23. Social Services & People's Organizations

23. Lineamenta on Social Services and People’s Organizations

SOCIAL SERVICES AND PEOPLE’S ORGANIZATIONS

God has a fatherly concern for all of us and willed that we constitute into one family (Gaudium et Spes [GS], 24). Jesus Christ signified this call to be one as a certain likeness to the Trinitarian Union when he prayed, “May they all be one as you Father are in me and I am in you” (John 17:21). True to this social nature we are called to “treat one another in the spirit of brotherhood” (GS, 24). This implies that we are interdependent to one another (GS, 25) and shall, therefore, take into account the “needs and legitimate aspirations of other groups, and even of the general welfare of the entire human family” (GS, 26). The progress of the human person and the advance of society itself hinge on the interdependence of human beings on one another, so evident in the ties that bind like the family and the social groupings that facilitate personal growth and development. Social services revolve around these reciprocal but essential ties which give rise to a variety of organizations, movements, associations, institutions and foundations. In spite of the services of these associations and institutions that alleviate human condition, to a great extent the qualitative life and development of the people and society are mainly affected by the environment, social and personal conditions which certainly “are often diverted from doing good and spurred toward evil by the social circumstances in which they live and are immersed from their birth” (GS, 25). Inevitably this stark reality of our present society, marked by selfishness and violence, graft and corruption and poverty and exploitation, comes into collision with Christian values derived from the Gospel of our Lord and calls us to rethink our world-view, to change our character and strategies of life and to have a missionary activity with special concern for the different sectors of our society. The Second Plenary Council of the Philippines (PCP II) in 1991 underscores the following concerns: “Taking a closer look at the particularities of our society, we see there are a few sectors in it that call for special attention from us as a Church: Tribal Filipinos, children and youth, women, peasants, the urban poor, fisher folk, and the disabled.” (PCP II, 375). In the Decrees of that same Council it stated that the Church “should develop a comprehensive theology of stewardship” (PCP II Decrees, article 31). It points out that social action apostolate, which is focused on the task of social transformation, “must become a vital involvement of the Church at all levels” (PCP II Decrees, article 22 #2 ) and “must set up special programs to address such crucial issues as peace and economy, agrarian and industrialization concerns, the exploitation of women and minors, migrant and overseas workers, children and youth, and intensify the organization of the grassroots people” (PCP II Decrees, article 23 #1). Specifically, the Church in our times is asked to look into the social concerns and issues of the different sectors and to build a network of alliances and involvement with grassroots organizations or people’s organizations. In her active involvement in social services and her solidarity with people’s organizations, she becomes the Church of the poor and recognizes the power of the poor to evangelize (Enrique Dussel, “The Ebb and Flow of the Gospel” in Concilium, October 1986, pp. 96-97). Accompanying the poor in their struggle for qualitative life where there is justice, peace, truth and freedom, she is becoming prophetically missionary and hope-bearingly evangelizing where the evangelizing locus par excellence is the “Church of the Poor” (Ibid., pp. 97-98). In the Church, people’s organizations find the compassionate guidance of a mother and our social services will have an evangelizing character and our evangelization will carry a liberating social concern.

Questions for small group discussion:

How can we reach out to grassroots associations and people’s organizations in our parishes and basic ecclesial communities?
How can grassroots associations of farmers, fishermen, hacienda workers and other groups and organizations of common people establish a dialogue and working relations with our parish priest and parish lay leaders?
How can we make our social services liberating and done according to the eyes of the poor?