Solidarity Will Transform the World: Stories of Hope from Catholic Relief Services

by Jeffry Odell Korgen

The values of solidarity and human dignity incorporated in Catholic social teaching comes to life through the stories of people served by Catholic Relief Services. This is a story of what can happen when the resources of the Catholic Church come together with the resources, both physical and spiritual, of people living in poverty.

Genres: Nonfiction, Social Justice, Religion

161 pages, Paperback

First published June 30, 2007

Reviews

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great informative read for anyone interested in the issues of global poverty, social injustice and wanting to find meaningful ways to help. Through personal stories of peoples lives in mexico, rawanda and india you will learn about how microfinanciing helps lift people out of poverty and becomes a conduit for social change, why fair trade coffee is worthy of supporting and how people can come together after genocide. After reading this book I will be choosing charities to support that help to get to the root cause of poverty. I am actually quite impressed with microfinancing and plan on reading more about it. Hope you pick up this book, I am sure you will not regret it.

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Each chapter of this book explains, through the stories of its recipients, the various projects of Catholic Relief Services throughout the world. Most of it is written with a broad brush on the CRS program and then a detailed look at a few lives of those who have encountered their programs. This means that I still had many questions about how the programs worked exactly, but it did serve to make me aware of the many ways the Catholic Church has tried to improve the lives of those in most need. The chapters about CRS work in Mexico, through Self-Help Groups in India, and with Coffee Farmers in Nicaragua were particularly interesting. Solidarity in economic relief. Compassion and re-thinking how to empower people who have been rendered powerless for generations were the themes of this book. The copyright is 2007 - I'd love to read a more updated version, now that some of these programs are another 8 years along. How are the programs fairing today?

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

another justfaith goodie. i enjoyed the case studies in this book -- sewing co-ops in mexico; fair trade coffee in nicaragua; microcredit loans in india. not too many new ideas, but happy topics to read about nonetheless. the blue and red on the cover was also quite pleasing to my eyes.

[PF · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my Lenten reading this year. I found it one I wanted to savor, reading slowly, rereading, and pondering the stories, until it felt almost as if they became my stories, part of my life. It is well written, but not brilliant, simply real.

[Irene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Inspiring and challenging.

[Gerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned a lot more about Catholic relief services. I had no idea they do so much!

[Elizabeth Huff · Rating 4 out of 5]

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