introduce myself
My name is McCartin Paul. I would like to introduce myself. I am a Catholic priest in my 50s born in Australia. I am a member of a small missionary group from Ireland called the Society of St. Columban. Many St. Columban priests work in impoverished countries (Pakistan, Peru, etc.) and see the poverty, suffering, and expectations of their people every day.
We know that this poverty is created by rich countries. The political and economic policies of rich countries create poverty. We also know that rich countries have become rich by exploiting poor (impoverished) countries. It is our politicians, bureaucrats, businessmen, etc. who decide this policy. That means our parents, siblings, children and friends.
We also know that responsible for the suffering of the poor. So St. Columban chose to give priority to the poor. This means that when deciding on policies, when deciding on jobs, when deciding on how to do jobs, etc., all decisions are made with the poor people in mind. For example, when making decisions, consider how this policy, this job, or this way of doing things will affect poor people. It means choosing to help the poor instead of making them suffer.
Career
I came to Japan in 1979.
In 1998, the Society of St. Columban decided to participate in the debt cancellation campaign of impoverished countries, and I participated in the establishment of Jubilee 2000 Japan and dedicated myself to the debt cancellation campaign.
Until about 10 years ago, I worked at a church (with a parish).
I am currently in charge of ecology, justice and peace for the Society of St. Columban Japan.
In 2000, the Society of St. Columban took up the issue of life patents (patenting genes, plants, animals, etc.), and in 2003 participated in the founding of the "Life Needs No Patents! Campaign" in Japan.
In 2006, he wrote “Global Warming and Climate Change: A Christian Priority.”
I'm a vegetarian who wants to see that everything is interconnected with everything else.
Life work
The McCartins had been Christians for 1,500 years, but after graduating from high school and entering seminary, they realized they knew very little about Christianity. I thought he was a devout believer. It wasn't until that teacher made me reconsider my faith that I began to understand it a little more.
In the parishes where I worked, I felt that many believers did not know much about Jesus or the Catholic tradition, their faith was personal, and they had little interest in social issues. (Same as I was before entering the seminary.) I don't know that everything is interconnected with everything else. (Does this mean that missionaries are not communicating well with everyone?) In other words, faith and life are two different things.
It's an extreme story, but the captain of the plane that bombed Nagasaki was a Catholic. He killed many Catholics, including nuns. Although the central teachings of Jesus were to ``love one another'' and ``love your enemies,'' the captain ignored these teachings and caused a massacre. Why? Unfortunately, this is not uncommon.
John Lennon sang about these people:
Imagine there’s no heaven
It’s easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
living for today
For this reason, I have created Bible courses and hold them in various places to connect faith and life, and religion and society.
