Cardinal Czerny: Seafarers face ‘injustice, exploitation, and inequality’

By Joseph Tulloch

On the second Sunday of July each year, the Catholic Church celebrates Sea Sunday, praying and defending the cause of sailors.

Ahead of this year's celebrations, Cardinal Michael Czerny, head of the Vatican Dicastery for Integral Human Development, posted a message reflect on the forgotten work of sailors.

Injustices, exploitation and inequalities

Cardinal Czerny begins by pointing out that the total number of all those involved in the maritime industry – from ship crews to dock workers, coast guards and customs officers – surely amounts to several million.

It is thanks to the “hidden efforts” of these workers, Czerny writes, that many of our daily necessities reach us.

And yet, he says, “today as yesterday, navigation can lead to absence from home and the land, for months, even years. Sailors and their families can miss important moments in each other’s lives.”

In addition, says Cardinal Czerny, many seafarers are “threatened by injustices, exploitation and inequalities”.

Statue of Mary 'Star of the Sea'

Stella Maris

The cardinal then addresses the Catholic Church's seafarers' ministry, through which volunteers and chaplains provide pastoral support to workers in the maritime industry and advocate for their rights.

The Catholic Church's Apostleship of the Sea – known as “Stella Maris,” or “Star of the Sea,” an ancient Marian title – is present in hundreds of ports around the world.

This “ministry of the sea,” the Cardinal writes, can “help bring the periphery back to the center” in several ways: by “meeting the people of the sea in person and in prayer; improve the material and spiritual conditions of workers; defend the dignity and rights of workers; and advocate for strengthened international relations and policies.”

The sea in Christian history

In the second part of his message, Cardinal Czerny returns to two episodes in the history of the Church closely linked to the sea.

First, it discusses the journey of St. Paul – who spent much of his time traveling by sea, spreading the message of the Church – to the port city of Corinth. He gained many followers, but, says Czerny, these new Christians were soon divided among themselves.

The First Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians, which addresses this division, is, the Cardinal writes, an encouragement to “the Church today to work for increased unity, not only between people who are different from each other. others, but also between people who experience division.” and mutual tensions.

Second, Cardinal Czerny considers that the sea has often been the means by which Christianity has spread throughout the world.

“The Church today,” he writes, “can draw inspiration from the people of coastal communities who were the first to hear the completely new message of Christ from the Sea Apostles and other missionaries. »

“We cannot,” Cardinal Czerny concludes, “be open to the possibilities of life if we prefer the comfort of the familiar.”