AND GOOD CITIZENS MAKE GOOD DISCIPLES

Monsignor George G. Higgins just turned 83. He lives at Catholic University in Washington, D.C. From 1944-1980 this Chicago born priest worked for the Social Action Department at the Bishops Conference. He's been active in Catholic-Jewish relations. He's been involved in efforts for racial justice. He is known as the labor priest because of his involvement with labor unions and the fair play between labor and management. From 1946-1994 he wrote the Yardstick, a weekly column in Catholic newspapers. I am reading and analyzing those columns for my doctoral dissertation. Msgr. Higgins fostered economic citizenship for all Americans.

Msgr. Higgins challenges me to fresh and different thinking. When I was younger, I would have understood discipleship through the lens of piety. Devotion to Christ crucified and an appreciation of human suffering were cornerstones of my spirituality. They still are -- but the walls have been pushed out and my thinking expanded.

I can put my present thinking simply. I think our church has done a good job with ministry development. But that is only half the picture. The other half involves our understanding of what our mission in the world is. We now have to bridge our sanctuaries with our streets. We have to shepherd those systems which influence, shape, and control peoples' lives. In short, I think the next agenda item is to see responsible citizenship as a way of being Christ's disciples.

For the last thirty-five years U.S. Catholics have spent a lot of time in developing all forms of ministry, almost all has been in-house. Liturgy, health care, education, home visiting, social justice. Soup kitchens, shelters, communities of able bodied, disabled, and physically challenged people, centers of sanctuary for the abused and for the newly arrived. Vocational training for Religious life, ordained ministry, and marriage. All these spent capital: time, money, skills, programs and personnel. A lot to be proud of.

Our church has not abandoned people in the underclass. The urban and rural poor belong to us. The Catholic Campaign for Human Development has done marvels. In addition, Catholic Social Teaching calls the overclass to generosity and the common good. Innovative job programs and education alternatives help workers and students. The burdened, anxious middle class has sacrificed and served parish and civic communities nobly. Plus taken a lot of heat.

But stewardship means something further. I propose that we see citizen action as a way of expressing how we are Christ's disciples. I think responsible and involved citizens are modern disciples. I see the witness of volunteers serving both elders and youth. Volunteers caring enough to do public service. They bring light and love to people and organizations. They change oppressive and unjust systems. They kill cynicism and engender hope. These gospel stewards make a difference. They are good citizens who shoulder obligations of solidarity and good Christians creating networks of community.