From Our Perspective: Preferential Option for the Poor and Vulnerable
Though the term “Preferential Option for the Poor and Vulnerable” is widely used in Catholic teaching, at Catholic Charities of Acadiana we work towards using people first language. Experiences of poverty, hunger, homelessness or any other traumatic experience, should not define a person. We care deeply about their future as much as we care about their present. Instead of “the poor,” we prefer “a person experiencing poverty, or a person suffering.” Instead of “the hungry,” we prefer “people experiencing hunger,” and instead of “the homelessness,” we use “people experiencing homelessness. With this in mind, we will simply use “Preferential Option” for this article.
An illustration of this preferential option is serving food to children before the adults in a group, giving a seat to an elderly person who is left to stand or taking special care of someone who is ill.
A “Preferential Option…” is concerned with those who do not currently have the resources necessary for a the fulfillment of their future or the ability to participate fully in the community and society. When we talk about vulnerable people, we are talking about those who are particularly at risk to being harmed or exploited and those without an ability to advocate for themselves.
A “preferential option” does not mean a prejudicial attitude against those living with abundance but it does mean that all things including wealth, power, authority and material resources should be used in conformity with charity, the dignity of the human person and the common good. This “preferential option” seeks to order society in a way that promotes human rights and justice for all persons.
Consider this:
“When we attend to the needs of those in want, we give them what is theirs, not ours. More than performing works of mercy, we are paying a debt of justice.” - St. Gregory the Great
“A basic moral test is how our most vulnerable members are faring. In a society marred by deepening divisions between rich and poor, our tradition recalls the story of the Last Judgment (Mt 25:31-46) and instructs us to put the needs of the poor and vulnerable first.” (USCCB)
“Those who recognize their own poverty before God, regardless of their situation in life, receive particular attention from Him: when the poor man seeks, the Lord answers; when he cries out, the Lord listens. The divine promises are addressed to the poor: they will be heirs to the Covenant between God and HIs people. God’s saving intervention will come about through a new David (Ezek 34:22-31), who like King David - only more so-will be a defender of the poor and a promoter of justice; he will establish a new covenant and will write a new law in the hearts of believers (Jer. 31:31-34) (Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, article 324)
Story from our St. John Campus: Featured Theme from Social Doctrine
Boundless Mercy: We embody a spirit of compassion and forgiveness. We are compelled to be witnesses of the mercy we have received. As vessels of God’s goodness, His mercy must be evident when people encounter us - CCA Statement of Values
The groups of men and women lining our campus sidewalks at any given time of the day is a witness to the great importance that our sheltering programs have in our community. In our shelters (St. Joseph Shelter for Men, St. Michael Center for Veterans and Emily House) we have a combined total of 90 beds. While this seems like a lot, it is not enough.
CCA knows from experience that by and large those that sleep on the street during the day do so because they have been awake all night trying to keep themselves safe. Without a door to lock, or windows to close, a human person is left completely vulnerable - exposed to the elements and to those who seek to do harm.
In 2018, in response to the lack of shelter beds in our area, CCA opened a low barrier shelter occupying the common area of our St. Joseph Shelter for Men. With sleeping pallets and cots, the low barrier shelter nightly accommodates up to 50 additional people. Through the low barrier shelter, individuals experiencing homelessness are afforded safe shelter every night they are in need and are offered additional supports such as case management.
When you witness an individual sleeping on the sidewalk during the day, what is your interior response?
It wouldn’t be proper to speak of our sheltering programs without acknowledging the “unsung heroes” of Catholic Charities of Acadiana: our caseworkers and direct care staff. These remarkable individuals and teams are the “front lines” of our charitable work as they labor constantly at the side of the clients we serve. They live, at cost to themselves, a “Preferential Option for the ” in an extraordinary way on a daily basis. Witnessing both successes and failures, life and death, our caseworkers embody the “mercy” that CCA values.
In conclusion, as we seek the Preferential Option, we do so from the understanding that we are, all of us, “broken” whether or not it appears to be so from the outside. We are broken by sin, broken by illness, broken by failed relationships, or broken by disappointments.
But God pursued and still does today, and so we do too.
Taking It To the World Around You:
Pray:
● Who are the “the vulnerable” in my family, school, place of work, city, community? How can I reach out to them this week?
● Commit to pray daily this week for a particular group or groups that you recognize as vulnerable in our community, Church or world.
Fast:
● Look through your home at “extras” or “excess” you have and give something away this week to someone in need (or a thrift store that will mediate this gift)
● Deny yourself from purchasing anything this week that is not essential or absolutely necessary
Give Alms:
● Support CCA’s low barrier shelter this week with a donation or a donation drive
● Support the Emily House this week with a donation or a donation drive
Hungry for More?
From the Bible:
Mt. 5: 1-12 - The Beatitudes
Mt. 25: 31-46 - Whatever you do to the least of these...
Mt 8: 20 - the Son of Man has no place to rest His head...
Mk 12:41-44 - The poor widow
Eph 4:28 - Work so as to have something to share
Jas 5:1-6 - The unjust use of material goods
Mt 19:16-26 - The Rich Young Man
Luke 3: 10ff - Whoever has two coats...
Make Friends with the Saints: St. Francis of Assissi grew up in a wealthy home, but upon his conversion he denied his inheritance and his father’s wealth to embrace “Holy Poverty” for the sake of the Kingdom. He followed God’s call to “rebuild the church” thinking that it was just a physical building he was called to rebuild, but in actuality, St. Francis’ “Yes” to God continues to inspire conversion and renewal throughout the larger Church to this day.
Study the Catechism of the Catholic Church: 2443-2463
Read from the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Catholic Church: Chapter 7, Economic LIfe
Online Resources