Insights from Thomas Merton and Joseph Cardijn Let's start with a question that has haunted contemplatives and activists for two thousand years: What if we actually lived the Sermon on the Mount? Not just studied it. Admire it from a safe distance. Or turning it into comforting spiritual quotes for social media. But lived it... Continue Reading →
“Throwaway plastic has corrupted us.” by Julie Peller Ph.D.
Green Junction A recent article in the New York Times (NYT) was titled “Throwaway plastic has corrupted us.” Cheap plastic materials are the basis of our throwaway society. Plastics are made from gas and oil, and since they are highly subsidized by taxpayers, plastic materials are cheaper than other materials. The recent federal One... Continue Reading →
Standing Against the Darkness: What Cardijn’s Courage Teaches Us Today
Standing Against the Darkness: What Cardijn’s Courage Teaches Us Today There’s a story from our Church’s history that keeps me awake at night—not because it’s frightening, but because it’s convicting. Picture this: It’s July 1924. While many Catholics across Italy, Belgium, and France are quietly (or not so quietly) cheering on Mussolini’s consolidation of power,... Continue Reading →
The High Seas Treaty is a powerful testament to multilateralism. By Julie Peller Ph.D.
Green Junction After several decades of negotiations, the United Nations adopted an international treaty in 2023 to protect the oceans. Last month, the High Seas Treaty cleared its final step toward becoming international law, with the required 60 countries signing on. The law will ensure the protection of huge areas of the ocean that... Continue Reading →
Who Is My Neighbor? Who Is My Enemy?
Who Is My Neighbor? Who Is My Enemy? I wonder how many times Joseph Cardijn sat with this question. How many sleepless nights did he spend wrestling with it? How many times did he challenge his followers to sit with it as well? Your Neighbor: The Worker Nobody Sees For Cardijn, the answer was clear... Continue Reading →
I say the currency of human contact is stories!
In our world today, how do we understand faith as a paradoxical stance gained through uncertainty rather than certainty? Do we grasp the intricate and often ambiguous relationship between faith, doubt, belief, and resistance? This line of thinking is leading me toward a theopoetic understanding of theology that emphasizes the role of doubt and questioning in authentic... Continue Reading →
When it comes to Climate: See-Judge-Act. By Julie Peller Ph.D.
Green Junction Do many people pay attention to the latest information on climate change? I regularly ask my students how often they discuss climate change issues with their friends and family, and it usually comes across to them as a silly question. I am not sure what this suggests about human interests and modern-day responsibilities.... Continue Reading →
Christian Nationalism: What can I do?
First, let's refresh why we are all working with Joseph Cardijn's teachings. Second, let's realize the teachings offer a solid framework for understanding and combating Christian Nationalism, emphasizing grassroots organizing, social justice, and authentic Christian witness, by emphasizing universal human dignity, authentic Catholic Social Teaching based on the Encyclicals, and the use of the method of "See-Judge-Act" that rejects... Continue Reading →
Does everything we take from earth, return to earth? By Julie Peller Ph.D.
Green Junction The materials that we require in our lives are sourced from the earth. One example is lithium, an element used extensively in batteries and medications, which was discussed in the last Green Junction column. When nature’s resources are recovered from used products (waste) and reformulated for new products, they are part of a... Continue Reading →
Is AI Replacing Your Guardian Angel?
Hear the voice, read Merton's words, and we will understand Thomas Merton's critique of our rapidly evolving technological world, particularly Artificial Intelligence, is not just a historical reflection for us but something we must ponder and take seriously. Even though Merton wrote in the mid-century, his profound critique of technological civilization is as relevant and... Continue Reading →
Innovate ~ Educate ~ Collaborate 
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