1 / 11

Embracing a Spiritual Path of Human Rights Advocacy

Delve into the urgent need to prioritize human rights in the face of severe abuses worldwide. Explore the intersection of spirituality and rights advocacy, drawing inspiration from Jesus' defense of the marginalized and Pope Francis' transformation. Learn practical ways to foster respect, engage in dialogue, and campaign for justice in your community. By embracing a spirituality of rights, we can empower individuals, challenge injustice, and nurture a culture of solidarity.

pheath
Download Presentation

Embracing a Spiritual Path of Human Rights Advocacy

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. A SPIRITUALITYofHUMAN RIGHTS Donal Dorr

  2. We need to Focus much more on Human Rights because People are Moved, Outraged by Frequent Gross Abuses of Rights - E.g. Boy soldiers in Eastern Congo (DRC) taught and encouraged to use RAPE as an instrument of war - E.g. Personal account of the reality of prostitution by Rachel Moran in her book Paid For - E.g. Harrowing accounts of treatment of trafficked women and girls

  3. Following Jesus is the Heart of a Spirituality of Human Rights He Challenged Authorities to Defend Rightsof Poor, Sick, and Disabled people, Migrants, Refugees, Prostitutes, and Tax Collectors He defended their Right to be Assured that theyare Loved and treasured by God He paid a heavy price – deprived of His Right to Fair Trial, Not to be Tortured, & Right to Life. Vindicated by being Raised from Death – but only three days after he Died

  4. RESPECT is the Key Basis for a SPIRITUALITY OF RIGHTS - Respect in Legal Sense: Don’t Interfere (Negative) - Spiritual Sense of Respect = Reverence Based on Dignity of the Person Empathize – Tenderness, Sacred Every Person is Image of God See Abuse as ‘Almost Blasphemy’ (Archbishop Rowan Williams)

  5. How Develop this Empathy? Requires a Radical Conversion Moral Conversion Conversion of Our Affectivity so Feelings Come in Line with Morality How Pope Francis was “converted” from being self-assured, authoritarian to being deeply humble – see Paul Vallely, Pope Francis: Untying the Knots, p.144: prolonged Ignatian prayer. Personal Development Work perhaps Counselling, Therapy to Heal the Wounds of the Past If Irritated, Focus on the Gifts, and the Gift, of the Person

  6. FOSTER A CULTURE OF RESPECT -to challenge individualism, exploitation, and abuse of authority Mt 18:15-16: Dialogue with leaders of State & Church; educate public opinion Public Challenge when no openness to dialogue or dialogue has Broken Down Protest is difficult and risky: Martyrdom or Harsh & Unjust Treatment – an Inspiration and Challenge to Us

  7. To be Effective, Spirituality of Human Rights must be by a Community Ideally Local, Networked with Others Nowadays it may be a ‘Virtual’ Community e. g. RENATE and its national members, Amnesty, AVAAZ Campaigning is Exciting but Stressful - We May Lose Touch with Inner Deep Space where Spirit is Nurtured We may need ‘Time Out’ for Nurturing

  8. SOME PRACTICAL EXAMPLES 1. Members of the RENATE Congregations who work in ‘Source Countries’ can warn people of the dangers, and can help to re-settle returnees. 2. GIVE PRESENTATIONS IN SCHOOLS and to Church groups, women’s or men’s groups etc 3. Campaigns such as ‘Turn off the Red Light’ which lobby politicians to change legislation and adopt the SWEDISH/NORDIC MODEL 4. ‘Universal Periodic Review of Human Rights’by United Nations in individual countries: anti-trafficking groups can put pressure on their government to implement suitable legislation.

  9. CONCLUSION: Key Words: Respect for Human Dignity, Compassion, Reverence, Tenderness, Solidarity, Concern for Common Good, Empower People to Participate in Decision-Making Nourish Ourselves by Awe before the Mystery of Creation and Evolution and by Insight into ‘The New Story’ We will be Inspired by the Holy Spirit to Cry Out with Jesus in Wonder and Gratitude to the Creator

More Related