Work and housing as pillars of human dignity served as a training theme for the LOC/MTC activists who met on March 23 in Braga. Rui Gomes from the Diocesan Team, was the person chosen to coordinate this training. Everything that dignifies is a very dear value, which we have a duty to cherish and defend. What causes indignity, on the other hand, erodes these pillars of support for work and housing, or the lack thereof, deserving due contestation on our part. Not having a job or a home to live in is one of the greatest attacks on human dignity. Much has been said about this subject, however there is still a long way to go, taking us from the time of saying to the time of doing.
We live in a time that calls on us to recover values in the real sense of the word: to return to what has true value – starting with life, nature, human dignity, work, bonds – as keys to human life. These are values that cannot be negotiated and therefore cannot be sacrificed. However, we cannot take for granted what has already been achieved over the years with a lot of effort and determination. If nothing is done, there is a risk of losing the achievements achieved by our ancestors and by many of us.
Work is a fundamental condition for a person’s dignity and well-being. It is not fair to have a job and continue to be poor. Work is not just a way to earn some money, which sometimes is not enough, to cover the monthly expenses of a working family; First of all, it must also be a means of democratic participation, coexistence and expression of the common good. Giving priority to access to work with rights must become a central goal of public policies.
Those present at this meeting were organized into groups so that reflection/training could be more consistent with regard to how to identify and combat attacks on human dignity and the concerns raised. In plenary, the groups’ spokespeople summarized, based on specific cases: very low wages predominate, causing advanced permanent precariousness; some companies continue to invest in relocation; the most fragile lack family support; many of them live in shacks, camps and shared rooms; they feel that divorce and domestic violence are two sides of the same coin; lack of respect for workers working in supermarkets, sometimes forced to work continuous shifts; lack of worker organization that allows the other party to exploit; There is a sense of impunity and opportunism that has taken hold, both in relation to the housing crisis and in relation to work, especially with migrants.
All this brings provocations to our faith
We want to maintain a permanent concern for ourselves and our brother, “where is your brother?” We are the minimum wage generation and this shakes our faith. Despite this, Jesus continues to encourage us with his challenging words: “I came that everyone may have life abundantly” (John 10:10) and in this hour of permanent attacks on human dignity, those present appeal to the hierarchy of the Church a stronger voice in this complaint. Jesus will not ask us how many masses we went to, but he will ask us about what we did or didn’t do for our most afflicted brothers. Jesus was simple and poor, but he was not wretched; Jesus never imposes anything on us; We are all born with the same dignity. But some have access to a set of goods and others do not. We may be humiliated, but we always have the same dignity. The attitudes of some people are unworthy when they allow and promote unworthy work. There is only freedom when we have access to a free life. We believe that the good news of Jesus Christ will one day reach everyone. If Christ gave his life for all his children; We have an obligation to announce a different life.
Faith without works is dead and freedom of expression comes at a high price.
Braga March 23, 2024
The LOC/MTC Diocesan Team
