Terry Yasuko Ogawa and Cecilia Fordham 2016 FAITH BASED SUMMIT ON HOMELESSNESS March 14, 2016 Central Union Church Honolulu, Hawaiʻi
ADDRESSES ROOT CAUSES OF SEEING JESUS IN THE FACE OF THE POOR AND RESPONDING POVERTY THAT IMPROVE THE WITH COMPASSION LIVES OF THE POOR…
Food pantries Feedings Outreach Worship or Meditation Mentoring Emergency or Transitional Housing Tutoring Advocacy Housing Development
Distributive Justice Is about fairness in what people receive, from goods to attention. Also known as economic justice . Procedural Justice The principle of fairness is also found in the idea of fair play (as opposed to the fair share of distributive justice). Restorative Justice Restitution, putting things back as they should be, e.g. apologizing. Also known as corrective justice . Retributive Justice Works on the principle of punishment, although what constitutes fair and proportional punishment is widely debated.
Privilege, at its core, is about access to choices. Being able to choose what you want, including places to live. Being poor and/or homeless Means that living is harder. Any small problem can cascade into a horrible mess, e.g. the car breaks down, you have no money to fix it, you can’t go to work, you lose your job, you lose your house, you can’t take care of medical challenges, etc. Every little problem is magnified. Faith/spiritual practice Can restore hope to the hopeless. It can also lead the more privileged to choose to work for distributive justice , like affordable housing, access to health care, etc.
Charity : What comes to a person comes to him because of a combination of causes and conditions; it can be kept by him only temporarily and, therefore, he must not use it selfishly or for unworthy purposes. ( The Teaching of Buddha)
Justice : A Buddhist perspective on homelessness begins with deepening our understanding of interdependence and interconnectedness …. [W]e understand that our thoughts and actions affect not only our own happiness or unhappiness, but also that of others . ( The Golden Chain )
Charity : If there is a needy person among you, one of your kinsmen in any of your settlements in the land that the Lord your God is giving you, do not harden your heart and shut your hand against your needy kinsman. Rather you must open your hand and lend him sufficient resources for whatever he needs . (Deuteronomy 15:7-8) 8
Justice : Speak to the whole Israelite community and say to them: “You shall be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy… When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap all the way to the edges of your field, or gather the gleanings of your harvest. You shall not pick your vineyard bare…you shall leave them for the poor and the stranger: I the Lord am your God. (Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-10)
Charity: There is [a]story from the Brihadaranyak Upanishad, where the Creator God responds with a monosyllable response -- da -- to what is our duty when asked by Gods, Demons, and Humans. All three groups interpret it correctly; for Gods da = daman or control of senses; for Demons da = dayA or compassion; and for Humans da = dAn or charity. So, as humans we must use charity to deal with all problems where other fellow human beings are suffering in some way, especially homelessness, which is the root of many problems. 10
Charity/Justice : Thus, the story from Brihadaranyak Upanishad can be applied to address the problem of homelessness in the society -- channel some of your resources to help the homeless people and restrain ourselves in passing cruel laws against homeless people, have compassion when addressing the needs of homeless people, and be charitable toward homeless people. This will provide peace in our society and teach our children the lesson of "da" -- daman, dayA, and dAn.
Charity/Justice : All Muslims are required to give a certain percentage of their wealth for the sake of improving another’s life. One verse from the Qur’an reads, “The alms ( Zakat) are meant only for the poor and the needy and those who are in charge thereof, those whose hearts are to be reconciled; and to free those in bondage, and to help those burdened with debt, and for expenditure in the way of Allah and for the wayfarer. This is an obligation from Allah.” (Quran, 9:60) 12
Justice : A person who is financially secure and materially wealthy is also obligated to give more in zakat than someone who is less materially wealthy. 13
Charity: For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me. …Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me. (Matthew 25: 35-36, 44b) 14
Justice: The Apostle Paul reported that remembering the poor was “the very thing I was eager to do” because the gospel provides solutions that address the underlying causes of poverty. (Galatians 2:10). And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God? ( Micah 6:8) 15
Buddhism Social Concerns Committee, Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawai ʻ i, by committee members Reverend Satoshi Tomioka (Hawai ʻ i Betsuin) and David Atcheson (Hawai ʻ i Betsuin) Judaism Adapted by Rabbi Peter Schaktman Hinduism Professor Dharm P. S. Bhawuk, University of Hawai ʻ i at Mānoa Islam Imam Ismail Elshikh and Hakim Ouansafi, Muslim Association of Hawai ʻ i Christianity Kahu Dr. Richard Walenta, Kahumana Community
We need another town the size of Waimanalo — over 5,000 people are homeless on O ʻ ahu. What do you see as ways to respond from charity to justice based upon your spiritual beliefs?
Provide spiritual care and monitor emotional well- being of guests and staff. Link guests to community resources through assessment of interests and strengths. Coordinate faith communities and groups to provide spiritual wellness menu of opportunities for guests
If you know someone is in need, consider not taking their offerings and/or taking those offerings and putting them in a savings account to help them transition into housing Conversely, don’t give hand outs, give a hand-up--Direct people to access services where they can get the help they need
Drive for welcome home baskets or donations Enact a safe, mutual homeless ministry Identify on-going activities to invite guests to or offer in the shelters Adopt/care for people moving into housing Advocate for policy changes
Mahalo for your faithful support ! Chaplain & Community Liaison Terry Yasuko Ogawa 447-2842 terryo@ihs-hawaii.org
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