By Deacon Jim Merle

Clarity of purpose in understanding the need for social justice was not always a paramount idea in my life. It wasn’t until I was 14 in Quigley’s Minor Preparatory Seminary in Chicago that I was face-to-face with a black person who shared many of the same ideas I had that I began to understand equality or lack thereof in any form. A few short years later I was a reporter/writer for the Chicago Tribune and my mantra was “Don’t Trust Anyone,” if you want the ‘real truth.’ After 11½  years, such cynicism in the newspaper business provided me with insights that brought me 180 degrees toward an ideology that took a foothold to help me clarify why I believe in social justice: God wants us to take care of those in need because He created us to love one another as He loves us.

Ordained as a deacon on April 30, 2005, it wasn’t until I entered into formation in 2000 that I began understand the difference between charity and social justice. What I had been doing since my awakening some 35 years before then was to reach out to others in charitable ways that might help them for a short period of time but would never give them a solution to overcome the problem for the remainder of their lives. I wore a mask of delusion not to obfuscate their plight, but to spread a bit of hollow joy to a situation I didn’t understand so I could cope with and have my conscience soothed for the disaster at hand.

Formation taught me a valuable lesson: Nothing will change for me unless I become a proactive minister in addressing social injustice for those who are unable to do so on their own for whatever reason. Ordination to proclaiming the Gospel and serving at the altar is hollow without working in the trenches with those who suffer the indignities of man’s indifference towards life. The Diaconate must be a living, breathing organism that practices the servant attitude that Christ taught us while He ministered to us on earth.

For me that was spending five years in detention ministry with the incarcerated and working in hospitals and nursing homes with the sick and dying and with the homeless, hungry and poor at Catholic Worker. It is making sure that all of my homilies touch on the plight of those who are disenfranchised from society as we know it and to meet with parish groups to make sure they consider social justice as part of their ministry.

More than six years ago I was invited by the diaconate director to join the local board of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development which has as its primary purpose to empower those in poverty. Three years ago I was named the chairperson and until recently I have fought an uphill battle with the members to help them understand the difference between charity and justice. All of the board members have been replaced since I became the chair. With national and local criticisms of CCHD’s process and of those in charge, it has been a difficult, uphill struggle to work towards institutional changes.

Fifty one years ago, as a young seminarian studying for the priesthood, I came face-to-face with God’s purpose for me as I met a young man of color from the south side ghettos of Chicago who taught me about the love God has for all His creation. Today, God has given me the opportunity to serve Him in my Diocese of Orange California as the Diocesan Director of CCHD and as deacon living my ordination as His servant. I have been exceedingly blessed and hope that I will continue to have the courage, strength, wisdom, understanding, peace, joy and grace to be obedient to His will as I strive to be one with the Lord in thought, word and deed in my love of Him and of all His creation.

Tags: Catholic Campaign for Human Development, Catholic Worker, charity, Chicago, deacon, diaconate, Diocese of Orange, justice, prison ministry, social action

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