a politically charged arena and might not want to put a lot of info on their website, but I can also understand other Catholics seeing that as a lack of transparency. It's helpful that the Pillar took steps towards filling the information gap.
What do you think is missing from the website that leads to suspicion? It contains the origin and mission of the group and I don’t really see anything missing? If there is something you think should be added I can pass it on! We mainly operate on instagram but it looks to me like the website is also updated with group activities.
First of all, it's not me complaining. I don't feel particularly strongly one way or the other about the group.
Second, what happened was the group had a recent prayer initiative featured in some Catholic media outlet with a link to their website. Some Catholics I converse with who saw it went to the website and were bothered that it didn't seem to have much about who was running it and they also couldn't find it on Charity Navigator or similar sites they use to check out nonprofits. I pointed out that the group was not asking for money, just for prayers, and I found a couple other past articles about them to share, but none of these articles were very detailed. The Pillar is the first article I've seen that's in depth.
I realize you like this group (based on your posts) and are inclined to support them, but there are a lot of Catholics who are suspicious of groups claiming to be all about "Catholic social teaching" because there have been a lot of these groups in the last 50 years and some of them, or people associated with them, have ended up not acting very Catholic. The immigration issue is also a political hot potato right now, and Catholics have a variety of views on it which would also color their willingness to trust such a group. Whether you agree or disagree, it is what it is.
I was told Catholic social teaching is too political to discuss at OCIA so they are completely right that many parishes don’t cover this. I’ll check if they have a chapter in my city.
In well-populated dioceses, you can usually find a few parishes that are very into Catholic Social Teaching. Sometimes they are run by a religious order devoted to social justice, rather than by diocesan clergy. You just need to be careful that their interpretation of CST is not opposed to Catholic teaching, because some CST parishes and groups can become a haven for unorthodox views and those wishing to challenge the Church authorities. I'm aware of one such parish that got into a dispute with their bishop and went into schism and never came back. Years later they still operate their "faith community" out of some warehouse under a "priest" who is some lay guy they chose themselves, their original validly ordained schismatic priest having retired and passed away.
I can fully understand OCIA not discussing this topic. People attend OCIA to learn the basics of the Faith and convert, not to get into or have to listen to political arguments that inevitably break out.
[GNOSTICISM DETECTED] - Learn the secret teachings that are hidden from most Catholics! Only those who are in the inner circles can be told! For legal purposes this is a joke.
"The cruelty is the point" has been way overused, but that is clearly the animating principle of the Trump 2 immigration effort.
This is wonderful, full stop. This sounds a lot like pro-life action groups, but for Catholic social teaching more broadly, albeit with a very understandable special focus on immigration. They're basing themselves squarely in magisterial teaching, not hitching themselves to specific political bandwagons, and carrying out both education and works of mercy. They're truly doing the Lord's work.
This is really a great way to reframe issues—through a Catholic lens!
I was told this was a “Marxist” group a few days ago. So pleased to hear they are motivated by Christ and the Church’s social teaching! Beautiful.
What a fun article to see in my feed- I recently joined the Dorothea Project and the work of the Holy Spirit there is so tangible!! I learned about Catholic Social Teaching from my Catholic high school- if I hadn't attended, I would never have heard of it from my parish. For anyone not familiar these are the pillars:
Dignity of the human person
Call to family, community, and participation
Rights and Responsibilities
Option for the poor and vulnerable
Dignity of work and rights of workers
Solidarity
Care for God's creation
Thanks for writing this. The Dorothea Project has been mentioned in several past Catholic News articles, but their website is very minimal, and because of the lack of information, some Catholics I know have expressed suspicion about the group and its legitimacy. I appreciate that the Project is operating in a politically charged arena and might not want to put a lot of info on their website, but I can also understand other Catholics seeing that as a lack of transparency. It's helpful that the Pillar took steps towards filling the information gap.
What do you think is missing from the website that leads to suspicion? It contains the origin and mission of the group and I don’t really see anything missing? If there is something you think should be added I can pass it on! We mainly operate on instagram but it looks to me like the website is also updated with group activities.
First of all, it's not me complaining. I don't feel particularly strongly one way or the other about the group.
Second, what happened was the group had a recent prayer initiative featured in some Catholic media outlet with a link to their website. Some Catholics I converse with who saw it went to the website and were bothered that it didn't seem to have much about who was running it and they also couldn't find it on Charity Navigator or similar sites they use to check out nonprofits. I pointed out that the group was not asking for money, just for prayers, and I found a couple other past articles about them to share, but none of these articles were very detailed. The Pillar is the first article I've seen that's in depth.
I realize you like this group (based on your posts) and are inclined to support them, but there are a lot of Catholics who are suspicious of groups claiming to be all about "Catholic social teaching" because there have been a lot of these groups in the last 50 years and some of them, or people associated with them, have ended up not acting very Catholic. The immigration issue is also a political hot potato right now, and Catholics have a variety of views on it which would also color their willingness to trust such a group. Whether you agree or disagree, it is what it is.
I was told Catholic social teaching is too political to discuss at OCIA so they are completely right that many parishes don’t cover this. I’ll check if they have a chapter in my city.
In well-populated dioceses, you can usually find a few parishes that are very into Catholic Social Teaching. Sometimes they are run by a religious order devoted to social justice, rather than by diocesan clergy. You just need to be careful that their interpretation of CST is not opposed to Catholic teaching, because some CST parishes and groups can become a haven for unorthodox views and those wishing to challenge the Church authorities. I'm aware of one such parish that got into a dispute with their bishop and went into schism and never came back. Years later they still operate their "faith community" out of some warehouse under a "priest" who is some lay guy they chose themselves, their original validly ordained schismatic priest having retired and passed away.
I can fully understand OCIA not discussing this topic. People attend OCIA to learn the basics of the Faith and convert, not to get into or have to listen to political arguments that inevitably break out.
> "too political to discuss at OCIA"
[GNOSTICISM DETECTED] - Learn the secret teachings that are hidden from most Catholics! Only those who are in the inner circles can be told! For legal purposes this is a joke.