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When the new year comes, it is good to review what happened and make some resolutions on what to do next. This month of April marks the new fiscal year for Singapore, and therefore, the commencement of a new budget. The speeches and headlines have made it clear that cost of living is an ongoing concern that started during the pandemic and is now amplified by geopolitical events. So what is next? The name of the budget tells us the direction Singapore is going: Onward Together for a Better Tomorrow. What might the Catholic Church have to say about it?
It might be surprising that a faith community like the Catholic Church, often heard discussing spiritual matters like God and the afterlife, is interested in the direction a society goes. But concern for the well-being of persons, especially the poor, has always been an integral dimension of Christian faith. The Old Testament prophets spoke out against injustice, and Jesus spent a lot of time with the outcasts. The Catholic Church inherited this tradition, and this is most visible in its social teachings.
One of the most important themes in the Church’s social teaching tradition that continues to appear and develop is solidarity. Pope John Paul II observed in Sollicitudo rei socialis that there is a growing awareness of the interdependence between persons and nations. The right response to this, then, is the recognition that we are responsible for both our own good and everyone’s. Thus, we must stand in solidarity and work for the good of all, even if it is often difficult and risky.
No one is an island in Singapore. We depend on each other to thrive, and the form that this interdependence takes is many. We rely on others not to commit crimes or cause nuisance. We also depend on the government to provide basic services such as education and electricity. However, the government is able to do so because other members of the society are paying tax. The awareness of this interdependence should lead us to feel responsible for everyone in Singapore. We are all connected, as Pope Francis often says. And if we are responsible for all, we need to care about where the government’s budget for the new fiscal year is moving us towards. Religious faith does not excuse ignorance of social issues but instead impels Christians to be interested in them.
For this reason, Catholics should feel encouraged that the title of the budget emphasises the importance of journeying together so that we all can be better off. This is about solidarity. On the part of the government, we are told of policies to help those who are left behind. The vouchers, rebates and housing grants, among others, should help low-income families to cope with the higher cost of living. Yet, the state alone cannot make sure we are all better off because there are so many more of us not working in the government and many suffering persons out of public sight. We all must do our part because everyone is responsible for and dependent on everyone’s well-being.
Now, there are plenty that we can do. For example, Caritas Singapore is currently running its annual Charities Week campaign to raise funds. Contributions from donors will be used to support various programmes for vulnerable persons and families administered by organisations in its network of care. Also, the government budget provides matching funds to encourage donors to give more to charities. Furthermore, ensuring that we pay the right amount of tax during the filing season is already a way to exercise our responsibility for society.
In addition to financial contribution, there are other ways to stand in solidarity with others. As volunteers, we can contribute our skills and experience to charitable organisations. Caritas Singapore’s network of care alone consists of many different organisations working for various vulnerable groups. There are still many others in Singapore.
We can also participate in more local initiatives organised at our neighbourhoods. If we are not sure how, it might be time to find out what is going on at nearby community centres.
Persevering for the good of all of Singapore might seem like a tall order, but we can draw a message of hope from Catholic liturgical seasons. As the Catholic Church moves from the season of Lent to Easter, Catholics are made to remember the dark days when Jesus suffered and died while his disciples scattered. Things could not have looked worse and everything was falling apart. But the shadow passed, Jesus rose and the Church was born, flourishing until today. What might seem impossible at first could prove otherwise later on if we keep at it with hope and together.
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Erwin Susanto works for Caritas Singapore. He enjoys arcane conversations on the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible in the context of the Ancient Near East. He enjoys thinking about all sorts of contemporary issues and often wonders if punditry is fun.