A
bishop, writing on "faith and finances" in the Catholic Times, reminds
us that inventions and and even significant historical changes often
depend on the level of economic development achieved and on the
availability of money to support these changes. At times, the bishop
says, this state of affairs creates more pain than the pain that
accompanies our last days on earth. In the 20th century alone there have
been two world wars, and even today there is fighting and mass killings
in many parts of the world which have been influenced, the bishop
believes, by the world of finance.
The
Church sees this financial world as a way of making our lives more
fruitful and as a tool to participate in the work of creation. Finances
are now so deeply involved in the operation of the world that there is
no way for humanity to separate from the effects of
this world. The only solution is to search for a right relationship with
it, and a correct standard determining what is good and what is evil,
what is true and what is false. Catholics can find this in our social
teaching.
The
bishop mentions that there are many areas where we have serious
difficulties. He cites the example of the establishment of the irregular
and regular worker distinction at the time of the 1997 International Monetary Fund bail out. To help
with the Asian financial crisis, corporations were allowed to employ
irregular workers who could be hired or fired at the will of the
company. Even after 10 years we continue this policy.
The
policy has caused many problems, says the bishop. Those who are working
in fast food restaurants, convenience stores and big markets are often
irregular workers. In fact, over half the workers in the country are
irregular workers, who often are faced with deplorable working
conditions and a lack of security.
Even
if they do the same work as a regular worker and have the same
qualifications, their pay, on average, is 1,000 dollars less a month.
The principle in the workplace is not one of sharing but of efficiency.
It is not finances for the person but the person for the finances. We
know this is not the way it should be, and with this kind of thinking
the situation will continue to get worse.
Many of us are not familiar with the plight of the irregular workers and
until this changes, the situation will not improve. The bishop ends his
column with a wish that the Christians become familiar with what is
going on in the workplace. All wish to live a life of happiness of both
body and spirit, and when we see this injustice and inhuman treatment of
many of our workers, we as Christians should be on the forefront
calling for changes to a financial system that will be more interested
in sharing the wealth for the many than in amassing wealth for the few.
