Cesar Chavez
When I was a young man half a century ago, I became aware of the United Farm Workers, a social action group in the US started in 1962 by Mexican Americans Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta. The goal was better working conditions and fairer wages for those who harvested America's produce. There were plenty of protests but the UFW worked then, as it still does, to promote nonviolence and to educate members on political and social issues. The gains made by the UFW likely affected the way migrant workers are treated in Canada as well, although in both countries there is still much to be done.
Chavez was a Roman Catholic who connected these efforts to his Christian faith but he was also ecumenical, understanding that liberation was a guiding principle of different religions. There is a book with the title The Gospel of Cesar Chavez which shares his thoughts on faith and social justice.
Dolores Huerta, centre
This week we've heard the stunning news that Chavez was a sexual predator who raped underage girls, some of whom were the children of friends. And co-founder Huerta, now 95, says that he raped her as well. While there were rumours of his vile activity his offences were kept quiet out of concern that it would undermine the cause.
Of course this was all a gross violation of the gospel, and the sort of grim story we've heard far too often about individuals in power, mostly men, a fair number of them purporting to be guided by the light of Christ in their mission and ministry.
Every time evidence like this comes to light, particularly about people who claim faith, I am disheartened, shaken. There is no doubt that Chavez was instrumental in effecting change for so many downtrodden and exploited people. Yet there is simply no justification for his betrayal of trust and perhaps we need to be far more cautious about attributing "saintly" qualities to those who then live and act in such terrible ways.
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