Social Justice
A commitment to justice in the United States involves challenging our acquired ways of thinking. It also challenges us to allow the pain of others to have an impact upon us. We have a responsibility to seek to understand and change the structures which create poverty and oppression. As a faith-based program in the Catholic tradition, we do so by following Jesus' example of inclusive love and true hospitality. CCSC placements generally provide direct service to populations that are poor and marginalized; moreover, they also advocate and work for to remove the cause of the problems.
To the best of their ability, volunteers commit to:
- Stay open to relationships with the people with whom they work, and to learning from their clients' journeys.
- Work with the poor in a spirit of solidarity toward a goal of structural change in society. Direct service is necessary, and must be combined with sincere efforts to change the systems and institutions that create the need for direct service in the first place.
- Seek to know the truth of situations, rather than rely on prejudices and biases. Practically speaking, volunteers are asked to pay attention to those stereotypes, preconceptions, etc. that prevent them from bringing true justice to a situation.
- Strive to become just in their thoughts, language and action so that their work for justice will have credibility.