March 2015
Advocacy

A Voice For The Voiceless

Simón Bautista Betances

This article is also available in Spanish aquí.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” – Luke 4:18-19

Luke 4:16-19 is one of the most powerful biblical passages about social justice. Many people, myself included, think this text traces the path Christians should follow to make possible the full establishment of the kingdom of God on earth.

The text is definitely the outline of a program of justice pronounced in a prophetic tone. It forms the biblical background of our baptismal vow and serves as a biblical and theological foundation for many Christians who have opened their hearts to the call to stand up for people who are most vulnerable, voiceless, and marginalized. This passage became a traveling companion for me; I repeated the words trying to find the determined face of Jesus of Nazareth that Sabbath in the synagogue. It became where I found my strongest arguments to explain the choice I made to serve the Haitian community in the Dominican Republic. It also served as inspiration when I served congregations and community organizations serving immigrants in the Washington Metropolitan area.

Advocacy for people who are poor and less fortunate can take different directions and formats. In my case it took me on the road to support the cause of millions of immigrants struggling, praying, and striving to legalize their immigration status in this country. It also led me to support the efforts of community organizations in their struggle to create a safe space and educational opportunities for day laborers who leave their homes daily with the hope that someone will hire them for a few hours so they can take food to their homes.

Since this requires time and constant commitment, I had to learn to negotiate with the requirements of my position as canon missioner for Latino ministries in the Episcopal Diocese of Washington and the congregations I served. The most difficult negotiation was with my family because I was often late or did not arrive in time for dinner. Luke 4:16-19, when taken seriously, disrupts schedules and even brings adverse opinions.

My determination to serve immigrants and day laborers along with their families helped me identify three ways I could offer myself: as presence, a voice, and support.

Support for day laborers

In Gaithersburg, Maryland, the day laborers, most of them Latinos, who gathered daily outside a 7-Eleven were a real problem for the residents, the mayor, and the police. A group of Methodist and Roman Catholic pastors, working with community leaders and city officials began to organize to find a solution. I understood that an Episcopal presence was important and, as canon missioner for Latino ministries in the diocese, decided to join them. Gradually, I got the support from the congregation where I served, to the point where I could count on them to take breakfast to the day laborers and to attend City Council meetings where the issue was discussed. A place was identified where some trailers were renovated and became not only a waiting area but also a place where they could learn English and take courses for personal growth. The ecclesial community of the Episcopal Church of the Ascension in Gaithersburg decided to create a committee to continue working on issues related to immigration. This committee still exists.

Public witness

I chose to join CASA de Maryland, the largest and most successful organization in identifying community needs and individuals, organizations, and state officials with whom they could count to perform its mission. I was invited to join the board of directors and eventually served as its president.

With CASA I participated in rallies at the Capitol, and accompanied immigrant groups to the Nation’s Senate for the vote on immigration reform. With members of the Diocese’s Latino ministry and my congregation, I accompanied DREAMers and offered testimony before the Senate of the State of Maryland, and participated in vigils protesting police abuse against minorities. I offered invocations at marches in support of domestic workers abused by their employers, actively participated in demonstrations benefitting janitors, and taught English classes.

Showing up

I went to court with people from the community, especially those with immigration issues. A clerical collar says a lot to judges about the moral character of the person being accompanied, and becomes a big support for the family. Many hours and a lot of energy are spent on any day in court while waiting for the decision of the judges. Many of the people I accompanied were in the process of being deported or had committed minor offenses. Many of them were not even members of the congregations I served; they came to me through references and found in me and in members of the congregation a universal community that God gave them when they started their journey.

These are some of the things we can do as Christians, clergy or laity, to support the less fortunate desperately trying to find a space in the world, a world that God created with all human beings in mind.

Simón Bautista Betances, canon missioner for Latino ministry and outreach, Christ Church Cathedral in Houston, was born and raised in the Dominican Republic. He was ordained as a Roman Catholic priest in 1987 after obtaining his bachelor’s degree at the Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra, and completing his theological studies at Seminary Saint Thomas of Aquinas, both in Santo Domingo. Simón later returned to teach philosophy at his alma mater. He served the Haitian immigrant community in the Dominican Republic for 12 years. During his ministry in the Dominican Republic, Simón served as pastor of two parishes and as the director of the National Center for Haitian Immigrants, a nonprofit run by the Roman Catholic Church.

Simón has lived in the United States since 1993. In 2004, he was received into the Episcopal Church, serving as the Episcopal Diocese of Washington’s Canon for Latino Ministries before coming to Christ Church Cathedral in 2014. In addition, he serves as chaplain to the House of Bishops, a position he has held for five years. Simón is married to Amarilis Vargas and they have four children: María Teresa, Simón Antonio, María Leaquina, and Amarilis de los Ángeles-Lili.

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This article is part of the March 2015 Vestry Papers issue on Advocacy
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