“Hope has two beautiful daughters. Their names are anger and courage; anger at the way things are, and courage to see that they do not remain the way they are.” St Augustine
Today’s ‘Irish Times’ helped unveil the government’s planned strategy to eliminate long term homelessness while recognising the continuing funding freeze for homeless services. Last year €33 million was spent on homeless services….there’s no dent in the problem yet!
The cost of bread is up 20% on last year, flour is up 42%, milk is up 31%…..while the €33 million for homeless services remains €33 million.
So what does this €33 million mean to over 3000 homeless people in Ireland today?
Minimum wage at 40 hours a week leaves the worker, after tax, with around €280 and almost everyone of sound mind agrees that this is an insult in an Ireland where everything costs.
If the government gave this €33 million out to the homeless like the dole they would get €209 per week. This is bad but it doesn’t really sound terrible. Now, recognise how the government usually spends it’s money…(health service!)…in other words everything seems to disappear. This equates, in laymans terms, to the government not giving a damn.
What does this disrespect for the homeless mean to us as Christians then?
Acknowledging that we are all sons and daughters of the living God we are all born with a dignity due to such a title. As I’ve mentioned before society teaches us to de-humanise the homeless so we won’t have to feel bad when we see them. This is a scandal. This is the only scandal greater than the existance of homelessness in the first place. When we de-humanise we attempt to strip someone of their status as children of God. We have no right!
This pittyful attempt by the government to buy off spectators and silence pressure groups with a ’stratagy’ with no means of implementation is an insult to every man, woman and child who recognises another’s humanity and it has become clear that the horrendous cancer that is society’s apathy has seeped into Dáil Eireann!
We are called as Christians to stand up for the dignity of life and yet crowds rarely march for the homeless. We are called as Christians to stand as one voice and cry from our society’s wilderness that this is not good enough, that this will not do and that we are no longer prepared to stay quiet while our government authorises apathy and the de-humanisation of a section of our society struggling to stay above the rising tide of ignorance and neglect.We are called as Christians to walk with Christ and Christ walks with the poor and the marginalised. We are called as Christians to give a damn.
Thursday, August 21st, 2008 and is filed under Love Thy Neighbour, Views on News.
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Sister Says:
OK fine words, but what in real practical terms are you yourself doing to show you “give a damn” ? The homeless problem here in Ireland is miniscule compared with the US and Canada - to say nothing of the flocks of tiny homeless babies in India. Words as they say butter no parsnips. Any of the schemes out there helping the homeless always welcome volunteers… Please, less hot air, more hot soup ,, eo quote two 19th century foundresses of religious orders, ” I refuse to preach the gospel of words to starving people” and “Love is love; food is love with a full belly”
The reason I am seldom here? Monastic Nuns keep strict Enclosure and maintain much Silence, which applies to internet also of course. Also, if you quoted Jesus rather than anyone and anything else…If we are truly Christian then we will hang on His every word, rapt and adoring, and strive everyminute to love those words as He asks us to do. Not talk- not judge and accuse… each f us has a great plank in our eye, as Jesus says, yet we carp at others rather than setting right the wrongs we speak of; so we disobey Jesus and are less than Christian. So I leave you once more; oh we have two books out now, all money to feed children of course. see my xanga, listed after the anchorhold site.. We bless your journey, but cannot walk with you. Always at the Master’s Feet in Prayer
Discussion is a distraction
August 27th, 2008 at 11:15 pm
Ronan Says:
Sister,
I am very grateful for your contribution.
I assure you that I keep Christ’s example of walking with the poor at the forfront of my mind always. I would also ask that you accept my apologies if I seemed to accuse and judge. This was not my intention. What I have seen angers me but I feel that this anger, at widespread apathy, comes from a genuine sense of duty and love.
I don’t intend to stand on the street corner listing good works sister but I do feel that it is also a Christian duty to witness to the injustices around us and to challenge others to act and as I say “to give a damn”.
I am grateful for your blessing our journey and I would ask that you continue to do so.
August 28th, 2008 at 9:59 am