The Dorothea Project, initiated by Catholic mothers, aims to provide aid to migrants. The project focuses on offering practical assistance and support to migrants. Catholic mothers are the driving force behind the Dorothea Project. The initiative seeks to address the needs of migrants through various means.
5 months ago
The Dorothea Project was launched by a group of Catholic mothers in the U.S., driven by their commitment to Catholic social teaching 1. Founder Katie Holler was inspired to act after learning about the treatment of migrants amidst ongoing mass deportations 1. The project's core mission is to defend human dignity, respond to injustice, and educate others on Catholic social teaching 1.
The group's first major initiative in July was a letter-writing campaign to U.S. bishops 1. These letters urged bishops to publicly advocate for better treatment of migrants, emphasizing the Church's teachings on human dignity and the call to welcome the stranger 1. Within two weeks, over 150 letters were sent to 75 bishops, with one response received from the Indiana Catholic Conference 1. Initially comprising Catholic mothers, the project has since expanded to include any Catholic woman, growing to nearly 300 members 1.
The project draws its name from two influential Catholic women known for their advocacy against injustices: Servant of God Sister Thea Bowman and Servant of God Dorothy Day 1. Sister Thea Bowman was a highly acclaimed evangelizer and teacher who witnessed Catholics caring for the poor 1. Dorothy Day co-founded the Catholic Worker Movement, combining direct aid for the poor with nonviolent action for justice, and was arrested multiple times for civil disobedience 1.
Following the letter campaign, the Dorothea Project plans to build relationships with parishes and priests 1. Their aim is to foster prolonged education, prayer, solidarity, and action related to Catholic social teaching 1. The group is also developing new campaigns focused on specific feast days, indicating a commitment to sustained engagement and growth 1.
How does the Church define charity and justice toward migrants?
The Church defines charity and justice toward migrants as intrinsically linked, emphasizing that justice is the primary way of charity and that both are essential for upholding human dignity and the common good . This understanding is rooted in the Gospel and the Church's social doctrine, which calls for a preferential option for the poor and vulnerable, including migrants .
Justice towards migrants involves recognizing and respecting their inherent human dignity and rights . The Church teaches that every human being possesses an inalienable dignity, created in the image and likeness of God, and this dignity demands respect, care, and service .
Key aspects of justice for migrants include:
Charity, in the Christian perspective, goes beyond justice but never lacks it; it completes justice by preventing it from becoming mere revenge and inspires a life of self-giving . Charity is the "primary way of charity" and an integral part of love "in deed and in truth" .
Key aspects of charity for migrants include:
In essence, the Church teaches that justice lays the foundation by ensuring what is due to migrants by right, while charity builds upon this foundation by inspiring generosity, self-giving, and a commitment to their integral human development and flourishing .