And miles to go

Advent Reflection on Farming

I wish to use this month's column as an Advent reflection on the special vocation that is farming. Shortly after my arrival as Bishop of the Diocese, I was speaking to a Catholic gentleman who farmed in the Western part of our State. I asked him how the crops looked that Fall and he responded by telling me that God is full of surprises: "Every year I never know what He is going to do," he told me, "but it is always something different." I find an Advent theme in that statement, reminding us that in a farming community one is always "waiting on" the Lord.

Last month the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops approved a Pastoral Statement entitled, "For I was hungry and you gave me food" (Mt. 25:35): Catholic Reflections on Good, Farmers and Farmworkers. I very much supported the document and I hope that many of our clergy, religious and laity will look it up on the Conference website and study its contents (www.usccb.org/statements.htm).

The bishops admit upfront that the world of agriculture is complex and at times contradictory. Here in the United States of America, the number of farms in 1950 was approximately 5.5 million, by 2001 there were only 2.1 million. Two-thirds of government subsidies are given to just 10% of these farms. The four largest wheat processors control 61% of the market, while the four largest soybean processors control 80% of that market. The concentration of agriculture into these larger entities has meant fewer farms with fewer farm-related businesses and services, fewer children for our rural schools and fewer community services. Of the 1.8 million farmworkers who live in the United States, 80% are foreign born. The average real wages for agricultural workers have declined nearly 20% during the past ten years. Environmental conditions have worsened with the erosion of cropland, the overuse in some instances of agricultural chemicals, and a growing inaccessibility to safe water or to water itself. (Only 1% of all freshwater on the globe is usable.) And even though farmers all over the world produce 2,800 calories of food per person per day, an estimated 840 million people on this planet remain malnourished and underfed.

Now you may be asking yourself, "What concern are these statistics for the Church? Why should she get involved?" Well, the starting point for our Catholic social teaching must be the dignity of every human person: every man, woman and child, from conception to natural death. All human life has been created by God and redeemed by Christ and from those qualities flows every person's fundamental dignity. The social, political and economic structures that impact on human life, then, must respect that dignity and be committed to promoting the common good. That commitment leads to the principle of solidarity which binds all persons together as children of God, brothers and sisters to each other. Of these, the poor and those who are most vulnerable are of special concern.

Based on these principles, Catholic social teaching affirms the right of persons to work, to receive decent wages and benefits, to have safe working conditions, to take on economic initiatives and to join together to secure these rights.

In applying Catholic social teaching to the vocation of farming, the U.S. Bishops offer six criteria to guide the formulation of agricultural policy:

1. Providing food to alleviate hunger and reducing poverty among farmers and farmworkers;
2. Providing a safe, affordable and sustainable food supply;
3. Ensuring a decent life for farmers with fair prices for their agricultural products and providing farmworkers with decent wages and benefits;
4. Sustaining and strengthening rural communities by advancing diversity of farm ownership and advancing development in food harvesting and processing;
5. Protecting God's creation by attentive care for the environment; and
6. Expanding the participation in policy making through the education of those who consume farm products as well as those who legislate for its production.

Every time we gather for Mass, we celebrate the transformation of the "fruit of the vine and the work of human hands" into the marvelous gift of Jesus' Body and Blood. That is possible because farmers produce those gifts to be offered and transformed and they serve as symbols of ourselves. This, then, is part of the Incarnational Mystery we celebrate at Christmas and it should provide great consolation and joy for all those who farm.

Returning to the Catholic farmer whom I mentioned in my opening paragraph, I also said to him that day, "I suppose it would be difficult to be a farmer and not believe in God." He replied, "I don't think it's possible." And you know, neither do I.

Have a Blessed Advent Season!

December 2003

Falta Mucho por Recorrer

Deseo aprovechar la sección de este mes como una reflexión de Adviento en la vocación especial que es el cultivo. Poco después de mi llegada como Obispo de esta diócesis, hablaba con un señor católico que se dedicaba al cultivo en la parte oeste de nuestro estado y le pregunté como se veían las cosechas ese otoño y el me respondió diciendo que Dios esta lleno de sorpresas: "Cada año nunca se lo que él tenga preparado" y añadió, "pero siempre es algo diferente." En ello encuentro un tema para el Adviento, recordándonos que en una comunidad agricola uno siempre "espera" en el Señor.

El mes pasado la Conferencia de Obispos Católicos de los Estados Unidos aprobó una declaración pastoral: "Pues tuve hambre, y ustedes me dieron de comer" (Mateo 25:35): Reflecciones Católicas sobre Bienes, Agricultura y Agricolas. Yo apoyo mucho el documento y espero que muchos en nuestro clero, religiosos y laicos visiten la página de internet de la Conferencia de Obispos al (www.usccb.org/statements.htm) y estudien su contenido.

¿Ahora ustedes se preguntarán, "Cuál es la preocupación para la iglesia? ¿Porque tendría que involucrarse? Bien, el punto de partida para nuestra enseñanza católica social debe ser la dignidad de cada ser humano: todo hombre, mujer, y niño, desde su concepción hasta su muerte natural. Toda vida humana ha sido creado por Dios y redimido por Cristo y de esas cualidades fluye la dignidad fundamental de cada persona. Las estructuras sociales, políticas y económicas que afectan la vida humana, por consiguiente, se debe respetar esa dignidad y comprometerse a promover el bien común. Ese compromiso conduce al principio de la solidaridad que une a todos juntos como hijos de Dios, hermanos y hermanas el uno al otro. De éstos, los pobres y los más vulnerables son de gran preocupación.

De acuerdo con estos principios, la enseñanza social católica afirma el derecho al trabajo, a recibir salarios y beneficios justos, a tener condiciones de trabajo seguros, a tomar iniciativas económicas y el de reunirse para protejer estos derechos.

Cada vez que nos congregamos en la misa, nosotros celebramos la transformación del "fruto del vino y el trabajo del hombre" al regalo maravilloso del cuerpo y la sangre de Jesús. Eso es posible porque los agricultores producen esos regalos que serán ofrecidos y transformados y ellos sirven como símbolos de nosotros mismos. Esto, entonces es parte del Misterio de la Encarnación que celebramos en Navidad y debería proporcionar gran consolación y alegría para todos los que se dedican a la agricultura.

Volviendo al tema del agricultor católico, que lo mencioné al comienzo de este párrafo, le dije también que, "supongo que debe ser difícil ser un agricultor y no creer en Dios." El me respondió, "yo pienso que no es posible." Y ni yo tampoco.

¡Que tengan una temporada de Adviento lleno de bendiciones!

December, 2003