Roundtable Members recently received courtesy checks of $100.00 apiece from the Hyatt Corporation, in compensation for a sleepless night at the Roundtable Symposium, February 23-24. Over 1,000 fraternity and sorority members packed the halls of each floor of the hotel, partying until breakfast on Sunday. A team of negotiators from USCCB’s Department of Justice, Peace and Human Development rendered the settlement.

The receipt of the checks set off spending sprees from coast to coast. Dee Rowland of the Diocese of Salt Lake City reported that she will spend her check on “a new immigration DVD from Notre Dame and resupply my Social Justice Principles cards, Pax Christi prayer cards, etc.” J.L. Drouhard of the Archdiocese of Seattle is more ambitious. He stated, “I’m going to Disneyland!!!  If that’s not approved, then I’ll invest in crude oil futures. Lacking that option, we’ll put it into our fund to assist parishes with JustFaith program costs.” Sr. Gail Young, SSS of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles represents the “saver” faction of The Roundtable, noting that she will be depositing the check in her travel reimbursement fund for future continuing education. 

Like a lot of members of The Roundtable Association of Diocesan Social Action Directors, I followed the papal visit very carefully, looking for statements on justice and peace that I could integrate into presentations on Catholic Social Teaching. I put together a collection of Pope Benedict’s statements on social justice, peace, and human rights, which you can access by clicking here:  pope-benedict-xvi20 

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