Ask Ellen: Our Series on Catholic Social Teachings For Middle School Students Continues

Theme 5: Dignity of Work and Rights of Workers


Today I am pleased to welcome our first guest blogger. Karen Gownley.  Karen is the Assistant to Communications and Community Services, PA AFL-CIO.  She has agreed to lend her expertise on the subject with us today.  Thanks, Karen.




The Catholic church has a long history of supporting Labor Unions. The Church believes that all workers have the right to be paid fairly, treated well, and have safe working conditions. All workers should be able to support their families.

Labor Unions are formed when a group of workers stand together in unity. While one worker would likely be fired for standing up against a boss who is treating him or her unfairly, a group - union - of workers have power and a voice against unfair bosses.

Labor unions have stood up to fight for, and won, things like: the weekend, the 8-hour work day, and end to child labor.

For a quick, fun, history lesson on Unions: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubIWyT7nGdU

Many more details, facts, & history on the relationship between Labor and the Catholic church can be found here:
http://bustedhalo.com/questionbox/what-does-the-catholic-church-teach-about-labor-unions

Jacob, The Joke Is On You

Last week we met Isaac and Rebekah and discussed their issue, loyalty.  They had twin sons, Esau and Jacob.  Let’s fast forward a little bit to Gen 25:19-34.  Jacob convinces Esau to give him his birthright for a bit of stew.  There are two things we need to know about this exchange.  First, it was a privilege of the first born of the family to have the birthright.  It was a place of honor within the family.  It entitled the oldest son to twice as many possessions of the father.  The first born birthright was highly esteemed.  The second thing we need to see here is that Esau couldn’t care less about it.  He trades all of that for some soup.

Jacob puts on an elaborate costume to look like hairy Esau and tricks our friend, Isaac, (who is practically blind) into giving him the first son’s birthright. (with help from our friend, Rebekah, not her most loyal moment to her spouse).  You can read about this in Genesis 27.

Biblical Scholar Alert- Once the birthright blessing is given, it cannot be revoked.

So, it appears that Jacob’s plan has worked.  However, notice he must flee the Promised Land, a sign of moving away from God’s covenant.  Let’s look ahead to Genesis 29.

Jacob is tricked into marrying Leah instead of his beloved, Rachel.  The family dressed Leah like Rachel and tricked Jacob, the very same thing Jacob did to Isaac.  The writer isn’t telling us, “what Jacob did was wrong,” He is showing us that what goes around comes around.  In fact, in verse 26 Laban tells Jacob, “in our country, the oldest goes first.”  Ouch!  Lesson learned.

Scripture doesn’t just tell us these moral lessons, it shows us.  But we have to know how to look.

What was Jacob’s issue?  Deceit.  When we are deceitful, we mislead others through lies.  We are two-faced.  Eventually we begin to believe our own lies.

This week will look at where we are deceiving ourselves and others.  As yourself the following questions:

What untruths am I telling others?

What “little” lies am I telling myself?

In what areas am I being two-faced?

Do I deceive people into thinking I am their friend, but then talk about them behind their back?

Have I begun to believe my own lies?

What can I learn from Jacob?

Ladies Who (Hot) Lunch

Click on the Gracieland icon on the bottom right of the page to see this week's Greetings From Gracieland.  To see all of the strips, visit: http://greetingsfromgracieland.com/

Tuesday Table Talk

Ask your child:



What do you like or dislike about hot lunch?

Do you or someone you know have food allergies?

What is your favorite food?

What is your least favorite thing to eat?

What can you tell about Lily from this strip?

You Can't Kid A Kidder

Click on the Gracenotes link above to hear this week's podcast. This week we meet Jacob and deal with his issue of deceit. Check back tomorrow for a new Greetings from Gracieland webstrip. We will be introducing a new character.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7R3GtAnO66o

Ask Ellen: Our Continued Series On How To Explain Catholic Social Teachings To Middle School Students

Theme 4: Option for the Poor and Vulnerable

This theme is a critical one for middle school students to understand.  The key word that stands out in my mind is “option.”  Students should understand that we have the right to choose to help.  We are not compelled to help the poor and vulnerable by our society.  In fact, society tells us just the opposite.  Society tells students every day that people must fend for themselves, taking what is theirs and using it for their own personal gain.

In this Social Teaching, the Catholic Church tells us the opposite.  As Catholics and Christians we ARE compelled to help the poor and vulnerable.  We are called to help and defend those that cannot do it for themselves.  The Church tells us that we are “only doing as well as our poorest member.”  Encourage students to think of this in terms of the Body of Christ.  We are all members of this same Body.  Like a body, society needs all parts to work together to be healthy.  I may have the strongest heart in the race, but if I break my foot, I cannot run.  Have students understand this important teaching in this light:  I may be a millionaire, but if I never help the poorest person I am not healthy.  I suffer as a person due to my selfishness.  The Church suffers as a whole when any member of her Body is neglected.

Explain to students that in our fast paced technological world the divide between rich and poor goes greater each day.  Today’s students are in a unique position to address this concern throughout their lives.  In this teaching, the Church reminds them to think of the poor and vulnerable first.

Ask students to think of people who fit in the category of poor and vulnerable.  Answers might include: the elderly, immigrants, the sick, the dying, the unborn, the homeless, the unemployed etc.  Brainstorm ways the students can make a tangible difference in the lives of these people.

Being Catholic is incredible because it teaches you to have a worldview.  It is so much bigger than our individual needs and desires.  Students need to understand this universal way of thinking.  Heck, we all do.  Do something for someone less fortunate….today.

Misplaced Loyalty

Biblical Scholar Alert- Last week we met Sarah and focused on her sense of humor.  This is sense of humor is best displayed in the name chosen for her only son, Isaac, meaning “God has given me cause to laugh.”

Also take a few minutes to focus on Genesis 22, The Testing of Abraham.  This is an essential part of our story and shouldn’t be missed.

As I said before, we have a lot of biblical ground to cover in just a few weeks so we will skip ahead to when Isaac is grown and meets his wife, Rebekah.

Focus on Genesis 24.  Isaac can be seen almost as a supporting actor in the story of the patriarchs.  But he is nonetheless important.  The story of Isaac and Rebekah is a love story plain and simple.

We are introduced to Rebekah at a well.  A Jewish reader would immediately think marriage based on this location.  It is important to understand this as we go forward because many important encounters happen at wells.

A beautiful story unfolds.  Focus on verse 67.  This is all that is said about Isaac and Rebekah’s marriage.  But we need to look at what isn’t said.  Isaac only had one wife throughout his life, Rebekah.  Because of his fidelity to her, he is the only patriarch that never leaves the Promised Land.  Think back to the covenant God made with His people.  When Israel was obedient, they were blessed with staying in the Promised Land, or within God’s covenant family.  The people we will meet later in the story are often led out of the Promised Land by their many wives.

Isaac was loyal.  That was his issue.

What is loyalty?  If you are loyal, you are constant, dedicated, devoted and unwavering.  Isaac remained faithful to Rebekah and to his covenant with God.

You can be loyal to many things and people.  Some examples include: the government, a cause, an idea, an institution or a product.

Unfortunately, we have people who are more loyal to the Apple brand than to their church.  Our loyalties are confused.  Isaac and Rebekah’s weren’t.  We can learn from them.  Loyalty leads to the Land of Promise.

Ask yourself the following questions:

Who/What am I loyal to?  Have they earned it?  Do they return it to me?

In what areas of my life am I not being loyal?

Am I loyal to God?  My Church?  My country?  My family?  My friends?

What products am I loyal to?  Why?

Do I value things more than people?