There are a few North Star series of current community relevance which will be appearing weekly over the next few months. They aim to call attention to the practical works of love and justice to which our faith gives rise. Some of these practical works can take the form of legislation—laws made to help foster the common good, or to enable those who are at a disadvantage to claim their civil rights.
At Karidat, we are often able to make clear connections between the work of legislators and the impact of those very laws on the lives of the people we aim to serve.
An example that comes immediately to mind is that of the passing of the “Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000,” also known as VTVPA. As a result of that law, and the subsequent amendments passed by Congress a few years later, individuals who are trafficked into the US and coerced or trapped in slavery-like conditions now have more recourse for justice. If they are foreign-born, they may even be eligible to apply for a U.S. visa which is of particular help to those for whom a return to their home country might mean facing re-victimization or violent retribution from their traffickers.
Finally, a provision was made that spouses, children, parents, and even minor siblings of victims are also eligible to apply for visas, too. All of this legislation had in mind to protect the life, freedom and dignity of victims, with an aim to bring traffickers to justice for their crimes.
For our clients who had experiences of being entrapped and feeling hopeless, these laws have meant a world of difference.
In Deacon Shewman’s current series on foundational Catholic concepts of social justice, he writes: “Many of the Church Fathers also argued that since God is love (1 John 4:8), when our lives embody love then we are a particularly powerful image and likeness of God because God is present in us as love.”
This love becomes almost tangible when, according to legal provisions in our country, it means that victims of human trafficking receive work authorization or a visa so they can try to get back on their feet in safety after a traumatic experience. For the homeless, it can mean having a place to sleep that is sheltered and protected from the elements. For those who visit the Karidat food pantry, it can mean some relief from hunger.
Make no mistake, to be real, love cannot remain an abstract concept; it must have hands and feet and work boots or sometimes a checkbook close by. Love is getting your hands “dirty” with service and sacrifice. It can also mean having a voter’s registration card, ready to be used for the good of every single person in the community, and most especially for those in most need of advocacy and a friendly neighbor.
Please pray for us at Karidat that we would advocate well for those who come to us in need and that we would partner wisely with others in our community with a common vision.