St. Katheryn Drexel and The Future Of Catholic Philanthropy
Today we celebrate an extraordinary American Saint of the Catholic Church, Katherine Drexel of Pennsylvania. Her story raises some interesting questions about America's new pattern of imposing on the religious freedoms of its most philanthropic allies.
Mother Katharine founded the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament for Indians and Colored People. The American government had turned their back on these people in the late 19th century so a private rich person, a true 1% er, worth over $200,000,000 by today's standards, spent her own money to come to their aid. The title of the community she founded summed up the two great driving forces in her life—devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, and love for the most deprived people in her country.
She didn't stop there. She went on to found approximately 60 schools, Sixty!!!! The most famous foundation was made in 1915; Xavier University, New Orleans, the first such institution for Black people in the United States. The First!
Today, during his homily, my Pastor asked us to pray for the next generation of millionaires and billionaires to be so generous with the world's forgotten. Then he bravely posed this question: "With the anti-Catholic policies of the current administration, imposing more and more limits on religious freedom and individual liberties, would God allow the next Katherine Drexel to use her fortune to create institutions that would be forced to participate in procedures that violate the conscience of the Church? Probably not. Probably not.
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Comments:
Jun '10
Re: St. Katheryn Drexel and The Future Of Catholic Philanthropy
I think it was Cardinal George that said, he'll probably die peacefully in his own bed. His successor will probably die peacefully in a jail cell, and his successor's successor will probably die as a martyr of the Church. That was his cheery forecast.
Nov '11
Re: St. Katheryn Drexel and The Future Of Catholic Philanthropy
EdN: Agree wholeheartedly! Joe: Query: Would 'the next Katharine Drexel' *have* a fortune to renounce/donate? Thanks to both of you.
Jun '10
Re: St. Katheryn Drexel and The Future Of Catholic Philanthropy
The scary part is that he is not a man known for over dramatization or fanatical statements.
Re: St. Katheryn Drexel and The Future Of Catholic Philanthropy
I'm not sure I understand the question. Please clarify Nancy.
Jun '10
Re: St. Katheryn Drexel and The Future Of Catholic Philanthropy
I have a theory, Joe, that I'd like to bounce off of you. I haven't seen this theory expressed anywhere else in regards to the HHS mandate, but it has probably been expressed by someone out there.
Why would Obama attack the Church? If the Catholic church suddenly stopped feeding the hungry, housing the homeless, educating the young and treating people in hospitals, where would all those people go? Since the Church serves so many poor and needy citizens, these individuals would HAVE to go to government for help if the Catholic Church was suddenly silenced.
This is a ploy by the Obama administration to 1. divide the Church into it's loyalists and dissenters and 2. drive more needy citizens into the open arms of government - further solidifying the dependency class of Democratic voters...
Thoughts?
Nov '11
Re: St. Katheryn Drexel and The Future Of Catholic Philanthropy
Joe, I'm wondering whether a future member of 'the 1%' would even *have* the fortune St. Katharine did, with which to be so wholeheartedly generous. Again, thank you.
May '10
Re: St. Katheryn Drexel and The Future Of Catholic Philanthropy
Joe Escalante
.... so a private rich person, a true 1% er, worth over $200,000,000 by today's standards, spent her own money to come to their aid.
It was charitable because she chose freely to give that money. Government aid is not charitable because taxpayers are not given a choice of whether or not to pay or how their money will be spent. That is a distinction well-meaning people often miss. Government is generally a poor means of helping others.
The word "charity" has come to describe actions; but it originally described the gift of spirit, the virtuous nature, which inspires such actions. In Catholic theology, there is no real division between faith and works because works are the natural expressions of faith. To the extent we accept God's love, that love is inevitably shared... filtered through the wondrous uniqueness of individual personalities.
When I say there is no division between faith and works, I mean that we are using different words to describe different aspects of the same thing. One might think of faith as the beginning and of works as the end; like breathing in and breathing out.
Aug '11
Re: St. Katheryn Drexel and The Future Of Catholic Philanthropy
"The first such institution for Black people in the United States. . ."
What is the meaning of "such" here? First college? First university? First Catholic university?
May '10
Re: St. Katheryn Drexel and The Future Of Catholic Philanthropy
Samwise Gamgee:
....Why would Obama attack the Church? ....
This is a ploy by the Obama administration to 1. divide the Church into it's loyalists and dissenters and 2. drive more needy citizens into the open arms of government - further solidifying the dependency class of Democratic voters...
That and/or politicians are jealous of spiritual authority. Tyrants dislike competing loyalties.
In modern history, whenever tyranny arises, the Church becomes a target. I wish my liberal friends understood that. We can debate why it happens, but we should at least agree that it happens.
Jun '10
Re: St. Katheryn Drexel and The Future Of Catholic Philanthropy
Aaron Miller
In modern history, whenever tyranny arises, the Church becomes a target. I wish my liberal friends understood that. We can debate why it happens, but we should at least agree that it happens. · 36 minutes ago
It's a very important point, and an oft neglected one.
One need not look further into history than yesterday to see examples of this persecution under tyranny... China, Saudi, North Korea... the list goes on.
May '10
Re: St. Katheryn Drexel and The Future Of Catholic Philanthropy
Samwise Gamgee
Aaron Miller
In modern history, whenever tyranny arises, the Church becomes a target. I wish my liberal friends understood that. We can debate why it happens, but we should at least agree that it happens. · 36 minutes ago
It's a very important point, and an oft neglected one.
One need not look further into history than yesterday to see examples of this persecution under tyranny... China, Saudi, North Korea... the list goes on. · 13 hours ago
To me, too, the truth of this is plain. The Church is a competing influence that cannot be tolerated by the Statist--all the more because what the Church does is inculcate principles of liberty and self-standing that make its members not amenable to the demands and manipulations of the all-consuming State.
My hope is that Obama has miscalculated. He did not fathom the depth of faith and commitment among the "remnant."
Feb '11
Re: St. Katheryn Drexel and The Future Of Catholic Philanthropy
Bill Whittle has a theory. I tend to agree with it. The theory is basically that the president seeks to collapse our society and replace it with the State. "How often have I said to you that when you have eliminated the impossible, what remains, however improbable, must be the truth?"
May '10
Re: St. Katheryn Drexel and The Future Of Catholic Philanthropy
I first heard this theory from Glenn Beck — you know, that "entertainer" to whom no serious conservative pays much mind.
Sadly, mainstream pundits still generally think Obama is merely inept.
I've said it many times: Obama's actions are limited only by power. He has regularly demonstrated callous disregard for the most basic rights of his political opponents and loathing for those who disagree with him. If he is reelected, his actions will be worse. If he can take advantage of panic during an economic collapse to free himself of Constitutional restraints, he will be as ruthless as any other dictator.
Aug '10
Re: St. Katheryn Drexel and The Future Of Catholic Philanthropy
I'm inclined to think he thinks society is the State, or rather that the State is the fullest expression of society. That any social institution existing outside of the State is orphaned, stranded, and therefore not fully part of society.
Of course, in practice it boils down to the same thing. But the framing is different.
I still think that most in the Obama camp, probably including Obama himself, genuinely believe they're nurturing society, not destroying it. But their conception of society and what sustains society is so deranged that their efforts naturally result in the dismantling of society.