Archbishop Dolan's Thought for the Week

June 3, 2008

Saturday mornings are usually a tad less rushed than others, and I so enjoy lingering over the newspaper and enjoying a second cup of coffee.
 
I’m glad that was the case last Saturday, for the New York Times had two uplifting stories on religion (somewhat novel for them!).
 
The first, on page one, documented the inspirational story that monks in Myanmar are accomplishing what their oppressive government has been unable to do:  get relief -- food, water, medicine, blankets, emergency shelter -- to the thousands suffering from last month’s devastating storm.
 
While the junta in Myanmar pouts and puts up road blocks, people stream to the Buddhist monasteries, there to find sustenance, clean water, a clinic, and a roof.
 
Good governments and shrewd humanitarians have known this for a long time:  the most effective way to get relief to people is through the local churches.
 
Thus it was hardly a surprise to me to observe in Ethiopia during my recent trip there that our own government channels much of its aid to the poor of Ethiopia through Catholic Relief Services (as well as through other private groups.)
 
“You all have the best infrastructure around,” a government official remarked to me.  “You know where they’re hurting.  You do it better than we could, and a lot cheaper.”

The second story in the paper that hooked me was about former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, a recent convert to Catholicism, who has begun an inter-religious, international organization to promote peace, understanding, and care for the poor through different faiths.
 
True genuine religion, he reminds us -- contrary to what the “new atheists” writing books tell us -- is not about fanatics, extremists, or fringes.  Real faith brings us together, promotes love, not hate, peace, not violence, life, not death.  Genuine religion is the greatest force there is for good, healing and authentic progress.

Not bad for the Saturday morning newspaper . . . which also, by the way, has the shortest obituary list of the week and reported that the Brewers had won the night before!

Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan

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