07-03-25 A Letter From Our Servant Leaders

07-03-25 A Letter From Our Servant Leaders

07-03-25 A Letter From Our Servant Leaders 1200 1200 SVDP USA

Who do You Say that I Am?  The unbreakable bond between faith and service

In this past weekend’s Gospel reading we hear Jesus ask Peter and the other Apostles the question “Who do you say that I am?”  My Pastor, and I’m sure many of yours, used this Gospel reading, and this question in particular, in his homily last Sunday as an opportunity to encourage us to explore our personal relationship with Jesus and to ask ourselves who do we say that He is to us in our lives?

That question Jesus posed to his disciples has resonated across centuries, demanding a response not just from Peter but from all of us who claim to be followers of Christ. Today, this question is still the mirror that lets us reflect on our relationship with Jesus. For many of us, especially we Vincentians, that relationship finds its most powerful and meaningful expression not in abstract theological belief, but in tangible advocacy for, and solidarity with, the poor. We have come to understand (and thus to answer that question for ourselves) that to believe in Jesus as Lord while ignoring the marginalized is to offer an incomplete answer, a contradiction that severs faith from its purpose.

In the Gospel, Peter declares, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). That was a profound statement of faith and understanding, not merely for its words but for its implications. Jesus’ identity as the Messiah was inseparable from his mission: to “preach good news to the poor, freedom for the prisoners, recovery of sight for the blind” (Luke 4:18). The early Church understood this, that turning faith into action made us who we were! James minced no words: “Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” (James 2:17). Everyone who has answered Jesus’ question throughout the ages has thus declare allegiance to a Savior who himself became poor and who judges nations by their treatment of the “least of these” (Matthew 25:40). Our faith is hollow if it does not propel us toward the margins.

Vincentians know and believe service to the poor is non-negotiable. Jesus’ ministry was a relentless confrontation with systems of exclusion. A battle against injustice and mistreatment of the marginalized.  Jesus embraced lepers, he dined with tax collectors, and he championed Samaritans, all acts that scandalized the social norms of the day! Let us be real folks, Jesus today would be considered a radical, a revolutionary, a socialist, a ‘left wing’ crazy. His teaching today would translate to dismantling structures that perpetuate poverty: they would mean a fight against unjust wages; they would be a cry of agony about the lack of adequate healthcare for the poor and the attempt to slash it even further to fund tax cuts for those who probably really don’t need them.  Jesus would cry about the fact that, just like his Mother at the time of his birth, people cannot find a place to live because of the housing crises in our nation. And Jesus would ask why we treat refugees who are trying to escape tyranny and terror in their native lands so poorly when God provided the model of compassion and care for the refugee when he saved Israel from the Egyptians in the Old Testament?

Jesus taught us advocacy and justice. He taught us that they are INSEPARABLE! We know and understand Advocacy is not charity; it is justice at work, echoing the prophets: “Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed” (Isaiah 1:17). When we advocate for the poor, for legislation that protects the most vulnerable, for fair immigration policies, for ethical labor practices, or for climate justice, we embody the command to “loose the chains of injustice” (Isaiah 58:6).

Effective advocacy balances both global action with local action. Hence, our support for others across the globe through our Twinning and Global Relief efforts. Our support for a well project in Kenya, our relief programs in Lebanon and Palestine, succeed not by bringing material support but by partnering with local SVdP Councils and Conferences, allowing them to support the needs in their communities.

Our work with the poor is sacramental, our real and tangible encounter with Christ. Mother Teresa called the poorest of the poor she worked with “Christ in distressing disguise,” and Dorothy Day saw the soup kitchen as an altar. When we feed the hungry, we partake in the Eucharist’s deeper truth: Christ broken for the broken. This work transforms us. In the face of suffering, our tidy theological boxes collapse, revealing a God who dwells in scars. As we wash feet, we rediscover Jesus’ question: “Do you understand what I have done for you?” (John 13:12). Service is where faith sheds theory and puts on flesh.

A relationship with Jesus that avoids the poor is a half-truth. The theologian Bonhoeffer warned against “cheap grace,” grace without discipleship. To call Jesus “Lord” while ignoring Lazarus at our gate (Luke 16:19–31) is spiritual hypocrisy. The truth of our bond with Christ is known in the reality of compassion: “If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?” (1 John 3:17).

Today, as Jesus asks, “Who do you say that I am?” our answer must not be on our lips but in homes restored, stomachs filled, and chains broken. Only then does our confession become real, a lived gospel where faith and justice embrace.

The Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi opens with such perfect words, “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.” But we can also add another line, “Lord, make me an instrument of your justice.”

Let us ask God’s help to continue to strengthen us as we understand and acknowledge those places and times where maybe we have reduced faith to words, and to reignite in us the fire that burns for the poor.

And thus, may our answer to “Who do you say that I am?” be in actions inspired by faith and of love.

Peace and God’s blessings,

John

55 Comments
  • If you persist in conflating SVDPs charitable mission with your political views (Jesus was left wing, climate justice, etc) many Vincentians will resign and serve elsewhere. You will also lose donations. It feels like a conscious choice on you part.

    • Maggie Kolman-Mandle July 3, 2025 at 4:53 pm

      If you perceive these messages to be “left wing” perhaps you need to reexamine your commitment to assisting the poor. Jesus was very clear. Love one another, as I have loved you. And whatever you do for the least of my brothers that you do unto me.

      • I didn’t claim the message was “left wing”. I pushed back on John’s assertion that Jesus was left wing. It’s a direct quote. He’s the one that brought politics into this.

      • John’s words: “Let us be real folks, Jesus today would be considered a radical, a revolutionary, a socialist, a ‘left wing’ crazy.”
        I think the vast majority of Vincentians know Jesus. We have been through decades of Gospel readings and homilies. We’ve taken them seriously and decided to commit our time to helping the poor. True, knowing Jesus is a lifelong process, but I don’t think our understanding of Jesus is the root of disagreement on this article. Maybe our understanding of “socialist” or “left wing crazy” is the problem. The dictionary is a good place to start – “governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods”. I don’t think the son of God relied on Karl Marx for wisdom. The dictionary doesn’t define “left wing crazy.” I can’t find Jesus in there.
        I wonder who “considers” Jesus to be these things. It’s not me. Is it John? Is it you? Maybe it is nobody, and the statement is a strawman argument to unfairly discredit people with different political beliefs than the author.

        • You’re right, Jim. If Jesus were here and not in Heaven, he would be celebrated on Wall Street, honored by the billionaires in Silicon Valley. He would find a home in the MAGA wing of the GOP, and perhaps even be invited to give a seminar on business ethics at Catholic University. He might even strap on some battle rattle and lead an immigration raid, or go on Fox News and explain why a $1 Trillion cut to Medicaid doesn’t really hurt anyone.

          Or maybe that’s just the Jesus of your fantasies.

          • That’s really an odd post. To be clear, I think Jesus would be above all of this….neither left nor right. He would see some virtue and some sinfulness in each group.

    • Dennis Blackall July 3, 2025 at 5:45 pm

      Well said Jim! I no longer forward these news gazettes to our conference. They can subscribe on their own if they want to read these types of remarks.

      Dennis

    • Well said!!!

    • Well said!!

    • Likely to spark backlash from those who see it as politicizing or misrepresenting Jesus’ mission

    • Jim – In reading your reaction, you seem to be turning a social responsibility dilemma into a political one. I’m reminded of Frederic Ozanam’s comment that this dilemma isn’t a political one, but a social one: The struggle between the “Haves” & the “Have Nots”. Jesus did focus his ministry on the “Have Nots” & we, as Vincentians, do too.

      • Yes, Jesus was absolutely focused on the have nots. 100% agree. If fact, there is a lot of truth and goodness in the article. Sadly, the article turns unmistakably political in the middle (Jesus was left wing, socialist, etc. etc.) ….yet again. It’s easy to find Catholic scholars who would refute these propositions (e.g. Father Spitzer), but that’s not the point. If all of us who want to serve the poor are welcome in SVDP, this is destructive. If we aren’t all welcome, the article serves its purpose.

    • Jim – In reading your reaction, you seem to be turning a social responsibility dilemma into a political one. I’m reminded of Frederic Ozanam’s comment that this dilemma isn’t a political one, but a social one: The struggle between the “Haves” & the “Have Nots”. Jesus did focus his ministry on the “Have Nots” & we, as Vincentians, do too.

    • I agree with your comment. If Jesus walked the earth today he would be preaching against tyranny, which is on both sides of our deceptively divided political spectrum, I.e., “left and right.” Both left and right have marginalized freedom itself which comes only from God. Our political parties are both the same, two wings of the same bird. Justice is not demonizing people of any ethnicity, religion, political ideology or financial strata. There are good God loving people in both the left and right camps. Justice derives from truth, and it is naive and spiritually dangerous to believe and trust that the narratives spewed on either political side are truth. Behold the fruits. Our western societies are fractured and sick physically, psychologically and spiritually. It has been a slow boil of the frog decaying the moral and spiritual fiber of our society. Is justice or truth found on the left or the right? A very misguided proposition to say or imply that Jesus would be a socialist., a leftist. We have got to stop with this bifrocated nonsense. The devil wins when we fall into this trap.

    • If Jesus was considered “left wing” today in 2025, that would mean he would worship abortion, agree with transgenderism, divorce and non-marriage, and would have no respect for a country’s immigration laws. Also, I never could understand what seems to be the default Catholic position on “climate change”. It’s known that changes in climate are caused by incredibly powerful ultimate realities such as the subtle shifts of the Earth on its axis, differing activity on the surface of the Sun, the impact of clouds, oceans, and volcanoes, and the effects of climate cycles lasting hundreds or even thousands of years. We must be good stewards of the Earth. Man’s factory smokestacks and car exhaust do pollute and may have some effect, but they are as nothing compared to the mighty weather systems created by God.

    • Jim, it’s not about right wing or left wing. It’s about your conscience. Do you believe in Jesus teaching??? If you don’t then SVDP is not for you.

      • I do believe in Jesus teaching. Somehow I have missed the gospel where Jesus spoke about “climate justice” and spoke against tax cuts for everyone. Could you direct me to those passages in the gospels? If not, maybe those are political opinions from the article rather than Jesus teachings.

      • “it’s not about right wing or left wing”. Thank you! That IS precisely my point.

        It appears we should BOTH be encouraging our president NOT to write “Jesus today would be considered a radical, a revolutionary, a socialist, a ‘left wing’ crazy”

    • These are the comments of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. It is an obligation of our faith to speak out and act against injustice.

      WASHINGTON – Reacting to the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act by the U.S. Congress, Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, lamented the great harm the bill will cause to many of the most vulnerable in society, making steeper cuts to Medicaid and clean energy tax credits, and adding more to the deficit. While the bishops had commended the positive aspects of an earlier version of the bill, the restriction on federal funds to abortion providers such as Planned Parenthood was reduced to one year, the parental choice in education provision was greatly weakened, and the restriction on federally funding “gender transition” procedures was removed.

      Archbishop Broglio said:

      “My brother bishops and I have repeatedly and consistently urged lawmakers to use the budget reconciliation process to help families in need and to change course on aspects of the bill that fail the poor and vulnerable. The final version of the bill includes unconscionable cuts to healthcare and food assistance, tax cuts that increase inequality, immigration provisions that harm families and children, and cuts to programs that protect God’s creation. The bill, as passed, will cause the greatest harm to those who are especially vulnerable in our society. As its provisions go into effect, people will lose access to healthcare and struggle to buy groceries, family members will be separated, and vulnerable communities will be less prepared to cope with environmental impacts of pollution and extreme weather. More must be done to prevent these devastating effects.

      “The Catholic Church’s teaching to uphold human dignity and the common good compels us to redouble our efforts and offer concrete help to those who will be in greater need and continue to advocate for legislative efforts that will provide better possibilities in the future for those in need.”

    • I agree with you, Jim. svdp was the 1 place to do good without calling attention to our differences. Would we not do our work despite any obstacles or reference to our political environment. We serve the poor no matter what brought them to poverty. we can advocate for and serve our neighbors without bringing politics into it. Each administration has some faults to argue, so let’s keep that out of our public rhetoric and just get back to work and prayer.

    • while believing strongly that SVDP should be apolitical, I would also respectfully ask any person if they have read the BILLor are depending on whatever their preferred news outlet tells them

  • Kathyrn Neubauer-Johns July 3, 2025 at 4:45 pm

    I beg to differ with you, Jim. It is hypocritical not believe that the politics of the day does not play a part in what we do for the poor and indigent. Read John’s words again carefully. The Bible also teaches us not to judge. The politically persecuted, whether radical or not, or liberal in their beliefs or not, may justifiably need assistance. We are not here to judge who or what circumstances are acceptable for assistance. WWJD?!

    • “Read John’s words again carefully.” Gee, I thought I had read them carefully.

      Let’s do it together so you can’t point out where I went wrong:

      John’s words: “Let us be real folks, Jesus today would be considered a radical, a revolutionary, a socialist, a ‘left wing’ crazy”

      After decades of going to church and listening to Gospel readings and homilies, I think it would be very rare to find a Vincentian who didn’t have a good understanding of Jesus. Granted, it is a lifetime endeavor, but I doubt our understanding of Jesus is the obstacle to our different comprehension.

      Maybe our differences are rooted in our understanding of “socialism” or “left wing crazy”. “left wing crazy” isn’t in the dictionary.

      I’m having a hard time relating my understanding of Jesus from the Gospels and homilies to the concept of “a socialist” or a left wing crazy. I wonder who considers Jesus to be those things. It’s not me. Is it John? Is it you? Is it someone else? Maybe it is just a strawman for a political argument to discredit anyone with different political views.

    • Gee, I thought I did read John’s words carefully. Let’s do it together so you can point out where I went wrong.

      John’s words: “Let us be real folks, Jesus today would be considered a radical, a revolutionary, a socialist, a ‘left wing’ crazy.”

      After decades of hearing Gospel readings and homilies, I think it would be exceedingly rare to find a Vincentian without a strong understanding of Jesus. Granted, it’s a lifelong process…..but I doubt our understanding of Jesus is the obstacle here. The dictionary doesn’t have definition of “left wing crazy”. I’m having a hard time seeing Jesus in either of those concepts. I wonder who considers Jesus to be those things. It’s not me. Is it John? Is it you? Is it anyone? Maybe it is nobody, and the statement is strawman argument to discredit anyone who has different political views.

    • I thought I did read John’s words carefully. Let’s do it together:

      John’s words: “Let us be real folks, Jesus today would be considered a radical, a revolutionary, a socialist, a ‘left wing’ crazy.”

      I think the vast majority of Vincentians know Jesus. We have been through decades of Gospel readings and homilies. We’ve taken them seriously and decided to commit our time to helping the poor. True, knowing Jesus is a lifelong process, but I don’t think our understanding of Jesus is the root of disagreement on this article. Maybe our understanding of “socialist” or “left wing crazy” is the problem. The dictionary is a good place to start – “governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods”. I don’t think the son of God relied on Karl Marx for wisdom. The dictionary doesn’t define “left wing crazy.” I can’t find Jesus in there.
      I wonder who “considers” Jesus to be these things. It’s not me. Is it John? Is it you? Maybe it is nobody, and the statement is a strawman argument to unfairly discredit people with different political beliefs than the author.

  • John, I found this very inspiring. It provides a wealth of material for further conversation with ourselves and our members on what we do, why we do it, and concludes beautifully with the song ‘Let There Be Peace on Earth’ and ‘let it begin with me.” Thank you.

  • The Society is suppose to maintain a non-political stance. Your comment on taking healthcare away from individuals to pay for tax cuts to the rich is inappropriate.

    • These are the comments of the US Bidhops. We are called by our faith to speak up and act.

      WASHINGTON – Reacting to the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act by the U.S. Congress, Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, lamented the great harm the bill will cause to many of the most vulnerable in society, making steeper cuts to Medicaid and clean energy tax credits, and adding more to the deficit. While the bishops had commended the positive aspects of an earlier version of the bill, the restriction on federal funds to abortion providers such as Planned Parenthood was reduced to one year, the parental choice in education provision was greatly weakened, and the restriction on federally funding “gender transition” procedures was removed.

      Archbishop Broglio said:

      “My brother bishops and I have repeatedly and consistently urged lawmakers to use the budget reconciliation process to help families in need and to change course on aspects of the bill that fail the poor and vulnerable. The final version of the bill includes unconscionable cuts to healthcare and food assistance, tax cuts that increase inequality, immigration provisions that harm families and children, and cuts to programs that protect God’s creation. The bill, as passed, will cause the greatest harm to those who are especially vulnerable in our society. As its provisions go into effect, people will lose access to healthcare and struggle to buy groceries, family members will be separated, and vulnerable communities will be less prepared to cope with environmental impacts of pollution and extreme weather. More must be done to prevent these devastating effects.

      “The Catholic Church’s teaching to uphold human dignity and the common good compels us to redouble our efforts and offer concrete help to those who will be in greater need and continue to advocate for legislative efforts that will provide better possibilities in the future for those in need.”

    • Margaret Kolman-Mandle July 8, 2025 at 1:16 pm

      That’s not political. That’s factual.

  • “When we feed the hungry, we partake in the Eucharist’s deeper truth: Christ broken for the broken. This work transforms us. In the face of suffering, our tidy theological boxes collapse, revealing a God who dwells in scars. “

  • Thank you for saying what needs to be said!
    May God bless your leadership.

  • I agree with Jim’s comment. You should leave your political comments out of SVDP correspondence. Otherwise very good message.

  • Jessica Trombino July 4, 2025 at 8:12 pm

    I agree with Jim and Tom. John Berry.
    and Jesus was not a politician.

  • Edward L. Chavez July 5, 2025 at 7:07 am

    Thank you for yet another inspirational message. I interpreted your sentence that Jesus would be “considered a radical, a revolutionary, a socialist, a ‘left wing’ crazy” today as an invitation for self-reflection. One lesson I learned or remembered, was that labeling and/or characterizing another person’s thoughts, actions, etc., serves no useful purpose—unless it is to engender hatred.

    As a Vincentian our ministry is to follow Christ through service to those in need regardless of their creed, ethnic or social background, health, gender or political opinions. It is by God’s grace that we get to show God’s love for a family through us when we visit them in their homes. When we go to their homes, we don’t ask them who they voted for, their stance on abortion, their gender, their immigration status, etc., we approach them consistent with the opening two-words that Jesus taught us to pray—”Our Father”, recognizing that we are all God’s children. We do not even ask them if they are Catholic, or whether they attend mass regularly. We listen to their story, we find out what their needs are and try to take care of their needs, encourage them, and pray with them. They may have a background and/or beliefs that are inconsistent with ours or maybe have done something we would not approve of, but we let God be God and refrain from judging and condemning them.

    Your invitation to self-reflect (my characterization) brought some peace to me. I cannot comprehend why multi-billionaires need more billions, when there are so many people in need of basic human needs—food, shelter, healthcare. So yes, I am critical of them because of what I perceive to be greed. Self-reflection reminds me that I cannot control the multi-billionaires. There are lessons in the Bible—a camel and the eye of a needle; Lazarus and the rich man, the rich man who just built more barns. I will stop labeling and let God be God.

    Thank you for your service to the poor.

    Ed Chavez

  • Words matter and should be chosen carefully especially when (1) discussing our Lord, (2) writing to thousands of people, and (3) having the luxury of time to edit and reflect. “Socialism” has meaning that is MUCH different from Jesus helping the poor. Here is an excellent treatment of the topic: https://www.catholic.com/magazine/print-edition/why-socialism-is-immoral.

  • This is exactly why politics should NOT be included in our ministry newsletters! Look at the dissension that it has caused amongst our Vincentians! And this newsletter was actually quite tame compared to our president’s more recent columns. His earlier columns were almost towards the point of hate speech and quite offensive! It has gotten to the point when I open our emails and I see that John Berry has written the column, I say to myself “oh no, here we go again”, because I know what’s coming! There simply is no place for this in our Ministry and if our president can’t keep his personal opinions to himself, he seriously needs to consider resigning and stop spreading the hate among our membership.
    Also, the Saint Francis of Assisi prayer has stood the test of time for a reason, the author of the prayer is a Saint and I don’t think our president needed to cut up the prayer and make it “better”.

    • These are the comments of the US Catholic Bishops. It is an obligation of our faith to speak out and act.

      WASHINGTON – Reacting to the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act by the U.S. Congress, Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, lamented the great harm the bill will cause to many of the most vulnerable in society, making steeper cuts to Medicaid and clean energy tax credits, and adding more to the deficit. While the bishops had commended the positive aspects of an earlier version of the bill, the restriction on federal funds to abortion providers such as Planned Parenthood was reduced to one year, the parental choice in education provision was greatly weakened, and the restriction on federally funding “gender transition” procedures was removed.

      Archbishop Broglio said:

      “My brother bishops and I have repeatedly and consistently urged lawmakers to use the budget reconciliation process to help families in need and to change course on aspects of the bill that fail the poor and vulnerable. The final version of the bill includes unconscionable cuts to healthcare and food assistance, tax cuts that increase inequality, immigration provisions that harm families and children, and cuts to programs that protect God’s creation. The bill, as passed, will cause the greatest harm to those who are especially vulnerable in our society. As its provisions go into effect, people will lose access to healthcare and struggle to buy groceries, family members will be separated, and vulnerable communities will be less prepared to cope with environmental impacts of pollution and extreme weather. More must be done to prevent these devastating effects.

      “The Catholic Church’s teaching to uphold human dignity and the common good compels us to redouble our efforts and offer concrete help to those who will be in greater need and continue to advocate for legislative efforts that will provide better possibilities in the future for those in need.”

    • Many of us are fed up with this. I don’t know much about how someone becomes SVDP president; but I assume it takes an exceptional level of dedication, skill, and compassion. I imagine John has these characteristics. He just needs to be less stubborn about acknowledging and fixing this destructive habit of conflating his political views with SVDP’s mission.

  • My most persuasive response to this article was disallowed by the moderator. It was not abusive or impolite. Further, it would not be refuted by the quote from the council of bishops. Draw your own conclusions

  • The moderator removed hyperlinks with definitions of socialism and far left wing and allowed my post…now my post ia there multiple times. The post loses something without the definitions, but apparently the hyperlinks were the issue (not censorship of ideas)

  • For any of you who don’t see a problem with John’s statement: “Let us be real folks, Jesus today would be considered a radical, a revolutionary, a socialist, a ‘left wing’ crazy.”…..consider the following statement:

    “Let us be real folks, Jesus today would be considered a radical, a revolutionary, a MAGA ‘right wing’ crazy.” with supporting discussion about relationships between Jesus’s teachings and protecting the unborn, stopping human trafficking at the southern border, standing against elimination of Jews “from the river to the sea” etc etc.

    What would be your reaction? Is the statement false? Yes. Is the statement political? Yes Is the statement divisive, Yes. Does the statement belong in SVDP correspondence? NO!

    The same can be said for John’s statement. It’s a parallel construct.

    It is not intellectually honest to take the approach “My views aren’t politics because I’m right. Your views are politics because you are wrong” Divisive politics is divisive politics whether you are in the 42% of Catholics who voted Democrat or the 58% who voted Republican.

    • Margaret Kolman-Mandle July 8, 2025 at 1:19 pm

      That’s not political. That’s factual. Are you proposing that we don’t speak out against the new bill that takes 800 billion from the safety net? My chapter is already dealing with the fallout from removing food assistance.

      • I proposed nothing of the sort. Exercise your right to participate in our democracy as you see fit, especially if you have done the work to understand all of the provisions that are actually in the bill (e.g. how the tax savings are allocated to the different brackets, what the actual changes are to the qualification for Medicaid, etc). Maybe you already have, and that’s great. (I have witnessed people railing against fictitious aspects of the bill because what they think they know about the bill was based on hyperbole and misrepresentations of the bill’s opponents. I’m not saying that is you, but it is happening).

  • So I dropped Facebook and ALL social media years ago because of all the hate and constant arguing over politics and everything else that could be argued about. Just WAY to much hate in the world and on social media and I have NO room for that in my life.
    SO now our President of this wonderful Ministry chooses to bring the hate into our Ministry. HE is the one that started ALL this infighting amongst our membership.
    Does anyone else see anything wrong with this picture??? John Berry is supposed to be our Leader……………NOT a fight starter.
    Please stay in your lane John Berry and check your ego at the door when you write your newsletters to the membership. We don’t need you to “educate” us.

  • Thank you Jim, Britt Dwyer, Jessica, Tom M, Chris, Dennis Blackall, and Tom Anstead for speaking up. John seems to very passionate about politics and I’m wondering if the Society is not the best place for him to serve since the Society is not supposed to identify with any political party.

    Did you know that John has leased office space in DC and hired a lobbyist to petition the government on behalf of the Society? Who decides what the office is lobbying about? Will this jeopardize our 501(c)(3) status? His political comments in his essays are inappropriate, but this is far worse.

    I can’t believe the board did not stop this. Please contact the board members and ask them to please stop John from poisoning the Society with politics. I joined SVdP 16 years ago to grow in Christ by serving our neighbors, not to be part of a political action group. And I am certain that over the years that I served with my brothers and sisters in Christ who voted differently than I do, but it didn’t matter because we all were trying to serve Christ, not a political party.

    • “leased office space in DC and hired a lobbyist to petition the government”. Imagine the impact on donations if this was widely known. Our poor box would be nearly empty.

  • …and the divisiveness doesn’t stop with John’s articles and the online reactions. It creates an environment of toxicity that seeps into the conferences with untold damage to volunteerism and donations. I’ve seen it.

  • Vincentians are a cross-section of viewpoints that hopefully intersect in our vocation to help those that have trouble helping themselves.. I do find it interesting that of all the topics raised through the Vision SVdP effort, the top five that made the cut for further work at the Council and Conference level did not include “Advocacy and Social Justice”. Not that that is less than worthy to pursue, but perhaps Vincentians are more inclined to adapt to the future closer to home where they can actually make a tangible difference. If the National Council President wants to ring the bell of Advocacy, then go for it. But, if Vision SVdP describes the priorities of boots on the ground Vincentians, then I suggest the internal National messaging hold closer to those. We can all individually read up on what concerns us about how government is managing future budgets. That is a civic duty. And. we can then objectively figure out the latest version of the truth for ourselves. That includes our bishops..

  • As soon as social justice is mentioned, it seems that people start to get uncomfortable. I cannot in good conscience separate the work that we are doing locally from systemic injustice that leaves behind millions of people who struggle to afford food and basic healthcare. Rather than focus on one line of John’s letter that makes you uncomfortable, please try and look at the point of his letter. We must support legislation that feeds and clothes and provides healthcare to the poor rather than provides tax breaks to people who already have unfathomable wealth. We can’t remain silent.

    • Yes, there is a lot of truth and goodness in the article.

      We would all give John “a pass” on the one line IF it wasn’t part of a consistent pattern we have witnessed and spoken out about. He has ignored us. Enough is enough.

  • Personally, I “support legislation that feeds and clothes and provides healthcare to the poor rather than provides tax breaks to people who already have unfathomable wealth”. That’s easy to agree on!

    Now comes the hard part. In order to have a constructive discussion on this 1000-page bill, we need a common factual foundation for the discussion. The topic is complex and requires:
    1. Knowledge of the specific provisions of the bill (particularly the changes to eligibility requirements for Medicaid, SNAP etc) and the actual distribution of the tax cuts (by tax bracket, including tips, overtime, social security)
    2. Knowledge of some basic macroeconomic principles including policies that tend to grow economies, affect inflation, provide job opportunities, and increase tax receipts based on the size of the economy
    3. The relationship between those macroeconomic policies and opportunities for the poor
    4. An understanding of the overwhelming size of the US entitlement payments and the cost of paying interest on those entitlements. Also, the relationship between those entitlement programs and the idea of a safety net. (Not all expenditures are safety net. Some are fraud, waste , and abuse and enablement of the deadly sin of “sloth”. We can debate the relative magnitude, but we should look at the actual provisions of this bill (#1 above) with this in mind. Draw your own conclusions on the relationship between the bills provisions and safety net vs fraud and sloth).
    5. Interpretation of the provisions of the bill in light of the Catholic doctrine of “subsidiarity”

    That’s a lot, but without it, the discussion becomes a combination of the known logical fallacies (strawman argument has been rampant on this thread), factual misrepresentation, and emotional rants.

    You certainly can take the approach of following the Council of Catholic Bishops instead of doing the work. If you do, don’t add hyperbole on top of their precise words. Also, if you trust them entirely, don’t neglect their views on marriage, the sanctity of life, etc etc.

    • P.S. I didn’t mean to imply any specific person on this thread ignores the Council’s positions on marriage and sanctity of life. I have simply witnessed others “cherry picking” from the Council’s position.

  • Charlie Gardner, Indianapolis July 16, 2025 at 3:24 pm

    Thank you for your courageous and inspiring words, John Berry! I am not surprised that they have generated some controversy. That’s what often happens when Good News is preached to the poor!