Although Zoomers continue their discussion of the encyclical Fratelli Tutti, they’ve taken time during the past two weeks to concentrate on considerations prompted by the LCWR. Faced with the reality of dwindling numbers in future years, the sisters hope to discern how they can best respond to the movement of the Spirit within religious Communities throughout the world.
During the ongoing discussion of Pope Francis’ encyclical, Zoomers found clarification of several key elements that contribute to the breakdown of society. Chief among the problems is the loss of a social sensitivity which currently parades under the guise of defending national interests. As a result, instances of extremism and aggressive nationalism are creating new forms of selfishness that contribute to the breakdown of common civility among peoples. Though an emerging globalized society “makes us neighbors, it does not make us brothers [sisters].”
Pope Francis also maintains that we have become a throwaway world, a world all too ready to discard what is seen as not useful: the poor, the disabled, the unborn, the elderly. Additionally, we have become desensitized to all kinds of wastefulness such as the waste of food and water, neglect of the environment, the re-emergence of racism, and the breakdown of family life. Such wastefulness breeds dehumanization and leads to a loss of moral consistency and spiritual identity that is the very bedrock of a civil society.
When we think about throwaway societies, Francis tells us we must take into consideration many factors. One of the biggest is that of corporate cost reduction. When workers are not paid a fair salary because of cost or wage cutting, the poverty level rises commensurate with the increase in company wealth. In other words, “The rich get richer and the poor get poorer.’’
Though the Zoomer discussion of Fratelli Tutti is to be continued, it is obvious even now that Pope Francis has a firm handle on some of the world’s most basic problems. His well-written encyclical gives reason to hope in difficult times overcast by cloudy skies of uncertainty.
