Creating connections in Mexico
Earlier this month, a few members of the CTA staff and board traveled to Mexico to meet and learn from organizing members of Latin American Comunidades Eclesiales de Base (CEBs). “I am excited at the thought of Call To Action becoming a sister organization with the CEB's. Their concerns are very much like those of us in the Catholic progressive movement of the United States." said Rosa, a board member of CTA. "In particular, they have a strong commitment to social action for the poor that includes the environment, immigration, youth and the evolving Church. I look forward to learning more about this movement and working with them in pastoral ministries."
The Comunidades Eclesiales de Base, or Base Eclesial Communities, are communities rooted in the principals of Liberation Theology and focused on social justice. Often located in poor and marginalized communities, CEBs exist all across South and Central America and the Caribbean. They operate with the motto "Ver, Juzgar, Actuar," a motto that means using our faith to see reality, illuminate it and act in response to the needs of the people.Leaders of these communities meet every four years. "
Representatives from the CEBs from all over Brazil and from across Latin America attend the Intereclesial to reflect on the situation of the world, the church, and how the CEBs should respond to contemporary problems." explains CTA's liturgy coordinator, Donald, who attended his first Intereclesial gathering in 2005. This year leaders also invited board members Rosa and David to come and talk about ways that CTA and the CEBs can work together to build a better church and world, CTA's executive director, Jim, also joined via Skype.
David was impressed by the many ways that our work overlaps. "The meeting in Mexico City with the CEB’s highlighted for me how the challenges both organizations face are so similar." he said, "We both want to widen the circle of influence with people we touch, especially young people, both sprouted from a close experience and support with the Catholic church but no longer the case, they have a profound interest in migration and immigration issues which continue to affect families and young people, and the foundational element for both organizations is the deep faith and the desire to help those on the margins as well as the concern for the ecology which threatens the availability of food and water. I believe an ongoing dialogue with SR Socorro and others from the CEB’s is essential in identifying those intersections that will provide energy and growth for both organizations."
