New Book on Catholic Worker’s Movement - Dorothy Day's vision still resonates

[Beau_Ouiville]

Just in time for Labor Day:

"The Catholic Worker’s Movement of the 20th century is a monumental event that deserves recognition and admiration. Without the movement scores of Catholic workers, engaged in many facets of American labor might have endured insufferable and continued disregard for their human rights and values.

Recounting the courageous individuals that forged the Catholic Labor Movement in the United States is long overdue. However, the work of Mr. Kimball Baker, a historian and writing that lives in Southern, New Jersey, that oversight has been remedied in a most effective and accurate manner. His book, “Go to the Worker”, America’s Labor Apostles is the most definitive expose of the history of the Catholic Labor Movement to date. "

ministryvalues.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1087&Itemid=326

 

[Rich_Olszewski]

Just in time for Labor Day:

"The Catholic Worker’s Movement of the 20th century is a monumental event that deserves recognition and admiration. Without the movement scores of Catholic workers, engaged in many facets of American labor might have endured insufferable and continued disregard for their human rights and values.

Recounting the courageous individuals that forged the Catholic Labor Movement in the United States is long overdue. However, the work of Mr. Kimball Baker, a historian and writing that lives in Southern, New Jersey, that oversight has been remedied in a most effective and accurate manner. His book, “Go to the Worker”, America’s Labor Apostles is the most definitive expose of the history of the Catholic Labor Movement to date. "

ministryvalues.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1087&Itemid=326

In the late 50s and early 60s I volunteered at the Catholic Worker in New York City while I was in high school and college. It was a privilege for me to be associated with those folks.

So glad that Dorothy Day has a cause for canonization. She, for all her past, became among the holiest of women, ever obedient to the Church, always mindful of what the Church taught about the rights of the worker, and always putting those teachings into action.

I look forward to her becoming “Blessed.”

 

[reggieM]

Just in time for Labor Day:

"The Catholic Worker’s Movement of the 20th century is a monumental event that deserves recognition and admiration. Without the movement scores of Catholic workers, engaged in many facets of American labor might have endured insufferable and continued disregard for their human rights and values.

Recounting the courageous individuals that forged the Catholic Labor Movement in the United States is long overdue. However, the work of Mr. Kimball Baker, a historian and writing that lives in Southern, New Jersey, that oversight has been remedied in a most effective and accurate manner. His book, “Go to the Worker”, America’s Labor Apostles is the most definitive expose of the history of the Catholic Labor Movement to date. "

ministryvalues.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1087&Itemid=326

Thanks for this information and interesting news.

When I read that “Dorothy Day’s vision still resonates” – I realy questioned that. Does it really “still resonate” with anybody? How would we know that?

Then I read that a new book was published – and I went to the site. From my limited experience, it seems like a fairly obscure site for Catholic interests. In the write-up, I didn’t recognize any of the names.

Ok, “who is reading this book”? I think that would help me know if this is really “resonating” with anyone, or if that is just wishful thinking.

So, I went to look at the Amazon.com sales rank - at least in the religious books category.

Then, I discovered that Amazon doesn’t list it yet.

This doesn’t mean that this topic does not have an audience, but I would think that if this book represented some kind of groundswell of interest in this theme among Catholics, we should see an Amazon listing – I would think.

If I’m right – this is not a topic that the most active Catholics are interested in. Those who remember the high-point of the Catholic Worker movement will have some nostalgia for this. Older Catholics of a certain vintage and certain kind of life experience might want to read the book.

I could be completely wrong, but I don’t think there’s much resonating going on at all with this.

 

[Tsuwano]

Thanks for this information and interesting news.

When I read that “Dorothy Day’s vision still resonates” – I realy questioned that. Does it really “still resonate” with anybody? How would we know that?

Then I read that a new book was published – and I went to the site. From my limited experience, it seems like a fairly obscure site for Catholic interests. In the write-up, I didn’t recognize any of the names.

Ok, “who is reading this book”? I think that would help me know if this is really “resonating” with anyone, or if that is just wishful thinking.

So, I went to look at the Amazon.com sales rank - at least in the religious books category.

Then, I discovered that Amazon doesn’t list it yet.

This doesn’t mean that this topic does not have an audience, but I would think that if this book represented some kind of groundswell of interest in this theme among Catholics, we should see an Amazon listing – I would think.

If I’m right – this is not a topic that the most active Catholics are interested in. Those who remember the high-point of the Catholic Worker movement will have some nostalgia for this. Older Catholics of a certain vintage and certain kind of life experience might want to read the book.

I could be completely wrong, but I don’t think there’s much resonating going on at all with this.

I think you raise an interesting question. Does the vision of Dorothy Day still resonate within the Church? I think, first, we have to ask what was the vision of Dorothy Day. I don’t think it was merely a matter of setting up Catholic Worker houses in poverty ridden areas of the major cities in the U.S. If so, then perhaps her vision doesn’t resonate anymore. But if we look at the soup kitchens or shelters run by individual parishes and dioceses across the U.S. and the profound sense among American Catholics that the poor, the homeless and the immigrants, on some level, must be taken care of if we are to live out the Gospel, then I think her vision is very much alive. I would also add that, in truth, the vision we claim as Dorothy Day’s, is not really hers at all. It is the Lord’s vision. Dorothy Day simply found a way of expressing that vision within her own milieu.

 

[Beau_Ouiville]

So, I went to look at the Amazon.com sales rank - at least in the religious books category.

Then, I discovered that Amazon doesn’t list it yet.

This doesn’t mean that this topic does not have an audience, but I would think that if this book represented some kind of groundswell of interest in this theme among Catholics, we should see an Amazon listing – I would think.

From an Amazon review:

"There is a middle path between extreme capitalism and totalitarianism and ten American labor ‘apostles’ of the Roman Catholic Church showed the way. Author Kim Baker draws on a variety of sources, particularly his own interviews with the subjects, to tell the story of the priests and laymen who, using papal encyclicals as their guides, promoted the rights of working people from the 1920s and later, against the twin challenges of extreme capitalism on one hand and the dangers of fascist and communist dictatorships on the other. …

Throughout his text Baker shows how these ten, in addition to having the papal encyclicals as guides, were also influenced by thinkers and activists of their time: Dorothy Day, John A. Ryan, Francis Haas, and others. Baker is also somewhat critical of Fr. John F. Cronin, who, like Higgins, Hayes, and Bresette, worked for the NCWC Social Action Department, but also had close ties to the FBI in the struggle against Communism, for which Baker argues Cronin lost his way. On the issue of the controversial role of communists in the American labor movement, Baker is to be commended for his fair and balanced account, being neither a red baiter, as many on the right are, nor a red apologist, as are many academics. This book is a worthy tribute to these ‘apostles’ of labor. "

and

“Historian Kimball Barker presents “Go to the Worker”: America’s Labor Apostles, an assembly of biographical portraits of priests and laypeople who have served the Catholic social-action movement during the twentieth century. Their efforts, particularly during the economic hardship of the 1930s, advanced the cause of worker’s rights in an era when human dignity was all too often subjugated to the interests of the wealthy and powerful. In telling the story of these extraordinary individuals and the movement for social justice that they championed, Baker seeks to inspire continued defense of human rights and reveal a valuable role that the Catholic social-action movement can continue to play in the modern era, marked as it is by the rampant greed and corruption that nearly brought about a second Great Depression. Highly recommended.”

amazon.com/Worker-Americas-Apostles-Marquette-Theology/dp/0874627494/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1283865151&sr=1-1

 

[reggieM]

I missed that, obviously – thanks.

 

[Beau_Ouiville]

I would also add that, in truth, the vision we claim as Dorothy Day’s, is not really hers at all. It is the Lord’s vision. Dorothy Day simply found a way of expressing that vision within her own milieu.

That’s interesting when you understand that the NY archdiocese objected to the Catholic Worker movement. Disagreements came from Day’s denunciation of Franco and the objection to the archdiocese using seminarians as strikebreakers during a strike by gravediggers at Catholic cemeteries. They also objected to Day using the name “Catholic” for the group.

 

[manualman]

Sounds like a book I should read. All I know about Dorothy Day comes from catholics who make her out to be a hero, but in their own lives portray a spirituality that puts addressing physical poverty and justice issues as a REPLACEMENT for addressing their spiritual needs instead of the former growing out of the latter. This short blurb seems to imply that their hero had her priorities straight. I wonder where things went so wrong.

 

[reggieM]

But if we look at the soup kitchens or shelters run by individual parishes and dioceses across the U.S. and the profound sense among American Catholics that the poor, the homeless and the immigrants, on some level, must be taken care of if we are to live out the Gospel, then I think her vision is very much alive. I would also add that, in truth, the vision we claim as Dorothy Day’s, is not really hers at all. It is the Lord’s vision. Dorothy Day simply found a way of expressing that vision within her own milieu.

Excellent points - I agree.
The works of charity offered by the Church were present before the Catholic Worker and continue strongly after Dorothy Day. So, what was the “Dorothy Day vision”? What was the unique part that was hers and the Catholic Worker movement in America?

We could look at Chesterton and Belloc and their social/economic ideas – but they had a different approach and theirs was British also.

I also wonder who are the inheritors and interpreters of the Catholic Worker movement today – and how do they apply her vision to today’s issues.

 

[reggieM]

That’s interesting when you understand that the NY archdiocese objected to the Catholic Worker movement. Disagreements came from Day’s denunciation of Franco and the objection to the archdiocese using seminarians as strikebreakers during a strike by gravediggers at Catholic cemeteries. They also objected to Day using the name “Catholic” for the group.

I didn’t know that and those are very interesting details - thanks.

I have a bias against the Catholic Worker movement, so my comments may not be as valuable as they could be.

But I view the above incidents as examples of what I’d consider “antiquated” issues reflecting a Catholicism of days past. What I can praise is a “faithful anti-clericalism” which was necessary and took courage. What it developed into was a “dissenting anti-clericalism” and that can’t be pinned on Ms. Day who was always faithful to the teaching of the Church.

But the fact is also, the Church itself was radically different in her era. For one thing, the archdiocese had some seminarians back then.

I just think that most of the issues of the era are of little interest to Catholics today – or at least they need to be reinterpreted so that they’re more meaningful.

If the idea is to support soup kitchens – that’s an easy one because such social outreach is widely supported.
If the idea is to “oppose extreme capitalism” – well that takes someone to interpret what that means specifically and what practically people should do.
If the idea is to “oppose the fascism of Franco” … well, I think it’s going to be difficult to get a lot of resonance out of that.

Although, the term “fascism” has been used in recent decades to refer to any insistence on the rule of law – or even against Catholics who maintain the social teaching of the Church on matters like gay marriage.

So, it’s a different world now.

 

[reggieM]

Sounds like a book I should read. All I know about Dorothy Day comes from catholics who make her out to be a hero, but in their own lives portray a spirituality that puts addressing physical poverty and justice issues as a REPLACEMENT for addressing their spiritual needs instead of the former growing out of the latter. This short blurb seems to imply that their hero had her priorities straight. I wonder where things went so wrong.

I’ve known Catholic Worker supporters for over 25 years in my diocese. Every one of them has used that replacement notion – dismissing the Church’s spirituality in favor of a social ministry. It’s a combination of left-wing politics and watered-down Catholicism. It’s an older generation which is still fighting against “the old Church” (which did have its problems). They fail to recognize their own “success” in transforming the Church into a 1970s model of social justice and ecumenism.
For me, the “old Church” is Catholic Worker liberalism.
I will guess that not all of the Catholic Worker supporters are dissenters against the Faith and may follow Dorothy Day’s admirable fidelity.
Personally, I have never met one, myself. So, I guess also that such are an extreme minority.
What greater social problem is there than the ignorance of Catholics about what they should believe about God and the Church? And the lack of missionary effort to convert people to the faith? The statistics are too ugly to repeat. I see it as a major collapse – especially in the Northeast US where Catholic liberalism is strongest.
True, the errors of clericalism were strongest there also – so the fight for injustice was right.

But that has turned into a fight for women’s ordination and gay rights – fighting against the ‘injustice of the patriarchy’.
As with anything, we can find some good in it – but how much, really?

 

[Beau_Ouiville]

But I view the above incidents as examples of what I’d consider “antiquated” issues reflecting a Catholicism of days past.

Well, the seminarian issue arose in 1949! I would not consider that ‘antiquated’.

The NYC archdiocese was at that time highly influenced by rich Catholics, like the Kennedys. It had a definite right-wing bent and was close to J. Edgar Hoover. This led to the infamous incident where the cardinal was used by Hoover to try to prevent a meeting between MLK and Paul VI. The attempt failed.

The Catholic Workers were definitely a liberal minority within the church. They were also definitely needed as to the necessities of the less wealthy Catholics.

 

[andyandely1997]

Sounds like a book I should read. All I know about Dorothy Day comes from catholics who make her out to be a hero, but in their own lives portray a spirituality that puts addressing physical poverty and justice issues as a REPLACEMENT for addressing their spiritual needs instead of the former growing out of the latter. This short blurb seems to imply that their hero had her priorities straight. I wonder where things went so wrong.

Right on!

 

[reggieM]

Well, the seminarian issue arose in 1949! I would not consider that ‘antiquated’.

Maybe ‘dated’ is a better word. For example, I don’t think any bishops would command seminarians to work like that these days.

The NYC archdiocese was at that time highly influenced by rich Catholics, like the Kennedys. It had a definite right-wing bent and was close to J. Edgar Hoover. This led to the infamous incident where the cardinal was used by Hoover to try to prevent a meeting between MLK and Paul VI. The attempt failed.

I fully agree and that’s important history, in my opinion. But again, I think things have changed radically now. The Kennedys are no longer right-wing. Nor is the wealthiest segment of the Church today. Thus, the focus seems misplaced, as I see it. It’s the left-wing where the most serious problems lie.

The Catholic Workers were definitely a liberal minority within the church. They were also definitely needed as to the necessities of the less wealthy Catholics.

Again, I agree. But I especially support your use of the the past tense. They were a liberal minority – fighting against issues that are no longer present today. The majority of bishops (and Catholics in general) today are liberal. As such, they see no need for a liberal reform group.

I keep in mind also that in the late '40s through the early '70s, the nation actually listed to the Church and cared about what Church leaders had to say.

Now, almost nobody cares. So that has an impact on whatever socio-economic theories Catholics may present.

 

[reggieM]

One example would be something like “Living Wage” (or “Family Wage”).

It’s a great concept. Employers should pay people enough so that they can support themselves.

I’ve seen that promoted by Catholic Worker groups.

But how can it work practically? What are the details in that plan?

They may be out there, but I haven’t seen the serious economic strategy put into it.

All I walk away with is “employers should pay more”.

The issue is obviously a lot more complicated than that.

I think Schumacher’s Small is Beautiful gives a more realistic overview of the problem and the solutions. He applied Catholic principles to capitalism and came up with more specific and workable (good word ) plans for distributing work (which is different than distributing money).

It’s always better to start a business and build the model that you’re looking for.

In simple terms, I think it’s a matter of trying to employ more people rather than less and having enough to pay more – while still being competitive.

Much more difficult to do than it seems, but I think it takes some practical applications of the idea with people creating businesses that reflect the model.

 

[challam2010]

Thanks for this information and interesting news.

When I read that “Dorothy Day’s vision still resonates” – I realy questioned that. Does it really “still resonate” with anybody? How would we know that?

Then I read that a new book was published – and I went to the site. From my limited experience, it seems like a fairly obscure site for Catholic interests. In the write-up, I didn’t recognize any of the names.

Ok, “who is reading this book”? I think that would help me know if this is really “resonating” with anyone, or if that is just wishful thinking.

So, I went to look at the Amazon.com sales rank - at least in the religious books category.

Then, I discovered that Amazon doesn’t list it yet.

This doesn’t mean that this topic does not have an audience, but I would think that if this book represented some kind of groundswell of interest in this theme among Catholics, we should see an Amazon listing – I would think.

If I’m right – this is not a topic that the most active Catholics are interested in. Those who remember the high-point of the Catholic Worker movement will have some nostalgia for this. Older Catholics of a certain vintage and certain kind of life experience might want to read the book.

I could be completely wrong, but I don’t think there’s much resonating going on at all with this.

I can’t speak for anywhere else in the U.S., but in the four cities in which I’ve lived in California, the Catholic Worker movement is alive and well and serving the poorest of the poor in homeless shelters, soup kitchens, food banks, etc. It may be that many Catholics aren’t particularly interested in reading about how this movement started, but at each parish I’ve belonged to, those who feel called to work with the poor usually end up working side by side with someone from this movement.

I worked with a group in a agricultural community in California where the core CW members started out literally handing out sandwiches on the street to the hungry. The local Catholic churches got on the sandwich bandwagon, and the facility today (roughly 15 years later) is the primary source of food, shelter and training opportunities in that town of 125,000. It has become the city government’s and other church denominations’ favorite charity.

The book may not resonate with people (or it just hasn’t been promoted enough yet) but I think the spirit and efforts of the movement itself certainly do – at least with people who are committed to serving the poor.

 

[Beau_Ouiville]

But I especially support your use of the the past tense. They were a liberal minority – fighting against issues that are no longer present today. The majority of bishops (and Catholics in general) today are liberal. As such, they see no need for a liberal reform group.

I think there are still worker issues today like job discrimination, worker safety, retirement, plant closings and other issues which still need to be addressed on a societal basis. Dorothy Day dealt with some worker oppression issues which may still be with us. Remember the chicken plant workers killed in NC when the plant emergency exits were blocked? 25 workers died there in 1991.

I don’t know if the majority of bishops or Catholics are liberal, either.

 

[reggieM]

I think there are still worker issues today like job discrimination, worker safety, retirement, plant closings and other issues which still need to be addressed on a societal basis. Dorothy Day dealt with some worker oppression issues which may still be with us. Remember the chicken plant workers killed in NC when the plant emergency exits were blocked? 25 workers died there in 1991.

Yes, I do remember that. I also agree that there are still worker issues, but I don’t know if the Catholic Worker ideas are relevant to most of them. Living wage - yes. Environmental concerns - yes. Labor union issues - maybe. Rights of illegal immigrants - possibly.

Actually how to produce good paying, ethical jobs in American business - no.

How to support the traditional Catholic (non-birth control) and one-income family - no.

 

[TMC]

I think the Catholic Worker issues remain relevant today, and our bishops apparently agree. The USCCB put out a statement on labor issues for labor day. It is available here:

usccb.org/sdwp/national/labor_day_2010.pdf

The statement goes through Catholic teaching related to labor from Rerum Novarum (1891) to Caritas in Veritate (2009). It emphasizes that these teachings are still relevant and that there remains much work to do in this area. One of the areas it mentions is wage fairness. Here is perhaps the key quote:

The dignity of the person is diminished when poor or middle-class people are denied their full wage or just compensation for their hard work. A good job at good wages for everyone who is willing and able to work should be our national goal and a moral priority.

 

[reggieM]

I think the Catholic Worker issues remain relevant today, and our bishops apparently agree. The USCCB put out a statement on labor issues for labor day. It is available here:

usccb.org/sdwp/national/labor_day_2010.pdf

The statement goes through Catholic teaching related to labor from Rerum Novarum (1891) to Caritas in Veritate (2009). It emphasizes that these teachings are still relevant and that there remains much work to do in this area. One of the areas it mentions is wage fairness. Here is perhaps the key quote:

That’s a fascinating document - I hadn’t seen that before. Thanks for posting.

Expanding the paragraph you quoted from:

In too many places across America, workers are not being fully paid for their labor. National reports tell of factory workers whose time begins with the start of the conveyor belt not their arrival; of retail workers who are “clocked out” and then required to restock or take inventory; and wait staff whose employers do not give them their tips. Some unscrupulous employers ignore weak and inadequate laws that forbid such unfair practices in order to increase the bottom line. Families struggling to make ends meet cannot have wage earners shortchanged on overtime or not get paid for all the hours they work. The dignity of the person is diminished when poor or middle-class people are denied their full wage or just compensation for their hard work. A good job at good wages for everyone who is willing and able to work should be our national goal and a moral priority.

That’s a much more practical look at the question.

Certainly, there’s got to be some room for discussion here though.

Is giving wait staff tips a moral imperative? If so, why? Is it in the intrinsic nature of restaurant work that anybody who serves customers must be given tip income?

I think what they mean is if the waitress is promised tips, then she has to get them.

But employers have rights also, and many people in restaurant service do not directly get tips (there might be a tip jar where tips are shared – but are employers morally required to accept that system, which may have its own injustices and manipulation)?

That’s just one small comment on what I see as a very difficult topic.

The general principles are essential – fairness, charity, care of employees, humane working conditions. U.S. law requires payment for hours worked and other protections against unsafe or discriminatory policies.

But what is more needed are practical specifics which weigh profitability vs competition vs fair-wage for the nature of the job vs supply & demand …

Catholic Worker may be able to play an important role in all of this, but in my view, they really haven’t done so. The moral advice is good, but the real-life specifics that employers can actually use are lacking.

Again, I’d rather see them start their own successful businesses which are built and maintained on Catholic principles – or help Catholics start businesses.