End Poverty Through Systemic Change

Society of St. Vincent de Paul National President, Sheila Gilbert, discusses how the Society will fight poverty through systemic change.

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[Elizabeth D]

A document prominently mentioned in the CDF's summary of the visitation of the Leadership Council of Women Religious, mandated to be revised due to serious doctrinal deficiency, "Systems Thinking Handbook", is about the same thing Sheila Gilbert talks about in vid, & described by LCWR as being about "systemic change". Does not strike me as a coincidence. CDF says LCWR is wrongly silent on abortion & homosexuality, same prob with SVDP activism not even speaking out on HHS mandate which affects us

[Miriam Soikkeli]

The Rule of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (7.1) states: "The Society is concerned not only with alleviating need but also with identifying the unjust structures that cause it. It is, therefore, committed to identifying the root causes of poverty and to contributing to their elimination. In all its charitable actions there should be a search for justice." I think that is what we sometimes forget about, and what Sheila is referring to.

[Elizabeth D]

This is real vague. The Society's focus is on corporal works of mercy and direct service to the poor; Vincentians legitimately have varying socio-economic ideas and I am alarmed by the possibility of the Society co-opted by one or another of them. I am shocked by Gilbert's idea that poverty simply means hopelessness and indignity and not even having a future. Yes let's help people out of poverty! but, "The poor are the treasure of the Church" & "the poor you have with you always".