See Page 5 C A T H O Jeff’sL ToNewI Order BookC Graphic By Rufo Noriega CHRIS HEDGES DEATH OF THE LIBERAL CLASS U.S. POLICY AND THE MIDDLE EAST p.4 See Page 5 FOR CATHOLIC WORKERS THE TERM “LIBERAL” IS PROFANITY Jeff’s ToNew Order Book CHILDREN GO TO BED HUNGRY DEATH OF THE LIBERAL CLASS By JEFF DIETRICH translate the demands of radicals and labor organizers into incremental ecently I saw the film, The reforms that were palatable to the Theory of Everything. In ruling class. this film Steven Hawking That function no longer exists Ris dealing with the smallest because we have consistently purged entities of the universe: protons, neu- the nation of radicals, socialists, trons, and electrons; and the largest communists, and strong unions, entities of the universe; black holes, which were the source of the liberal super novas, and anti matter. Since conscience and intellectual the time of Einstein and Niels Bohr, ideals. We have emasculated physicists have been slowly “slouch- the liberal class through fear ing toward Bethlehem” to await the and careerism, and birth of the theory that would unlock without radical voices, the mystery of the mind of God. liberals, with their bent However, journalist Chris Hedges, toward “progress” and in his book, Death of the Liberal industrialism have in many Class, is much more modest. He instances adopted the simply wants us to know how we goals of the elite. got to be where we are and how we Hedges says, “The liberal got to be the kind of people that we class have driven critics of have become. How did we come to this utopian fantasy (globaliza- be in a situation where the economy tion and free market capitalism) is robust yet people’s homes are from their midst. The liberal still being foreclosed? How did we class was complicit in the rise get to be in an environment of fear of a new global oligarchy and and anxiety in which our Constitu- the crushing poverty visited in tion and Bill of Rights have been globalization’s wake on the poor and put through a paper shredder in the Chris Hedges, in his working class. It abetted the decline name of national security? How of the middle class—the very basis did we come to live in a 24/7 ebay− book, Death of the of democracy. It has permitted, in Amazon shopping mall—a society the name of progress, the dismantling of endless spectacle that distracts Liberal Class, simply of the manufacturing sector, leaving us with sports, fashion, shopping, huge pockets of poverty and despair and the mindless fodder of cop, wants us to know how behind. Yet it would be a mistake talk, reality, and food shows, and we got to be where we to assume that the liberal class was soap operas, where public liturgies seduced by the utopian promises of like the Oscars, Grammys, and the are and how we got to globalism. It was also seduced by Olympics satisfy all our endless careerism. Those who mouthed the desires but leave us empty, hungry, be the kind of people right words…were rewarded. They thirsty, and desiring ever more of were given platforms on television the same? How did we come to live that we have become. and the political area” (p.142). in a society of perpetual war? How How did we come to Hedges, in his brilliant prose, did it come to be that our economy bludgeons us into a deeper under- “recovers” while more people are be in a situation where standing of who we are and how we falling into poverty and more are liv- got into the mess in which we find ing on the streets? How did it come the economy is robust ourselves. Hedges dates the begin- to be that 30% of our children go to ning of our current social crisis to bed hungry while we have plenty of yet people’s homes are 100 years ago at the beginning of money to build sports stadiums and still being foreclosed? WWI. Prior to that time in the U.S. entertainment centers? there was a vibrant radical socialist For Catholic Workers the term How did we get to be and aggressive labor movement that “liberal” is profanity. We like to fought for the rights of the immi- think of ourselves as would-be in an environment of grant and working poor, and consti- radicals. Yet in Death of the Liberal tuted a very real threat to the elite Class, Hedges explains that, in the fear and anxiety in capitalist class; but the war ended all past, liberals served an important which our Constitution of that. function. Liberals traditionally put Initially it was a very unpopular their faith in government as a tool of and Bill of Rights war. When president Wilson went to reform and progress. They believed Congress to ask for a declaration of that government, a strong industrial have been put through war against Germany, it was neces- economy, and technological prog- sary for an entire cavalry battalion to ress, which they equated with moral a paper shredder escort him for fear that an anarchist progress, would ensure the advance- might attempt to assassinate him. ment of all citizens. As people of in the name of In order to mobilize mass consent conscience and as intellectuals; as national security? for the war, Wilson hired the adver- professors, preachers, artists, and tising expert, Edward Bernsey, the journalists, liberals were able to Continued on page 2 In the U.S. there was a vibrant radical socialist and aggressive labor movement CATHOLIC AGITATOR / 1 DEATH OF THE LIBERAL CLASS Roy Bourgeois WOMEN’S ORDINATION Creech Photo By George Abu-Shkara The following article first appeared in the March 13, 2015 edition of the Columbus Dispatch. Gary (Las Vegas CW), Jeff, Catherine, Bobby at Creech AFB Drone Protest Dietrich Bonhoeffer By JOANNE VIVIANO Call to Action, which hosted the justice.” n activist who was expelled visit and advocates for women’s “And that is what we have here DIETRICH from the priesthood and ordination and other changes to the with the ordination of women and excommunicated from the Catholic Church. gay marriage. It is about justice. It BONHOEFFER Roman Catholic Church Lupia said a number of Ohio and is about love. It is about equality. By SANDI HUCKABY A national church-reform organiza- It is about God. And it cannot be for his support of women’s ordina- tion called on central Ohio Catholics tions have agreed that “exclusion is stopped.” his year marks the 70th an- this week to “come out” and tell always immoral because exclusion is The former priest continues his niversary of the day Dietrich family and friends that they believe contrary to God’s inclusive nature, work as an advocate for the ordina- Bonhoeffer was hanged in the equality of races, genders, and who loves us all.” tion of women and gay marriage by the Nazis on April 9, Bourgeois was dismissed by the in the Catholic Church. He speaks T sexual orientation. 1945. As a German Lutheran pastor Roy Bourgeois, of Columbus, Vatican in 2012 from his work with around the country and participates and theologian, he lived his life in Georgia, visited Maple Grove United the Maryknoll Fathers and Broth- in demonstrations, including recent faithfulness to the Gospel. In his Methodist Church in Clintonville on ers. He said the rejection, and the “solidarity witness” acts outside the most well-known work, The Cost of Wednesday to discuss his work to- silence of his fellow priests, gave Vatican Embassy in Washington, Discipleship, he pulls no punches ward greater equality and acceptance him a glimpse of the suffering and holding banners that read “Ordain when he says: “When Christ calls a in the church for women and people anger felt by people who live with women” and “God created us all man, he bids him come and die.” For who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or discrimination. equal—gay & straight.” Bonhoeffer, the death he speaks of transgender. Still, he said, he is filled with hope. Bourgeois spent his childhood was not figurative, but literal. “We are of God,” he said. “Life, as Many tried to stop the abolition, in Louisiana, where schools were This radical obedience to Christ is we know it, is a sacred gift. What- women’s suffrage, and civil rights segregated and blacks were forced in stark contrast to the comfortable ever might be our race, gender, or movements but failed. to sit in the last five rows of pews in Christianity that settles for what he sexual orientation, we are all equal.” “Any movement that is rooted in his Catholic Church. He became a calls “cheap grace.” “Cheap grace “We are of equal worth and dig- love, justice, and equality cannot be priest in 1972 after serving in the is preaching forgiveness without re- nity. No exceptions.” stopped,” Bourgeois said. “These U.S. Army in Vietnam. quiring repentance, baptism without Bourgeois is “walking in the foot- movements are of God, they are all As a priest, he initially served in church discipline, Communion with- prints of Jesus,” said Tom Lupia, an about oneness and unity and inclu- Bolivia, where he saw the poor out confession…Cheap grace is officer of the Columbus chapter of siveness. It is all about equality and Continued on page 6 Continued on page 6 DIETRICH, cont’d from page 1 anarchists were arrested (p.79-80). having virtual opinions, in what and self help magazines to televi- WWI laid the foundation for Charlotte Twight calls ‘participa- sion ads and internet spam that tell nephew of Sigmund Freud.