Saints and Social Justice, a Great Book and a Great Podcast

I’ve made it no secret around the blogosphere that I’m a pretty big Dorothy Day fan. In fact, when I wrote up a post about her back in February, I listed the forthcoming book Saints and Social Justice: A Guide to Changing the World, by Catholic author and blogger Brandon Vogt as one to read based solely on the fact that her picture was on the cover. Just kidding. It was actually the whole premise of Vogt’s book that hooked me. When it was finally released I couldn’t click the “Download to Kindle” button fast enough.

And it did not disappoint. Not only do most Catholics have a skewed idea of Social Justice, they don’t know what true Catholic Social Justice looks like in action. In walks the book, ‘Saints and Social Justice’, sets the record straight and drops the mike.

If you’ve been led to believe a Pro-Life Committee and a Social Justice Committee can’t exist in the same parish, this book is for you. Vogt has culled information from several Church documents, including the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, to show how while the Church’s teaches don’t fit neatly in a Conservative or Liberal box, She does tackle all the issues from a thoroughly Catholic viewpoint. The seven sections are ‘Life and Dignity of the Human Person’, ‘Call to Family, Community Participation’, ‘Rights and Responsibilities’, ‘Option for the Poor and Vulnerable’, ‘The Dignity of Work and the Rights of the Workers’, ‘Solidarity’, and ‘Care for Creation’. Each contains a brief overview of the Church’s teachings plus the profiles of two saints. Reading how these great men and women lived out there lives gives us a roadmap on how we can start to embrace the Church’s true teachings on Social Justice and hopefully change hearts and minds along the way.

I was so excited when Vogt agreed to be my video guinea pig, I mean, allowed me to interview him. However, in true rookie / This Ain’t the Lyceum fashion, I screwed up the video. It froze at several spots and darn if my head wasn’t leaning out of the frame half the time.

Plus, I forgot to smile at several spots and looked as though I was ready to kill someone. Somehow, I thought it would be easier to be the Catholic mommy blogger version of Stephen Colbert. But the audio was great with no skips, and so I present this podcast of my interview with Vogt. Once you’re done listening, be sure to enter to win your own copy!

A big thanks to Brandon and Our Sunday Visitor!

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Lastly, in my interview I disparagingly mention ‘nuns in pantsuits’. I know that there are many holy religious women who serve the Church that do not wear full habits. I apologize in advance for the comment. If I was better at editing, I would’ve tried to hack it out. I make no apologies for mocking felt banners.