Grace Thompson
The Catholic Worker Movement, founded by Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin in 1933, is a collection of autonomous communities that aim to live in accordance with the justice and charity of Jesus Christ. The movement is not an official organ of the Catholic Church, and its members describe themselves as Christian anarchists, with all authority coming from God. The movement has no hierarchy or central governing body, and each community is unique, guided by a commitment to pacifism and the spiritual and corporal works of mercy. While some Catholic Worker communities are not Catholic and may question Church teachings, others embrace Church teachings while remaining faithful to the principles of Day and Maurin.
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What You'll Learn
The Catholic Worker Movement
The movement started with the Catholic Worker newspaper, created by Day to advance Catholic social teachings and take a neutral, pacifist stance in the turbulent 1930s. The newspaper addressed issues of labour, poverty, and nonviolence through the lens of Catholic social tradition. Day put her words into action by establishing "houses of hospitality" and farming communes where people could live together. These houses had no requirements for membership and were open to all in need, including the homeless and those marginalised by society.
Today, there are over 240 local Catholic Worker communities providing social services, with a presence not only in the United States but also in other countries such as Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Mexico, and Sweden. These communities are involved in various initiatives, including anti-racist and anti-war activism, soup kitchens, organic farming, and providing shelter for the homeless.
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Dorothy Day
The Catholic Worker newspaper was first published on May 1, 1933, with a circulation of 2,500 papers distributed in Union Square for a penny each. By the end of the year, circulation had grown to 100,000. The newspaper was intended to advance Catholic social teaching and promote a neutral, Christian pacifist stance in the turbulent 1930s. Day and Maurin's programme included round-table discussions of Christian social thought, the establishment of houses of hospitality for those in need, and the creation of independent farming communes.
The Catholic Worker Movement is a collection of autonomous communities that are not official organs of the Catholic Church. Each community has its own mission, addressing social justice issues in ways suited to its local context. While the movement is rooted in Day's Catholic faith and values, some have argued that it has drifted away from her original vision and embraced more leftist social ideologies. Day herself has been described as a conservative Catholic who challenged the notion that only the Church's elites are called to live a life of holiness. She emphasised that the laity are also called to total consecration to Christ, in accordance with the ""Kingdom ethic" of the Sermon on the Mount.
Day's work has had a lasting impact, with well over 200 communities existing today, including several in Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Mexico, New Zealand, and Sweden. Day's cause for canonisation as a saint was opened in 2000, and she is currently under consideration for sainthood by the Catholic Church.
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Catholic Worker communities
The Catholic Worker Movement is a collection of autonomous communities founded by Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin in the United States in 1933. The movement started with the Catholic Worker newspaper, created by Day to advance Catholic social teachings and take a neutral, Christian pacifist stance in the turbulent 1930s. The newspaper addressed issues of labour, poverty, and nonviolence through the lens of Catholic social tradition.
The movement's aim is to "live in accordance with the justice and charity of Jesus Christ". It is guided by principles of hospitality towards those on society's margins, communitarianism, and personalism. The Catholic Worker communities are not official organs of the Catholic Church, and their activities may vary in religious tone and inspiration. Each community is unique, with its own charism, guided by a commitment to pacifism and the spiritual and corporal works of mercy. Some communities engage in anti-racist and anti-war activism, operate soup kitchens, or practice organic farming.
The idea of the movement spread through the newspaper, and by 1941, over 30 independent but affiliated communities had been founded. Today, there are over 240 local Catholic Worker communities worldwide, including in the United States, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Mexico, New Zealand, and Sweden. These communities provide social services and campaign for nonviolence, opposing war and the unequal global distribution of wealth.
The Catholic Worker communities are places where members can encounter Christ in the face of another human being. They provide opportunities for personal relationships and friendships that transcend societal boundaries. Through their houses of hospitality and other initiatives, they serve those struggling with homelessness and poverty, offering a compelling encounter with the Catholic Church.
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Houses of hospitality
The Catholic Worker Movement, founded by Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin in 1933, is a collection of autonomous communities that aim to "live in accordance with the justice and charity of Jesus Christ". The movement is not an official organ of the Catholic Church, and its activities may vary in religious tone and inspiration depending on the institution.
One of the movement's guiding principles is hospitality towards those on the margins of society, which is provided through "houses of hospitality". These houses are typically founded by a small group of faithful people who commit to living and working for the ministry in a ""main house" or in separate but related accommodations. The houses provide food and housing to those struggling with poverty and homelessness. For example, the Los Angeles Catholic Worker offers in-house hospitality and hospice care to older folks who were formerly homeless and runs a soup kitchen on Skid Row.
The houses of hospitality also serve as a place for workers and scholars to come together and discuss Christian principles of organization as set forth in the encyclicals. They emphasize personal action and responsibility, caring for the unemployed, and teaching principles of cooperation and mutual aid. Dorothy Day advocated for the idea of voluntary poverty for those who volunteered to work at the houses of hospitality.
The movement suggests that those interested in houses of hospitality consider taking someone into their homes, offering a room and board to those in need. This can be challenging due to family complications, but it is an important aspect of exemplifying the idea of hospitality.
Today, there are approximately 150 Catholic Worker houses in the United States and around the world, each operated independently with no national board or administrative structure.
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Pacifism and nonviolence
Dorothy Day, a pivotal figure in the Catholic Worker Movement, is known for her commitment to pacifism and nonviolence. Day's views on pacifism developed incrementally, influenced by her familiarity with the Bible and her conversion to Catholicism. She believed that pacifism was not passivism, and that it required active resistance and non-cooperation with war. Day's theological underpinnings for pacifism drew from Catholic biblical and theological resources, including the Sermon on the Mount, and stories of saints who practiced nonviolence.
The Catholic Worker Movement, founded by Day and Peter Maurin in 1933, emphasizes absolute pacifism and nonviolent revolution. The movement's newspaper, also called "The Catholic Worker," played a significant role in spreading these ideas. During World War II, the newspaper maintained a strict pacifist stance, which led to internal conflicts and a decrease in circulation as some readers disagreed with this position. Despite this, the Catholic Worker Movement continued its commitment to nonviolence, actively protesting against the nuclear arms race, the Korean War, and other conflicts.
Day's influence extended beyond the pages of the newspaper. She encouraged conscientious objection and civil disobedience, with some Catholic Workers joining the ambulance corps or performing noncombatant service during times of war. Day herself actively protested and engaged in acts of civil disobedience, challenging the nuclear arms race and compulsory air raid drills. Her interpretation of the commandment to "love God and love your neighbour" formed the core of her pacifism, viewing it as a way to promote peace and justice and end violence.
The Catholic Worker Movement's commitment to nonviolence and pacifism has had a lasting impact. With over 200 autonomous communities associated with the movement today, many continue to engage in anti-war activism, offering hospitality and social services to those in need. Day's legacy as a prophet of pacifism within the Catholic Church is also recognized, with a cause for her canonization as a saint having been opened.
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Frequently asked questions
The Catholic Worker Movement is a collection of autonomous communities founded by Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin in the United States in 1933. It is a Christian anarchist movement that aims to "live in accordance with the justice and charity of Jesus Christ".
No. While the movement is rooted in Catholic social teaching, some communities openly question Church teachings on issues relating to gender and sexuality.
Each Catholic Worker community is unique and guided by a commitment to pacifism and the spiritual and corporal works of mercy. Some communities engage in anti-racist and anti-war activism, operate soup kitchens, or restore land through organic farming practices.
There are more than 200 Catholic Worker communities in the United States and at least 30 in other countries, including Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Mexico, New Zealand, and Sweden.
The Catholic Worker Movement is open to anyone who wishes to join. There are no requirements for membership, and each community operates independently.
