Andrew Conradi, ofs, Victoria, B.C.

Laudato Si’ Week 2022 focuses on these seven goals of the Laudato Si’ Action Platform:

• Response to the cry of the earth;
• Response to the cry of the poor;
• Ecological economics;
• Adoption of sustainable lifestyles;
• Ecological education;
• Ecological spirituality;
• Community resilience & empowerment.

The OLOR SEJC believed this was a perfect time to enter into consideration of the adoption of Fair Trade products in all Parish sponsored events as they detect a growing awareness and acceptance of this concept. They have secured support from some members of groups who are now renewing coffee after mass, post COVID.

They have a powerpoint presentation which they hope will be posted on the parish website and a display board in the church hall. These ask us to reflect on incarnated spirituality and quotes two Franciscan Friars who were chairs of the Justice, Peace & Integrity of Creation Office of the Order of Friars Minor at their Curia in Rome: “Incarnated spirituality: a spirituality that guides people to be fully involved in human and worldly affairs as a concrete sign of commitment to building the Kingdom of God.” (J Rozansky & V Felipe, 2009).

The powerpoint and display board remind viewers/readers that Development & Peace/Caritas Canada has long supported Fair Trade (since the 1990s) as has the CWL (since 2000) and Archdiocese of Vancouver (2010) and some other parishes in Victoria.

At the request of Fray Bartolomé de las Casas Human Rights Centre, (also known as Frayba, a Development & Peace (D&P) partner set up by Bishop Samuel Ruiz), in 1999, I, a D&P member, had visited Las Abejas (a pacifist Tzotzil Maya group) in Acteal, Chiapas, Mexico where 22 Decemeber 1997 they had lost 45 members killed in a massacre for which the Government finally admitted responsibility on behalf of the rich landowners & merchants. I promised to help publicise the Las Abejas new Fair Trade coffee coop “Maya Vinic” which they voted to establish. OLOR SEJC served Maya Vinic coffee after mass 29 May 2022.

Specifically OLOR viewers/readers are reminded of the applicable Papal pronouncements. These are:

1. Catholic social teaching supports fair trade. In a statement at the United Nations 17 Oct 2006, Archbishop Celestino Migliore said: “The achievement of greater justice through fair trade continues to be a major concern of the Holy See. ‘Freedom of trade is fair only if it is subject to the demands of social justice’ (Paul VI, 1967, Populorum Progressio, n. 59).”

2. “…, in every case, a just wage is the concrete means of verifying the justice of the whole socioeconomic system and, in any case, of checking that it is functioning justly. It is not the only means of checking, but it is a particularly important one and, in a sense, the key means.” (John Paul II, 1981, Laborem exercens, n. 19)

3. “ ….. purchasing is always a moral — and not simply economic — act. Hence the consumer has a specific social responsibility ….. Consumers should be continually educated regarding their daily role which can be exercised with respect for moral principles ……..” (Benedict XVI, 2009, Caritas in Veritate, n. 66 & repeated by Francis, several times)

The powerpoint & display outline the ways Fair Trade implements Catholic Social Teaching which:

1. Affirms the human dignity of small-scale producers in the Global South;

2. Exercises the preferential option for the poor since most producers of Fair Trade products are poor;

3. Acts in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in the Global South;

4. Promotes economic justice by ensuring Just Wages and Just Prices are paid;

5. Promotes the common good and peace by ensuring a more equitable distribution of wealth;

6. Applies the principle of subsidiarity in encouraging grass roots decision making at the producers’ level;

7. Promotes participation of producers in co-operatives, and

8. Practices responsible stewardship of the earth’s resources and environment.

It also reminds us that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights passed by the United Nations General Assembly 10 Dec 1948 stated:

“Everyone who works has the right to just and favorable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity…” (art 23-3)

Canadian John Humphreys was called upon by the UN Secretary-General to work on the Declaration and became its principal drafter.