Social Justice and the Error of Time and Place

It seems to me that many, and by far not all, Catholics in the Social justice Movement have forgotten the root mission they were sent to accomplish. Part of the key to this is that they were sent, they did not pick or choose this ministry, they were called, culled, chosen and sent, much like the Apostles. True, they always had the right to say no and they chose to say yes, but isn't that the same with any job or mission. "Your mission", the old TV show began, "should you choose to accept it...". Called, culled, chosen and sent; so goes the missionary. If someone is sent on a mission then while it is their mission they must be guided by the greater mission of whoever sent them. If a soldier is sent on a mission deep into enemy territory he or she must know not only the immediate goal but some part of the long term goal even if it is only "to win the war" It is conceivable that a person working in Social Justice for the Catholic church must also know the long term goal of the church as well as the short term goal of their mission. Suppose the soldier is sent to blow up the proverbial bridge. The greater mission is the protection of a nearby town from enemy incursion. Arriving at his target and without this knowledge the soldier might choose to lower personal risk and use a high explosive that damages or destroys the town very town he was sent to save. Not only must he know both goals, he must remember them and use them to achieve his success. So what is the long term goal of Catholic Social Justice? The ultimate goal of the catholic Church is enable its members to enter the gates of heaven. By its teaching, its example, its penances and traditions the faithful should be led to accept the truths of the Gospel and the teachings of the church and act on them to help them get to heaven. While we know that Jesus is all loving we also know that those found unprepared will be left outside like the foolish virgins while the bridegroom tells them, "I know you not" So the long term goal of Catholic Social Justice is the enable those being served to enter heaven. This does not mean they must become Catholic. Mother Teresa helped many who were not catholic and by the love she showed them they became better people and may find grace with God. Through the work and teaching of Catholics in Social Justice the person should be so uplifted that they may find grace and forgiveness with God and enter in despite their current circumstances. Suffering on this earth is transitory. Suffering in hell is permanent. If I relieve all of your earthly suffering and then condem both you and I to hell where is the gain? What is the goal? If the goal is charity in the name of Jesus then that charity should not allow woerldy views and pleasures to overshadow the true christian charity of helping that person into heaven. My goal in aleviating suffering in this world should become so primary as to lead to suffering in the next. Sounds simple, right? So where is the problem? Many Catholics seem to believe that in order to help poor young women we have to give them birth control pills and condoms regardless of catholic teaching on the subject thereby telling them that illicit and sinful sex is OK. By focusing solely on the current needs and forgetting the future need they are sending souls to hell instead of heaven even though they have the best of intentions. We live in two worlds, the Temporal and the Spiritual. The root of temporal is tempo or tempor, Latin for time. The temporal world is limited by time. The spiritual is not. Giving condoms to someone with Aids is not looking to the future need of avoiding hell but is simply looking to an avoidable, temporary, physical need that may also endanger countless other people. By only seeing this world they run the risk of Ezekiel 3 and having the blood of the people they serve held to account on them so that not only is the person lost through erroneous teaching but they themselves are also lost. We must remember, as Catholics that our primary and ultimate goal is to enter heaven. Anything else is trasnitory. While important it must be weighed in the balance of that ultimate goal. Heaven or hell, where does this piece of the puzzle lead us? "What doth it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his imortal soul?", Matt 16:26. We would do well to take on the oath of doctors, "Do no harm." Do no harm, how much harm is an eternity in hell?