Hotline Asia -- Social Concern Notes

Parish Social Concern Groups - Church's Social Teachings
~ Introduction ~

Sections of the Social Concerns Notes || Introduction: Anecdote or Story || Asian Perspective || Feedback
 
In general, these lessons and notes attempt to help the members of a Social Concerns Group to acquire and sustain a habit of Christian social analysis. However, unless each Social Concerns Group and each member is already engaged in a concrete justice activity. Otherwise these lessons will merely serve as intellectual recreation and an excuse for eating popcorn with friends. The activities need not be time-consuming or difficult. Many social issues originate from one’s own situation: shopping housewife, social worker, teacher, Communion minister, office clerk working overtime, tax-payer or elderly person on welfare.

There are many ways of doing justice:

  • Life-style
  • Letter writing
  • Interacting with victims of injustice
  • Joining the activities of established groups
    e.g. Diocesan Justice and Peace Commission, Asian Center for the Progress of Peoples, Oxfam, Amnesty International, Youth Outreach, Samaritans
  • Data collecting data on a pet issue by newspaper clipping
  • Providing moral support to those more actively engaged such as by sending notes of appreciation, typing, watching their children, clipping, filing, cleaning etc.
 
Sections of the Social Concerns Notes

The Format:
The ordinary format of these notes are:
INTRODUCTION, QUESTIONS, SOCIAL TEACHINGS OF THE CHURCH (STC) AND “THOU SHALT THINK (TST)”

These notes seek to introduce key concepts (one or two words) and relate them to life and Catholic social teachings. These general concepts may at times not speak directly to the social issue being addressed in your Social Concerns Group but rather provide a broad background in reading the newspaper or doing ordinary “people things.” However many, if not all, justice issues are interrelated.
 

Introduction: Anecdote or Story

Ideally, a week or two in advance, pass out ONLY the INTRODUCTION and the QUESTIONS. Do not give members the entire SHEET and never, never the Facilitator’s Notes! The discussion leader should only read the Facilitator’s Notes after he/she has struggled with the INTRODUCTION and the Questions. If you give your members the entire sheet, the temptation will be is to spend thirty seconds on the introductory anecdote and look for the Church’s answer to the Questions. This eliminates the need to reflection and no learning takes place.

Often the anecdote may seem simple. And after a fifteen-minute reflection period, the individual member will have totally missed the point. That is okay. It is only after the individual “struggles” with the INTRODUCTION and the QUESTIONS that he/she will be able to appreciate a particular SOCIAL TEACHING OF THE CHURCH. No pain; no gain.
 

Asian Perspective

Although much of the material involves Hong Kong. These issues are common to those in other parts of Asia as well as the western world. The discussion leader should be able to substitute data, illustrations and folk stories from their local area.
 
Feedback

It would be great if you could give me any suggestions.
Indicate your country.
Fr. Gene Thalman : ethalman@maryknoll.org
 

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