Editorial

Most of us don't think of work as something sacred (unless it's directly tied to church ministry). I surmise that many people put their work into a separate category from anything to do with religious faith: the "worship on Sunday/work on Monday" mentality.

Yet all worthwhile human work IS sacred. "Human work proceeds directly from persons created in the image of God and called to prolong the work of creation by subduing the earth, both with and for one another," says the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Teaming up with God. Wow! Through work we actually team up with God to continue what he began at creation. The Catechism adds: "Work can be a means of sanctification and a way of animating earthly realities with the Spirit of Christ."

Getting down to more "nitty-gritty" matters, the Catechism insists that "everyone should be able to draw from work the means of providing for his life and that of his family, and of serving the human community."

It is the responsibility of the state to guarantee individual freedom and private property, as well as a stable currency and efficient public services. The state should direct the exercise of human rights in the economic sector.

And, the Catechism emphasizes that "access to employment and to professions must be open to all without unjust discrimination: men and women, healthy and disabled, natives and immigrants. For its part society should, according to circumstances, help citizens find work and employment" with just wages and benefits.

Putting teaching into action. If all employers and countries followed Catholic teaching, it seems as if we would have a much happier world. Yet it is up to all of us as individual Catholics to put these teachings into action. Here are some suggestions and questions to think about:

• To employers and supervisors -- Do you bring your religious values into the workplace or do you leave them at church on Sunday? Consider whether your employees have just wages and benefits. Are you offering them enough to support themselves and their families or are you just concerned about making more money for yourself? Do you provide healthy working conditions? Do you expect people to work long hours, leaving them little time for family activities or relaxation? Are you concerned about their spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being?

• To employees -- Do you contribute to making your workplace sacred? Do you treat your supervisors and co-workers with tolerance and respect? Do you try to improve working conditions in a positive manner? Are you providing your employer with a solid day of work or do you spend time surfing the Web or taking care of personal matters?

• To consumers -- Consider the products you buy. Do you know if they're made in sweatshops where workers are not paid a living wage? Check into the background of the products ad the stores selling them. If you don't approve, boycott both the products and the stores. The best way to bring about change is through the pocketbook.

This Labor Day, take time to reflect on what you can do to preserve and enhance the sacredness of work -- for yourself and for others in the workplace -- in the year ahead.

Mary C. Uhler, editor

Mailbag

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Adults set
sportsmanship example

To the editor:

Another season of high school, grade school, and college sports offers us fresh opportunities to reflect upon values that athletics can foster, especially in youth.

Pope John Paul II has stated that athletic competition carried out with sportsmanship and fair play can help to bring the human race closer as the recent Olympic games show. Also he has stated that sports can help to develop Gospel values such as loyalty, fair play, honesty, respect, and cooperation. To encourage such ideals of sportsmanship, the pope recently created a new office dedicated to "Church and Sport."

In my judgment we adults should set the example for sportsmanship. The way that we coach, play, or watch our favorite team is one of the most visible ways our Christianity connects with life. We adults must show the young that winners are also those who do their best, play fairly, and learn lessons that help them to cope with adult life. We must teach youth that sports should be enjoyable and provide opportunities to develop friendships and good memories.

Above all sports can challenge us Christians to remember that with grace we are running the race of life for the prize of Heaven.

Fr. Don Lange, Ridgeway

Helping bring our world together

To the editor:

I read the article in the July 1 issue of the Catholic Herald and wanted to remark about the wonderful opportunity we have to help the Hmong people and hopefully be an example by showing them true Christian love.

Besides the Hmong people, there are students from around the world, but especially from Asia, that are trying to come to the U.S. to go to high school. The Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) - www.ciee.org - is a non-profit organization that helps students and teachers travel for educational purposes.

If you would like more information, contact me at 608-438-6881 (cell) or via e-mail at ericksonh@wartburg.edu and I would be happy to answer any questions about this way to help out and bring our world together - one family at a time.

Hillary Erickson, Madison, local coordinator, CIEE