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The
Church in the field of education and social action
18. One
of the reasons for the Church's influence on the Christian formation of
Americans is her vast presence in the field of education and especially in the
university world. The many Catholic universities spread throughout the
continent are a typical feature of Church life in America. Also in the field of
primary and secondary education, the large number of Catholic schools makes
possible a wide-ranging evangelizing effort, as long as there is a clear will
to impart a truly Christian education.( 49)
Another
important area in which the Church is present in every part of America is
social and charitable work. The many initiatives on behalf of the elderly, the
sick and the needy, through nursing homes, hospitals, dispensaries, canteens
providing free meals, and other social centers are a concrete testimony of the
preferential love for the poor which the Church in America nurtures. She does
so because of her love for the Lord and because she is aware that “Jesus
identified himself with the poor (cf. Mt 25:31-46)”.( 50) In this
task which has no limits, the Church in America has been able to create a sense
of practical solidarity among the various communities of the continent and of
the world, showing in this way the fraternal spirit which must characterize
Christians in every time and place.
For this
service of the poor to be both evangelical and evangelizing, it must faithfully
reflect the attitude of Jesus, who came “to proclaim Good News to the poor” (Lk
4:18). When offered in this spirit, the service of the poor shows forth
God's infinite love for all people and becomes an effective way of
communicating the hope of salvation which Christ has brought to the world, a
hope which glows in a special way when it is shared with those abandoned or
rejected by society.
This
constant dedication to the poor and disadvantaged emerges in the Church's
social teaching, which ceaselessly invites the Christian community to a
commitment to overcome every form of exploitation and oppression. It is a
question not only of alleviating the most serious and urgent needs through
individual actions here and there, but of uncovering the roots of evil and
proposing initiatives to make social, political and economic structures more
just and fraternal.
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