Chuck May 2025

Chuck Short’s Posts in Our Parish Times

Just Actions, Merciful Hearts!

Prayers ascending for our beloved Francis who inspired many by his example of love, works of mercy, and courageous leadership. In life and spirit, he lit the path of faithful Christian living. Our prayers are with the Conclave as they choose a new Pope.

This is the final issue of Our Parish Times for this publishing year. Thanks to all who contributed to this successful year. Your favorite parish news will return in August with another year of news and inspiration from and about Montgomery County Catholics.

This column is the concluding chapter along our remarkable journey of reflections on the Church’s widely respected teachings on social justice. I use the phrase, “remarkable journey”,  advisedly because during our previous five reflections beginning last August, the Holy Spirit has been remarkably active creating challenges and opportunities  for Catholic parishes and leadership in the Church’s fundamental response to Christ’s command to care for those who are poor and vulnerable; the very populations with whom Pope Francis most closely identified himself and the Church.  Let’s reflect on the remarkable events of the last few months that will influence the future of global and local Catholic communities and bringing challenges to Catholics in Montgomery County.

I suggested this journey into the social justice teachings of the Church in response to the US Bishops’ decision in July 2024 to effectively end the Bishop’s Conference’s exemplary role in delivering services to vulnerable and marginalized people and reduce their enduring voice for justice and mercy for the neediest in the world. The decision strikes as a sudden earthquake to a core mission of the Church with aftershocks to be felt in local dioceses and parishes.  A certain result will be a greater demand on local dioceses and parishes to assume the fundamental Gospel obligations to the vulnerable. Our reflections have focused on preparing ourselves and parishes for an expanded role in merciful service and for advocacy for justice. Christ’s clear command, and the Bishops own teachings, leave us no choice but to place a priority for the poor and vulnerable in our communities.

As if this rescue mission isn’t challenging enough, a few months later, a second aftershock occurred when a new President and administration assumed office with the goal to reduce government expenditures. Reductions in federal funding and employee layoffs have come fast and furious with harmful impacts on the vulnerable here and abroad, straining the capacities of state and local governments and charitable organizations to meet responsibilities to vulnerable populations. Thousands of our neighbors have lost their jobs; many will be affected by reductions in federal support for food pantries, housing programs and other basic services. Again, the impact will be a greater reliance upon local dioceses and parishes to sustain the vulnerable with love, mercy and justice.

And then, a third aftershock struck in early 2025 when, responding to deep federal reductions in foreign aid to international organizations serving the poorest in the world, including Catholic Relief Services, the US Bishops chose to terminate its century of foreign relief programs. Failing to feed starving people, provide health care to the sick, and support those seeking refuge, is not an option for faithful Catholics, it is a key condition of our covenant with Jesus. According to His teaching, the responsibility for the least among us, rests with each Catholic. In truth, it is the often-preached measure by which God will judge us, (Matthew 25:31). Local dioceses and parishes will have to find ways to answer the call of Jesus and honor our covenant.

There’s good news! In March, the Holy Spirit, acting through Pope Francis, sent the Archdiocese an inspired resource to lead Catholics in a unified, merciful response to these difficult challenges. In his first homily as Archbishop of Washington on March 12, 2025, Cardinal Robert McElroy  preached “Mercy and compassion must be our first impulse when confronted with sin and human failure, for hope arises when we confront ourselves as we truly are, understanding that the bountiful, merciful love of God is without limit, and undertake the call to live out the teachings of the Church and be sacraments of mercy to others. We are a Church which believes that love and truth do meet. That is precisely our glory as the children of God.”  Cardinal McElroy is determined and able to lead.

When we reconvene in August for the next OPT year, I suggest we delve deeply into the opportunities available to Montgomery County parishes to assist Cardinal McElroy in assuring a faithful response to stressful times.

I suggest three immediate actions to prepare for the challenges ahead. First, prayerfully read the Bishops teaching’s on social justice, https://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/catholic-social-teaching/seven-themes-of-catholic-social-teaching. Second, learn about the circumstances of those in need within our communities, and lift our determined voices in love and mercy to demand justice and mercy for our vulnerable neighbors. There are effective local groups of Catholic advocates including parish-based St Vincent de Paul conferences and the Justice and Advocacy Coalition of Montgomery County, (Larry Couch, lawrencecouch1@gmail.com), which happily provides informed speakers on local social justice issues to faith communities.  Finally, prepare to share your time, talent and treasure with Cardinal McElroy as he leads us deeply into our Catholic faith. Justice without mercy is faithless.

Have a blessed and restive summer. God bless!

Chuck Short, cshort5@verizon.net  5/2025