Yes,of course i am aware of the sometimes dubious history of the hierarchy of the Catholic Church. How could i not be? As a student of history,and a lover of freedom..the Catholic Church has time and again came up with what i thought of as oppression.Now,the same could be said,almost verbatim,about the Founding Fathers of America,the current leaders of Israel,etc...but as i began a 20-year dedication to providing Service to those who were in need,to the best of my ability and my resources(we all have multitudes of inner resources that most are unaware)..in geographical locales far and wide,when there is a great need;a famine,a depression,the aftermath of great violence..one runs into the same people and groups,year after year.Some are not part of any organization..they come on their own dime just to Serve.And you don't have to look far to start.Whether it was in New Orleans,in Haiti,in Guatemala or El Salvador..brothers and sisters that i got to know,in the trenches as it were,from all over this country and abroad that were there when there was a need and they were 'called' to fill that need,as best they could.
Then there is here in America.Now.With the once middle-class towns all across the country,where factories,and decent paying jobs were open for business..have become what i call the 'Family Dollar' communities..where one hopes and aspires for the part-time job at the WalMart in the next town over.Where hope is dwindling.
I could never understand how E.L.Schumacher,with his deep spiritual vision and rejection of Western materialism and economic exploitation,who is best known for his books 'Small is Beautiful:Economics As If People Mattered' and 'Buddhist Economics',philosopher and practitioner..a beautiful,brilliant man..could convert to The Roman Catholic Church late in his life.He said,among other things,"The ground forces".
Let me tell you of my Allies in providing Service to those in need,here and abroad..