That Faith of AOC

[Jilly_in_VA]

Hemingway took me out for a walk this morning. The sun was up and while not really warm, it was at least bright. We walked the Dry Canyon, a walk that we don’t often do because it’s usually crowded. But we took the southernmost route today so we only ran into a few folks.

We had almost finished the walk when we happened upon a group of three women. Hemingway is used to having people comment on how cute he is. He, in truth, has come to expect it. A trait common to too many handsome people, I believe. It’s the dog version of staring at yourself in every window you walk past. He always slows down and grins big at those passing by, refusing to budge until they compliment him.

Of course, the three women did just that. “How cute,” one said. “He’s sure happy,” said another. Covid doesn’t really permit for small talk among strangers, so I just nodded and moved along. I was about five steps beyond them when one of them called out after me: “Is there something we can pray for you for?”

I was a bit startled and not sure I had heard her correctly. I stopped: “What?”

(skip)

You know who has been effective in Texas?

Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio Cortez. The 31-year old Catholic from New York.

Speaking about her own faith, AOC says her first encounter with Jesus came through a cousin who had been imprisoned:

More at karenzach.com/the-faith-of-rep-alexandria-ocasio-cortez/

Seriously amazing, y'all!

[TomSlick]

1. So, was it AOC that asked if the poster needed prayer?

I can't make the link work.

[Jilly_in_VA]

2. No it wasn't

Try highlighting the link and clicking on it. That worked for me even though it's not underscored on my computer either, for whatever reason.

[LAS14]

3. Well, now. That's something I didn't know about. Is it widely understood and I...

... just missed it?

tia
las

[Jilly_in_VA]

4. I didn't either

I guess she doesn't trumpet it about, unlike some Talibangelicals. Lots of social justice Catholics don't. Tim Kaine doesn't either. I went to his church once...he's a member of the majority-Black parish in Richmond. Anne Kaine was there but Tim wasn't that Sunday.

[LAS14]

5. Well, thanks very much for posting. Social justice Christians of all stripes are not well publicized

... but they're out there!

[Jilly_in_VA]

6. There are more of us than you think

Do you read John Pavlovitz or follow him on Twitter? Rev. Daniel? James Martin, SJ? Sister Helen Prejean? Not to mention our president is a social justice Catholic, as is my senator. So are Sen. Chris Coons, who is a Methodist, I think, and Hillary Clinton. We just don't scream it like the Talibangelicals.

I was raised Episcopalian in the north so very aware. My confirmation instructor, in fact, was a Freedom Rider! Even when we moved to Tennessee the Episcopalians in my diocese were quite social justice minded. I sent my daughter to a Catholic high school which turned out to be very social justice oriented--in fact, the religion class her entire junior year was entitled Social Justice! She's carried that tradition, if not the Catholic education, with her kids, and her son just signed an LOI with Wheeling University, formerly a Jesuit school and still very Catholic and apparently social justice-oriented.

[LAS14]

7. Oh, yes. My world is full of such people. Hubby is a Lutheran pastor who...

... was present at the Harvard building takeover during the Vietnam War. I'm glad to make your acquaintance. DU has a lot of ignorance, thinking "Christian" means right wing. I assume you're familiar with Sojourners? I post a link to their web site whenever I bump into bigotry about Christians.

[Jilly_in_VA]

8. Oh yes.

And Christian Left on Facebook, where I still am (to follow family mostly). My brother was also at Harvard, '65 with Sen. Blumenthal who was a housemate. I am Orthodox Christian now (long story) but my tiny parish has a very social justice priest and matushka and we ally with the large social-justice and multicultural Catholic parish in town, so we're in the thick of it. Happy to know you!