No Charge- Issue 12 Autumn 2016

‘For Sartre hell is other people; but for us, others are Christ.’ Francois Mauriac spent a great deal of time retaining They fairly mak Seeing it as it is her husband’s work, writing about ye work his influence, and making sure his witness is not forgotten. Von Hildebrand was born of a prominent and artistic German fam- ily, the youngest of 6 children – and Continued on page 2→ “Better to be a beggar in freedom than to be forced into compromise Keep Religion against my conscience”….Dietrich Van Hildebrand out of Politics I have recently finished reading “The Heart of a Lion” – about the This mantra has been repeated so great Dietrich Von Hildebrand. often that it is now trotted out as a self-evident axiom, a truism re- Some people have called Von I met a woman who was nearly peated ad nauseam. Hildebrand the “forgotten Catholic deaf. She lived in Dundee and had ”. I would not use the It is, however, purest baloney. Both worked in the jute mills which proc- word forgotten, as his work has religion and politics are concerned essed jute fibre obtained from two been read by thousands, and there with the relationship between peo- varieties of plant native to Bangla- is new found interest in the work of ple, and how people should, and desh. The mills produced from the this “personalist Catholic phenome- should not, behave. So there must 19th Century until the last one was nologist”. Dietrich’s second wife – be an interphase. As Desmond Tutu closed in 1990. The work was , a writer and mainly done by women and chil- philosopher in her own right – has Continued on page 8→ dren as they were cheaper to em- ploy.

The work made the jute barons very wealthy but left the workers and their families poor and malnour- ished. Half of all male workers who volunteered to fight in the first world war were rejected as being too weak. The children were par- ticularly useful shifters (mill work- ers) as it meant the employers could reduce the pass, the space between the machines, as of course children are conveniently small. Not only did the dust and fibre in the air What's going on here? More on page 7 destroy their lungs, the incredible Continued on page 4 → 1 ← continued from page 1 ler and German National Socialism working, even while penniless, liv- slowly gained influence in , ing in homes of others and fearing the only boy. Women had a strong Dietrich Von Hildebrand very early and fleeing for their lives. The story influence on his life and from a and very strongly proclaimed it to of this flight through Europe is an young age he appreciated what he be evil. He never wavered in this interesting one, and one that speaks considered the feminine virtues and assessment and he never, no matter to the role of Providence in their intelligence. He had immense re- how scared he might be, failed to frequent near-misses and last min- spect for women and even as a proclaim it. He particularly dis- ute escapes from the Nazis. youth he could not bear to Due to help from philoso- hear his friends demean pher , the women in any way. Von Hildebrands finally Von Hildebrand’s father was a ended up in sculptor and a lover of music, in 1940 and Dietrich be- and the home was filled with came a Professor at Ford- artists, poets, classical musi- ham University. His life and cians, and the academics of work are witnessed to in his Europe. While the Von multiple books, his passion- Hildebrands did not follow ate teaching, his love for his religion (they were very nomi- students, for both his wives, nally protestant, never went to and his willingness to stick Church, and didn’t profess religious up for the truth. A recent Catholic dained the anti-Semitic rhetoric teachings) there was a strong em- Herald article on this philosopher that was at first insidiously, and phasis on values and morals, and a said if you had to sum up the wit- then more blatantly seeping into the love of beauty in the home. This had ness of his life it is “you must al- national rhetoric and he said “anti- a deep impact on the young Dietrich ways bear witness to the truth – Semitism and Catholicism are abso- and some people refer to him as the even at great personal loss.” lutely irreconcilable.” “philosopher of beauty”. There are many things about the life Von Hildebrand’s frequent and vo- At a very young age Von Hildebrand of this remarkable man to comment cal criticism of the German state, felt a call to Jesus. As an adult he on but the one I want to briefly fo- combined with his influence, soon was close friends with and influ- cus on is this – where did he get the made him an enemy of the Nazis. enced by men such as , With his life at risk he and his wife Adolph Reinach, and Feidrich Foer- and son were forced to flee through ster and discussions of and various countries as the Nazis in- religion were prominent in their vaded Europe and kept him on their friendships. He converted to Roman official death-wish list. The Van Catholicism in 1914 with his be- Hildebrands left their home, could- loved wife Margaret Denck n’t access any of their money and (Gretchen) and pursued an aca- became penniless – a strange state demic career focusing on philoso- of affairs for a man who had been phy. raised and educated in privilege. As It is in the next phase of life that Dietrich said frequently to his sec- Von Hildebrand’s life became – in ond wife Alice– this complete desti- many people’s eyes – one of both tution allowed he and Gretchen the great discernment and heroic, opportunity to rely completely and Christian courage. The death and totally on the Christian charity of “He who wants to win the world for destruction of World War 1 left a others – and he considered this a Christ must have the courage to come deep impression on the young man. blessing. While on the run, Dietrich in conflict with it.” Titus Brandsma He deplored violence and also fully wrote and ran a newspaper that accepted the Christian mandate to told the truth about the Nazi re- Above: A young Titus Brandsma, love all men. As the Nazi party, Hit- gime. He and his wife never stopped (later Father), killed at Dachau

2 discernment and the courage to him on his writings about Christian for inspiration. There is nothing we both understand the evil of the Nazi charity – and in the next breath face today – violence, racism, war, regime and to fight it? One of the praise the German Nationalist state. poverty, loss and fear – that he did severe disappointments he experi- I often ask myself how anybody not experience in multitudes – and enced was the fact that not all who calls themselves a Christian yet he remained a faithful Christian Catholics – and not all Priests and can actually defend the Hiroshima to the end of his days. I can only even Bishops – saw the evil fester- and Nagasaki bombings. How come hope that I have even a morsel of ing before their eyes. Von I see these bombings as an atrocity his courage and his faithfulness – Hildebrand witnessed sermons, against God and man – and other but somehow I doubt it. speeches, and written documents Christians see them as compatible Tamara Horsburgh by prominent Catholics who felt with the teachings of Christ? I don’t that German nationalism and Ca- know the answer to this. tholicism were perfectly compati- On the one hand... I hope that I can look at a men such ble, and indeed desirable. He wit- as Dietrich Von Hildebrand (and nessed men and women he thought indeed the “other” heroic Dietrich – were people of Christ starting to Bonhoeffer) and take inspiration from their commitment to their faith. Both of these men remained firm in their understanding of Christ as our redeemer, and firm in their belief that He mandated us to “love others as ourselves”, “serve Yemen faces bombing and a block- the least of these our brethren” and ade from a Saudi Arabia led coalition proclaim the truth with clarity and contributing to a potential humani- courage. They watched others be- tarian disaster. come complicit in evil, through ei- According to new UN figures, more ther silence and fear or blatant ac- tivity - and yet both Dietrichs re- than 14 million people in Yemen, tained their faith. They are also in- about half of the population, are spirations for us when we fear our- going hungry. More than 370,000 A young girl blinded by looking at the selves becoming “complicit” in evil. children are at risk of starvation. bright explosion of the atomic bomb. I think it is worth our while to con- The UK government’s international stantly ask ourselves “am I pro- turn on their Jewish neighbours. He development secretary, Priti Patel, claiming the truth? Have I become abhorred this, was mystified by it, announced the government would too afraid? Am I being the Christian and had to keep reminding himself spend an extra £37m this year in aid Christ has called me to be?” When I that God never promised us good in Yemen, taking total UK spending ask myself these questions – I am leaders – all He promised was that to £100m. not always happy with the answer I the “gates of Hell would not prevail see. I then remember to “take the against the Church”. Thus he was and on the other... plank out of my own eye first”, be- able to maintain his faith in the fore judging others. Britain has sold more than £3.7bn of Church – while being constantly arms to Saudi Arabia since the air- distressed at the lack of Dorothy Day (who read and ad- strikes in Yemen began. he witnessed in some proclaimed mired Von Hildebrand’s work) once Christians. said that when we start to get dis- couraged with the Church we I often ask myself – how can we, as should “turn to the Saints”. The lives Christians, have such different un- of the Saint will remind us of heroic derstandings of what it means to be virtue, true Christian witness, and followers of Christ? Von Hildebrand love of all people. I believe that could not understand how, for ex- Dietrich Von Hildebrand is one of ample, someone could compliment the Saints in Heaven we can turn to

3 ← continued from page 1 We would never accept these noise caused many to go deaf, like conditions in the lady from Dundee. Scotland al- though we are Capitalism, the ism under which we happy to buy live, is often an exploiter of work- our clothes from ers, particularly those at the bottom shops that use of the pay scales. The condition of products from the Dundee jute mill workers, these exploited treated as mere objects in the profit workers such as process, continues today wherever H&M, Benetton, the Barons can find the least resis- Gap and Mata- la poissonnerie - 1951 Bernard Buffet tance from workers and govern- lan. We are ments. happy to buy the latest iPhone de- days, 51,000 workers were on zero pite the fact that Apple, the worlds hours contracts and more than half The collapse of the Rana Plaza richest company, has workers in of Scottish adults reporting facing buildings in Bangladesh a few years China working 12 hours a day 6 unrealistic time pressures at work. ago which killed 1,134 people, days a week. It may be consoling to brought to the world’s attention the know that one of the firms involved ‘The deceiver of the whole world’ is working conditions of those work- Foxconn, has in- at work here, we seem ing in the Bangladesh’s garment stalled suicide nets Dundee’s unusually to have accepted that industry. The majority who are to catch people try- high Catholic popula- Capitalism is the only women earn little more than £25 a ing to jump to their tion is caused by hun- answer and that the fact month. Many are forced to work 14- death. dreds of Catholic High- that work for many, pri- 16 hours a day seven days a week, landers and Irish dis- marily the lower paid, is with some workers finishing at 3am Last year a report by posed by the Highland dehumanising is just the only to start again the same morn- the Joseph Rown- clearances and potato way things are. We com- ing at 7.30am. On top of this, work- tree Foundation on famine flocking to find plain, tweak the system, ers face unsafe, cramped and haz- low paid workers in work in the jute mills. get outraged but fail to ardous conditions which often lead England stated question or consider to work injuries and factory fires. ‘Many low-paid workers, particu- that another world is possible, a larly in retail and hospitality, de- world that puts the person at the scribed purely functional relation- heart of our work places. If we ships with their jobs. While work Christians are to be the light of the might take up a significant propor- world we need to demand that all tion of their time, none felt that economic activity should be judged their jobs were central to their life not by how profitable it is but by or identity. In describing their jobs, how person focused it is. Despite all the most common responses cen- the Human Resource departments, Jute mill workers tred on work as “necessary to pay people are not mere resources to the bills”.“We don’t do this job be- put alongside other resources. We Capitalism has found a new jute mill cause we want to, it’s because we need to encourage educators to look in Bangladesh. Because of heroic have to.” at alternatives and promote struc- men and women both within the tures which gives the person centre trade union movement and else- Last month a report of working con- stage. where such as Mary Brooksbank ditions in Scotland by the University who wrote The Jute Mill Song, of West of Scotland and Oxfam In Caritas in Veritate, Pope Bene- working conditions in the UK are found that 1 in 5 workers were paid dict XVI put forward a definition of not conducive to this time of exploi- less than the Living Wage, 118,000 decent work: ‘It means work that tation. Mary Brooksbank was 12 workers did not receive their mini- expresses the essential dignity of when she started work in the mills. mum legal entitlement to paid holi- every man and woman in the con-

4 The Aims and Means of the Catholic Worker

The aim of the Catholic Worker movement .. requires us to begin text of their particular society: work themselves freely, and to make their living in a different way. We recall that is freely chosen, effectively as- voices heard; work that leaves the words of our founders, Dorothy sociating workers, both men and enough room for rediscovering Day who said, "God meant things to women, with the development of one’s roots at a personal, familial be much easier than we have made their community; work that enables and spiritual level; work that guar- them," and Peter Maurin who the worker to be respected and free antees those who have retired a wanted to build a society "where it from any form of discrimination; decent standard of living.’ is easier for people to be good.". work that makes it possible for When we examine our society, families to meet their needs and Unbridled Capitalism for many at provide schooling for their children, the bottom of the chain is not work- which is generally called capitalist (because of its methods of produc- without the children themselves ing. ing and controlling wealth) and is being forced into labour; work that permits the workers to organize Michael Sutherland bourgeois (because of prevailing concern for acquisition and mate- Oh Dear Me (The Jute Mill Song) rial interests, and its emphasis on by Mary Brooksbank respectability and mediocrity), we find it far from God's justice. --In labour, human need is no Oh, dear me, the mill’s gaen fast, longer the reason for human work. The puir wee shifters canna get a rest, Instead, the unbridled expansion of Shiftin bobbins coorse and fine, They fairly mak ye work for your ten and nine technology, necessary to capitalism and viewed as "progress," holds Oh dear me, I wish the day was done sway. Rinnin up an doon the pass is nae fun Jobs are concentrated in productiv- Shiftin, piecing, spinnin, warp weft an twine Tae feed an cled my bairnie affen ten an nine ity and administration for a "high- tech," war-related, consumer soci- Oh dear me, the warld's ill-divided ety of disposable goods, so that la- Them that work the hardest are aye wi least pro- bourers are trapped in work that vided does not contribute to human wel- But I maun bide contented, dark days or fine fare. There’s nae much pleasure living affen ten and nine Furthermore, as jobs become more specialized, many people are ex- cluded from meaningful work or

are alienated from the products of Affen: Off of Bobbins: spools holding thread their labour. Even in farming, agri- Cled: clothe business has replaced agriculture, Pass: passage between frames or machines in a factory and, in all areas, moral restraints Piecers: mill workers -children who had to join the ends of broken threads are run over roughshod, and a dis- Shifters: mill workers – often children who had to move in amongst machinery regard for the laws of nature now to change the bobbins on the frame threatens the very planet. Twine: twist (into a thicker fibre) Warp: threads on a loom through which the crossthreads are passed

5 the face to offer the other side also, sess authority to kill, or soldiers, Nonviolence in Early and to those who take away our should not kill at all, even when it is Christian Thought coat to give likewise our cloak.” commanded of them. Everyone who receives a distinctive leading posi- (150-215 tion, or a magisterial power, and AD) in Paedogogus: “In peace, not in Second to Fourth Century does not clothe himself in the weap- war, we are trained.” onlessness of which is becoming to (80-140 AD) in the , should be separated Epistle to the Ephesians: “And let us from the flock." imitate the Lord, who, when He was reviled, reviled not again ; when He Hippolytus in Canons: “No Christian was crucified, He answered not; should go and become a soldier when He suffered, He threatened unless a commander who has a not ; but prayed for His enemies, sword compels him; let him not Father, forgive them; they know not draw any guilt of blood shed upon what they do. If any one, the more himself.” he is injured, displays the more pa- tience, blessed is he.” (185-254 AD) in Against (110-165 AD) in Celsus: “To those who inquire of us Dialogue with Trypho: “…we who This is an Arabic letter (“n” inside red from where we come, or who is our were filled with war, and mutual circle, signifying “Nasarah”, Naza- founder, we reply that we have slaughter, and every wickedness, rene) which is being painted on Chris- come agreeably to the counsels of have each through the whole earth tians homes in Mosel ,Iraq to identify Jesus. We have cut down our hos- changed our warlike weapons, — them as Christians. They are given the tile, insolent, and wearisome our swords into ploughshares, and ultimatum to leave , pay a heavy tax, swords into plowshares. We have our spears into implements of till- convert, or die by the sword . converted into pruning hooks the age,—and we cultivate piety, right- spears that were formerly used in eousness, philanthropy, faith, and war. For we no longer take up hope…” Clement of Alexandria in Protrepti- sword against nation, nor do we (120-202 AD) in Against cus: “If you enroll as one of God’s learn war any more. That is because Heresies: “But if the law of liberty, people, heaven is your country and we have become children of peace that is, the word of God, preached God your lawgiver. And what are for the sake of Jesus, who is our by the apostles (who went forth His laws? You shall not kill, You leader.” shall love your neighbor as yourself. from Jerusalem) throughout all the “We do not indeed fight under him, To him that strikes you on the one earth, caused such a change in the although he require it; but we fight cheek, turn to him the other also.” state of things, that these [nations] on his behalf, forming a special did form the swords and war-lances (145-220 AD) in On army -- an army of piety --by offer- into ploughshares, and changed Idolatry: “But how will a ing our prayers to God.” them into pruning-hooks for “In peace, not Christian man war, nay, how reaping the grain, [that is], in war, we are will he serve even in peace, into instruments used for trained.” without a sword, which the Arnobius (died 326 AD) in Against peaceful purposes, and that Lord has taken away? For the Heathen: “A numerous band of they are now unaccustomed to albeit soldiers had come unto John, men as we are, we have learned fighting, but when smitten, offer and had received the formula of from his teaching and his laws that also the other cheek…” their rule; albeit, likewise, a centu- evil should not be repaid with evil. Athenagoras (about 170 AD) in A rion had believed; still the Lord af- Rather, it is better to suffer wrong Plea for the Christians: “…for we terward, in disarming Peter, un- than to inflict it. We would rather have learned, not only not to return belted every soldier.” shed our own blood than stain our hands and our conscience with that blow for blow, nor to go to law with Hippolytus (170-235 AD) in Apos- of another.” those who plunder and rob us, but tolic Tradition: "Persons who pos- to those who smite us on one side of

6 Lactantius (220-330 AD,tutor for ← continued from page 1 moved and the convoy rolling again. the emperor Constantine’s children) Video here in The Divine Institutes:“For how What’s going on As it emerged at the other end of can a man be just who injures, who the Stirling road (A811) at Balloch it hates, who despoils, who puts to here? was again halted, this time by two death? And they who strive to be members of Faslane Peace Camp. serviceable to their country do all Eventually it made it to Coulport these things…” around 7pm. “For when God forbids us to kill, He www.nukewatch.org.uk not only prohibits us from open violence, which is not even allowed A convoy carrying nuclear weapons Get involved: by the public laws, but He warns us left Burghfield on the morning of against the commission of those Round Table Discussions 14th Sept and went east to the M25 things which are esteemed lawful On the 3rd Tuesday of every month we and then north on the A1. By late among men. Thus it will be neither meet to discuss a topic and help us afternoon it turned off the A1 into together to clarify our thoughts. lawful for a just man to engage in We meet at 6:15. Please email us for warfare, since his warfare is justice details of where we’ll be meeting. itself , nor to accuse any one of a capital charge, because it makes no Soup Kitchen difference whether you put a man Help out at our weekly Soup Kitchen in to death by word, or rather by the Cadogan Street, Glasgow City Centre Place of Welcome for Refugees: Sat- urdays 9am-1pm

Help teach English at Garnethill Multi- Brian Quail being removed from cultural Centre (Basement) 21 Rose under the convoy escort vehicle. Street Glasgow or just socialise.

RAF Leeming for the night. On the Monthly Witness at Faslane Nuclear Sub- 15th it continued on the A1 stopped marine Base for a break at RAF Boulmer and Join us on the first Saturday of each then heading to the Edinburgh by- month at 2:30pm outside the North

Lactantius pass. After turning off for a break at Gate. Glencorse Barracks it continued on sword, since it is the act of putting Website: ww.catholicworker.org.uk the Edinburgh bypass and the M8 Email: [email protected] to death itself which is prohibited. and M9 to Stirling. Twitter: @CatholicWorkerG Therefore, with regard to this pre- Facebook: www.facebook.com/ cept of God, there ought to be no glasgowcatholicworker exception at all; but that it is always Donating to the Catholic Worker unlawful to put to death a man, We exclusively depend on donations from whom God willed to be a sacred people who support our aims and vision. We animal.” do not pay anyone for the work they do and do not in principle register as a charity. Any money donated helps us to pay rent and costs we need cash for. If you would like to Martin of Tours (316-397 AD) in contribute money to our work you can The Paedagogus -“I am a soldier of As it left the motorway and passed transfer donations to us using your bank's Christ. To fight is not permissible below Stirling Castle it was halted phone or online service: for me.” by two protesters. Brian Quail and Account name:

Alasdair Ibbotson calmly slowed Catholic Worker Glasgow one vehicle then stopped the one Prepared by Daniel Keeran, MSW Bank: Triodos Bank after it. As Alasdair lay in the road [email protected] Account number: 20467753 Brian wriggled underneath it. It Sort code: 16-58-10 took 15 minutes to get them re-

7 ← continued from page 1 have his taxes and earthly authority, Christian America - with the back- but the Kingdom of God is supreme. ing of Christian Britain. And we are said “*anyone who thinks they can And where there is a conflict, His unrepentant. keep religion apart from politics, law must prevail. knows little about either”. Just think about the Holy Land and the deba- Theresa May said that she would cle over the status of Jerusalem, for There are real and vital implications personally press the button and kill example - not to mention Northern for us today. To take an analogy: In millions of people. Kezia Dugdale Ireland. the past many Christians accepted agrees. These people claim to be slavery as right, and defended it. practising Christians. If this is Chris-

Few, if any would attempt to justify tianity, thank God for good atheists. This cliché is often reinforced with a slavery now. glib rehash of what must be the most miss-quoted passage in scrip- Which leaves me to a final puzzle. ture - “Render unto Caesar the Today, many Catholics regard nu- Why is it that the pro-life movement things that are Caesar’s”. I say miss- clear weapons as acceptable, and (which I support) so evasive about quoted, because it is generally trun- support political parties which ad- the babies threatened by nuclear cated. The second part is left out, as vocate this. (“Render unto Caesar…) bombs? I mean, if abortion is wrong if that were unimportant - “and This, in spite of fact that such weap- when performed one at a time, how unto God the things that are God's". ons have been condemned by the much more wrong is it when per- Bishops and the Pope, and devas- formed en masse, and compulsorily,

tate Gospel values. by means of the world’s most pow- But this second half is absolutely erful abortificient, Trident? crucial to a Christian. We must place Brian Quail our loyalty to Jesus above all other considerations, and fidelity to the Gospel must always be our guide. Shadow on the Rock

by Daniel Berrigan, S.J. Which gives us a problem. “The truth will set you free”, Paul writes. He did not add the words he per- At Hiroshima there’s a museum haps should have…”and get you into and outside that museum there’s a a lot of trouble”. Fidelity to Jesus rock, will not make you popular, admired Catholic Chaplain, George Zabelka, and fashionable. in fact the very and on that rock there’s a shadow. This year marks the 71st anniver- reverse will happen. sary of the greatest single-act war That shadow is all that remains

crime in history, the annihilation of of the human being who stood there The initially scandalous and shock- Hiroshima. This massacre was on August 6, 1945 ing verses in Luke 4-16 “"If anyone blessed by the Catholic Chaplain, when the nuclear age began. comes to me and does not hate fa- George Zabelka, who later raised a ther and mother, wife and children, cry from the soul “My God, what In the most real sense of the word, have we done? He wrote “I never brothers and sisters--yes, even their that is the choice before us. own life--such a person cannot be preached a single sermon against my disciple” needs to be understood killing civilians to the men who We shall either end war and the in the light of this consideration. were doing it. To the best of my nuclear arms race now in this gen- knowledge no American cardinals eration, or bishops were opposing these or we will become Shadows On the mass air raids.” It wasn’t the godless Jesus is not telling us to hate, but to rock. recognise that He - love incarnate - Communists who used the A Bomb is Lord of all. Let Caesar - the state - on other human beings - it was

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