The Catholic Worker Movement founded by Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin whose aim is to “live in accordance with the justice and charity of Jesus Christ.” As the name indicates, the Catholic Worker Movement was heavily influenced by Catholicism, yet not restricted to simple preaching of religion, but extended to practice those ideas stemmed from Christianity to help poor and bring peace to the community. Catholic Worker Movement started as a newspaper on May 1, 1933 in the depths of the Great Depression. Dorothy Day, a co-founder of the Catholic Worker Movement and an editor of the newspaper, was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1897. She was a journalist and a primary editor of the journal ‘Catholic Worker.' The primary purpose was to inspire people, and bring changes with a firm belief in the God-given dignity of every human person. Her kitchen was the news paper's editorial office, and the paper was only a penny a copy, so that it is affordable for anyone interested. For the first half year, the Catholic Worker was only a newspaper, but as the winter approached, homeless people began to knock on the door, which lead to a foundation of the House of Hospitality.
[...] Under his leadership, the Congress was reorganized with a new constitution, with the goal of Swaraj. He did not limit the membership to a certain elite group rather he encouraged participation from any groups that include poor and women. Along with his ongoing civil disobedience strategies, he promoted the Swadeshi policy the boycott of foreign-made goods, especially British goods. "Non- cooperation" enjoyed wide-spread appeal and success, increasing excitement and participation from all strata of Indian society. Some of the non-violent strategies illustrated above are only a part of Dorothy Day and Gandhi did. [...]
[...] She explained that word of God' said ‘thou shall not kill' and ‘love your enemies.' She added, spirit of these laws required Christians to take the lives of men, women, children, young and old, by bombs and napalms and all the other instruments of war.” Such individual non-violent resistance reflected the Catholic Worker pacifist ethic since this choice made by an informed conscience, openly broke an unjust law, and put others at no risk.” As Dorothy was unafraid of consequences by disobeying laws she considered injustice, Gandhi was sent to prison many times and sometimes received death threats. [...]
[...] Both Gandhi and Dorothy Day emphasized the importance of manual labor. Manual labor, in a society that rejects it as undignified and inferior. Dorothy Day mentioned in her journal that “Besides inducing cooperation, besides overcoming barriers and establishing the spirit of sister and brotherhood (besides just getting things done), manual labor enables us to use our bodies as well as our hands, our minds." (Dorothy Day) She emphasizes the value of manual labor that does not involve much brain activities or intelligence, yet is critical for our survival and absolutely necessary. [...]
[...] Early in 1965, Dorothy day and other pacifists signed a complicity statement which committed signers to refuse any cooperation with the U.S governments efforts in Vietnam. Signers risked a five-year prison sentence or a $5,000 fine if convicted of violating the draft Many young Catholic Workers went to prison for refusing to cooperate with conscription, while others did alternative service. Many went to prison for acts of civil disobedience. The movement gained momentum, when bishops also showed disapproval for the war. [...]
[...] Dorothy Day suggested that American government should use the ‘spiritual weapon' in a quest for a just society and for a peaceful relationship with Indochina. She added that nation's reliance on military and force is bound to fail[6]. She made a clear distinction between military and spiritual weapons. One of which involves violence, killings and hatred, while others emphasizes agreement, harmony, and peace in a sense that can never be achieved by the other. As a way of pacifist movement, Catholic Movement supported growing numbers of conscientious objectors who resisted the draft, and also practiced and encouraged tax resistance. [...]
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