Dorothy Day was also a founder of social work
GO TO nearly any city in the United States and you'll find a Catholic Worker Hospitality House. There's one in Davenport as well as New York, Des Moines as well as San Francisco, Cedar Rapids as well as Minneapolis, Ft. Madison as well as Atlanta.
In fact, there are more than 200 Catholic Worker Houses around the US. Most offer food and shelter to homeless individuals and families. Some have been doing it for 50 years or more.
These social service organizations are part of the legacy of Dorothy Day (1897-1980), who started the Catholic Worker Movement with several friends in the 1920s. She died more than 25 years ago, but the social work she started is now more widespread than at any time during her life.
Despite her lifetime commitment to social work with the poor, Day is seldom mentioned in the history of social work. Look through most social work histories and you're not likely to find any references to her or to the Catholic Worker. (One exception is Phyllis Day's "A new history of social work.")
Why hasn't social work claimed Dorothy Day as part of its heritage? That's not entirely clear. Perhaps because she appears too radical -- she did ask that one live as well as work with the poor. Perhaps it was her strong religious faith -- she was outspoken in linking her Catholic belief to her work. Or perhaps because she didn't do research on the "outcomes" of her work with the homeless -- she said that how you lived your life is all that really mattered.
Whatever the reasons, she is largely absent from social work's list of founding mothers. Yet she is an important influence in the lives of many involved in social work. You can learn more about her life and impact at the Catholic Worker website: www.catholicworker.org.
You can also learn more about her life and work in the film "Entertaining Angels." This movie focuses on Dorothy Day's search for something "useful" to do with her life and the early years of the Catholic Worker. There are many parallels which can be seen between her life and that of Jane Addams.
posted by Tom Gilsenan @ 9:32 AM
13 comments
13 Comments:
Respond to question 5. I agree with her statement. I feel the same way. It is not the word of God that I have problems with, it’s the intuition that pushes it. It is always “You have to believe this way, no that is not how we worship God”. I want to go to a place and listen to their interpretation of the bible. I want to be able to discuses my thoughts on the bible. I don’t want to be told how or what to do. I think that Dorothy felt that way was well. I think she felt she was doing what she felt God wanted her to do, and had issues with the church trying to tell her that is not what God wants us to do.
Response to question 6. I think Forester is referring to the fact of not having premarital sex or not drinking. I think that the church ask that one follows specific rules, where Forester never wanted to be “caged in”. I think he felt those parts of the religious where asking him to change his behavior. I think that the church or religion offers a different type of joy. I think that within those “rules” it is offering ourselves better respect. I don’t think it is asking us to stop what we want but to respect ourselves and honor ourselves in a way that may be seen as regulations. I think it is really just how the person is willing to interpreter the bible.
>You can also learn more about her >life and work in the >film "Entertaining Angels."
A full-length documentary on Dorothy Day is now available. See http://dorothydaydoc.com.
#14:
When Dorothy does these so called "mistakes," it is just a sign of her exhaustion. Can you imagine taking care of all those people, make time for your daughter and yourself, write a paper, and all on a very low budget? I don't think most of us could handle all of that pressure. I wouldn't even call these scenes, "mistakes." I would just say that they are signs that Dorothy needed a break; especially when she is being judged by so many other people. To me, these are not failings. They are experiences that she needs to learn from and she does, eventually. Dorothy learns that she can not do all of the work she wants to do on her own. She needs help from others and when she does get that help, everyone benefits. Dorothy also learns that it is always positive to take time for yourself, how can you help people when you haven’t helped yourself? I have made many mistakes in my life that do not seem like large mistakes, but do teach me important lessons. Making mistakes is not a bad thing, because once you have made a mistake and you then can learn and grow from it.
#16:
When Dorothy is viewed getting applause from a huge crowd and then scrubbing a toilet, it shows that she is a hard working woman who does not let her success go to her head. She is very knowledgeable but at the same time willing to get down and dirty. I am able to do low tasks like that, I work in an environment that I have to do jobs such as personal care for other people and help with toileting, showering, and feeding. I know what it is like to work hard. I am also not the type of person to let a little success go to my head.
-Lisa Assid
In response to question 16. I think this scene reveals a lot about Dorothy, she is a very hardworking person. Even though she could have had someone else scrub the toilets that would give others the impression that she is above hard work. She works and lives among those she serves for a reason. Therefore her cleaning and doing the housework sets an example for those who are in need of food and shelter as well. I think as a good human being you always have to be willing to really get your hands dirty and work with the poor, do the things they do. I think that when you have experienced some of the same trials and tribulations as those you are reaching out to help, they are more willing to trust you and your good intentions.
In response to question 17. I think that she handled the Archbishop with honesty and she really told him how she felt. I admire her for standing up for her beliefs and isn’t that what the point of her work truly was. I do agree with her comments about feeding the poor and being a saint and asking questions about why they are poor makes you a communist. The social worker in all of us is always asking why. If we don’t question the why of things we would continue to face the same hardships in life day after day. We as social workers have a natural need to fix the problem instead of just temporarily plugging the hole. I think that labels can really destroy a person’s image. If they are truly trying to do something good for people and they are stereotyped as being a certain way it can really damage their credibility. I think anyone who joins a group is truly trying to do some good, no matter what their opinion may be about certain subjects. I think we are so used to labeling people that it is second nature to do so. We put them into categories according to their label. It is our way of deciding who we like and dislike. Unfortunately for a lot of people they are wrongly labeled and therefore their ability to help others is diminished. I think there are a lot of other people who have embarrassed the church. I think sometimes that it is because they have interpreted the bible in their own way. I do believe that their intentions are still good though.
Angie Bares
Response to #5.
If a person is to deeply think about religion and social work, they are on opposing ends of the pendulum. Consider the meaning of each from a dictionary. Social work in a sense is about service to people of the disadvantaged working toward a change by social justice. Religion is about worshipping God and a church; and also doing so religiously with persistence from change. All human beings who have tried to influence a change in religious beliefs have been persecuted for heresy and called heretics; thus, the people of the church become witch burners, we just have to look at history to see it. There is a great contradiction between religion and social work. At some point, religion will get in the way of the change required to correct the social injustice. I believe Dorothy had the intuition and ability to see the contradiction between social work and the church, and was brave enough to say “No thanks”.
Response to #14
Dorothy had taken responsibility for the success of her clients, which was her mistake. Doing so enlarged her ego and made her arrogant; therefore, she lost her sense of humility by the influence of the church. Dorothy became more interested in doing God’s job instead of doing his work. I was grateful that she had finally recognized that at the end of the movie. There are no heroes in the occupation of social work, we are merely instruments. If there is any success in our practice it is because of our clients; because, if we take responsibility fro the successes, then we have to take responsibility for the failures as well. I feel the Catholic Worker houses have been partly successful because of cultural locations. If the locations had mostly agnostic clients, the houses would have failed. It is because of bottom dwellers like me who want no part of religion when we reach a point or a beginning to a life change. When I left incarceration in 1990 and walked into Alcoholics Anonymous, I would not have stayed and remained sober all these years if there had been any affiliation with an organized religion. There have been countless members who have stated the same thing. I have made a great many mistakes in my life and have learned some humility. I hope and pray that I never make the mistake of taking responsibility for the success/failures of my clients which would breech their right for “Self-Determination” and “Dignity and Worth of a Person”. Thy will, not mine, be done, Amen.
Response to #17
I think Dorothy’s perception was close, but it was still skewed a little by her religious involvement. This movie was difficult for me to watch because of the hypocrisy of religion toward social work. During the movie at times there was reciting of the great St. Francis prayer, and the reality was that is so far from how the people of the church behaved. This confrontation was a prime example of that. He was scolding Dorothy for becoming poor, and for how the social work practice was negatively reflecting upon the church. His influence toward her practice was so far from: “Lord, grant that I may seek rather to comfort than to be comforted – to understand, than to be understood—to love, than to be loved”. He was not trying to do any of those things. His behavior was totally selfish and he was involved with the church. Those who have occupations with the church are public servants- no more and no less. We are all created equal in God’s world and placing labels on people for behaviors creates dissention from that harmony. Anyway, would not placing labels breech the code of ethics, so why are we even discussing this? To see how ethically wrong it is?
Posting by Todd Waldow.
Entertaining Angels
4. Dorothy had to run and start her life all over because she was disappointed and hurt. She’s alone in the beach and she meets Foster. I think the relationship was good for Dorothy, she needed somebody to make her happy and Foster did that. When they finally had a baby and Dorothy wanted to continue her work and Foster supporting her in some way, she finally decides to go back where she can do all her work of helping people.
7. Dorothy decided to baptize her daughter and herself as the symbol of entering the church; she did that against Foster will to baptize her daughter. She did that to show her commitment to God’s work and she wanted to be part of the church.
12. Dorothy takes the money and use it to pay for the first issue of the newspaper, other people will look at her and think she is foolish but according to God’s words she is doing the wise thing, because this was their calling to do the right thing. Again because God choose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong.
14. We all human we make mistakes, Dorothy had enough things in her plate, things were not going the way she wanted. Turning away the ladies, she did because really there was no room in the house the people that were there was consuming her energy. I think Eleanor came at the wrong time when she was dealing with tough issues she didn’t mean to do it, that is why she followed her to apologize for she has done. Dorothy did mean to avoid her daughter, she had things that she needed to do and I hope that Tamar forgave her mother for not paying attention to her.
I have done things that I regret doing but when you hurt somebody and you realized what you have done and you apologized; if the person forgives you it is fine.
Question 1- Dorothy Day and her fellow marchers are demanding women’s equality, the right to vote; it’s about the women’s suffrage movement. They want their voices to finally be heard. They are tired of being pushed into a corner. The situation of women in American society in 1917 was a lot different than how it is for women in American society today. In 1917 women were not liberated as they are today, they were housewives and mothers and were supposed to stay in their own little world and keep their opinions to themselves to a point. In the film I saw Dorothy smoking, going to jail, supporting herself outside of the home, wearing her hair short before it was popular, agreeing to an abortion, having and raising a child as a single parent. A lot of them are things that seem normal in this day and age but back then it was pretty much unheard of.
Question 7- I think that when Dorothy said “You really sneak up on a person, don’t you” she was in disbelief of how her life had changed to that point, comparing it to where she was as a person before and where she is now. God snuck up on her by giving her a second chance at having a child and giving her something to believe in. She never thought she would have another baby after what had happened last time. God snuck up on me somewhat the same way, I had started to not believe in Him because of how badly I wanted to have a child but couldn’t seem to get pregnant. Then what seemed like a month later I was pregnant with our first child. I was about ready to give up hope on having a second child when surprise 5 ½ years later we had our second child. Now he snuck up on me and decided that now was the time for us to have our third. In other instances God can affect you in the smallest or biggest way. When you are least expecting it, He’s there.
In response to question #6, I think by Forster saying that the church is “ sucking all the joy right out of life”, I think he is talking about the joys that a person has to give up to be a part of the church. He thinks that churches are a “part of a rotten system”. He also says that he thinks being religious would make him a hypocrite and a liar. I also wonder if he is just jealous now that Dorothy gives more of her attention to the church and less attention on him. I think the church or following God’s word gave Dorothy many “joys” in life. She states that God gave her a second chance at being a mother. The church showed Dorothy and many others what love can do. To unconditionally love someone doesn’t involve money or the giving of material things, it just involves time and love. I think we can all benefit from loving one another unconditionally and with our true hearts.
In response to # 16, I think this shows that she is a hardworking person with a lot of love to spread around. Not only can she scrub toilets, but she can also give a speech and stand up to the archbishop. She just lets her heart lead her, and shows little fear in doing her life’s work. She is a successful woman in helping the poor but doesn’t let it go to her head and be egotistical. I think in the end of the movie is when you can really see that she truly loves everyone for who they are. She embraces their strengths and weaknesses. I can only hope to be that successful in my life’s work. I hope to help children with this degree, and if I can treat everyone without judgement, I would be happy with myself. Also if and when I move up the ladder with my career, I will not expect anyone to do anything that I myself wouldn’t do. If I need someone to scrub toilets for me than I must be able to do that task myself also.
Cara Purkapile
This movie really touched me. I have heard presentations about her, I have volunteered at the Dorothy Day Center in St. Paul and I never knew any of the things I just learned about her. What a strong, passionate woman she was. When she tells O'Neill, " I have something to give..." I felt her in my soul. I have always wanted to help others. After going through my divorce and escaping domestic violence, I wanted to help other women find the courage to improve their life and safety for themselves and their children. I have a desire so intense it could be called hunger. I don't just want to help the disadvantaged, I feel I must. When I hear the phrase,"There but for the grace of God go I.", I think oh, but I was "I". I pray that something I do, hopefully for many, but even for one to make their life just a little safer, more tolerable or more stable, is great, but just like Dorothy Day, I want more. I hear Martin Luther King Jr.'s I have a dream reverberating in my head. I dream one day every citizen of our nation will be safe, stable, happy and productive. Children should not have to settle, parents should not feel inadequate in caring for their children. N one in a country this rich and progressive should go to bed hungry or scared. None should go without food, shelter,health care or the knowledge that there are people who care about their plight. I have been hungry, I have been scared, I have been homeless and I want more, not just for myself but for all others. I have learned and yielded to the fact that we cannot do these things without God because St. Autustine was absolutely right saying,"Thou has made us for Thyself, and our hears are restless until they rest in Thee." I think one of the hardest things God asks of us is to hand over 100% to Him, not 95% and try to hold on to a piece for yourself. Do what is humanly possible, try all avenues and then pray and turn it over to God. That's what I thought of when Forster is talking about the church "sucking all the joy right out of life." Loving God and belonging to a church doesn't suck joy out, it breathes joy in. I'm sure Forster was talking about alcohol, sex and other wanton behaviors. A life following God banishes these ways but replaces them with innumerable joys that far surpass any of these. The things people in the world claim to get joy from usually wreak havoc on the life, health and family. The joys in a life with Christ just multiply and spread. There are no hangovers, no overdoses, no abortions. I'm not saying once you give your life to God all your pain and suffering are over, but they are shared. The joys are so much greater and the pain is somewhat dimmed. Darlos Cook
Response to #14-I think at first Dorothy is rather hard on herself for these things she's done that would be considered "failings." I also think she was beginning to feel that she was spread entirely to thin and that she couldn't do enough to help everyone even though she so desperately wanted to. I feel that Dorothy learned however that it is NOT possible for her to help every single person and that she was only human. To add onto that, since she is only human she is not perfect. She did not have divine powers, but did very well with what she did have. I think she eventually came to terms with it and learned she could only do the best she could and that would always be enough. I have made many mistakes in my life that have been hard lessons to take and understand. Many of them involved other people and some even my own future. However, I always learn something from these instances and usually, as did Dorothy, have to remind myself that I am only human. We all make mistakes.
Response to #21-Dorothy's speech to her staff at the end of the movie was inspiring. She was incredibly honest with her staff and herself and was not afraid to admit that maybe she had done some things wrong too. The quote from the speech that she said to Dan really summed up everything I think Dorothy was about. It was/is a reminder that as long as we always do everything we can (even if it isn't "enough") if we are being faithful and true we cannot be looked down upon. This film showed me just how powerful faith can be. When someone has nothing else, faith can really save their lives and those around them. Service to others is of course incredibly important and Dorothy Day is an amazing example and we can only hope that we can continue her legacy in our work. Love and grace are also very important and above these, partners in the journey of faith. I myself have struggled with my faith and knowing that I have someone by my side struggling with me makes it that much easier to find your conclusions sometimes. Although I am not an overly religious person, I think Dorothy can speak to anyone-religious or not. Bottom line, she was an amazing person. She cared about people more than I thought any single person could. She is truly an inspiration and I only hope to take her teachings and examples and and apply them to my life and my work.
-Leslie S.
Kelli Wagner Entertaining Angels response:
Number 9. I think it depends because some people had parents that brought them to church every Sunday and once they were out on their own, going to college, they sometimes don’t take the time to find a church and go. It is not that they don’t want too, but they just don’t feel like it or they would rather sleep in on Sunday or whatever there reasons might be, but then they have a child and they find there way back because of their children and they know they need to go, because they want their children to know that Sunday we go to church. Then there are people who were raised to go to church and they continue to do so, because it has been a habit to go to church on Sunday morning. There may be people who never went to church as a child and then they find there way back into church for whatever reason. Baptism is such an important thing that when you hear the words that you repeat as a parent during baptism, those words open your eyes to think ok I need to get better at going to church, if you were not good about attending before. I don’t know anyone that were had a child and it made them enter back into the church, but I know a lot of people that attend more often now that they have kids because they take it more seriously.
Number 14. I think it really opened Dorothy’s eyes when she turned away those two women and then one of them died in the cold weather I got the sense that she blamed herself for the death of that girl. Dorothy was so focused on housing all the people she didn’t have time for her daughter and her daughter was really hurt by that, because she made the comment about her mom loving the other people more than her, and Dorothy had to reassure her that she loved her more than anyone else. I think one thing I have learned about being a mom is that you really have to take time no matter how busy you are and spend it individual time with your children because they can easily feel that you are ignoring them and they don’t matter to you, so that is what I have learned.
Response to question 6. Forester was a free spirited man. He was an athethist, he didn't believe in God. And Dorothy was rediscovering her faith. She had a problem she wanted to baptist her daughter, but knew that Forester didn't believe in any religious ceremonies, she also wanted to be baptised again. She also knew that Forester would probably never marry her because of this reason as well. Forester was a free spirit, and didn't want to be tied down to the ideas of others. Dorothy wanted to be grounded and guided by the church teachings, she also seen how the church could help here to serve the poor. Once she became committed to the cause there was no turning back. Dorothy sacrificed her family life and her love life for the poor and needy.
Veronica
Dorothy was borned to be a journalist, when a man named Peter Maurin, knocked at her door, and talked to her about starting a paper, he promised that someone would supply the material needed to start the paper. After a while Dorothy discovered that Peter came up with the idea she had to follow through if anything was going to happen. She realized that the Peter only ate when she feed him. He gave her the idea about soup kitchens, settlement houses, and doing work with the farmers. Times where always tight back then, she realized the poor needed to be served. She always believed the Lord would provide. Things always worked out for the better, when bills were do and being threatened to be turned off a check always arrived in the mail that morning. On top of having a soup kitchen she eventually opened up a house just for women. She would open up these places for the poor to be served, and housed. Through the church and donations, were provided for it wasn't easy, but she knew someone had to do something to help the poor. There was no requirements to participate in these programs, they didn't force people pray for their meals.
Veronica
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