The Catholic Social Worker in an Italian District

New Zealand Tablet, 16 March 1922, Page 39

The Catholic Social Worker in an Italian District

Sympathy is the keynote of fortunate approach in Italian social work (writes Daisy H. Moseley, in the February Catholic. World). It takes much knowledge of resources, great common sense and firmness, and a certain gift for lucid speech and direction to treat a case successfully. Possibly a true understanding of her clients' attitude is much to demand of the family case worker, but she can at least study enough of their national psychology and customs, and of their ordinary manner of living, to enable her to comprehend why certain conditions exist, and what is the Italians' attitude towards them. In dealing with religious problems among the Italian poor, the Catholic social worker is certainly assisted by mutual belief in Catholic doctrine, and it is not too much to say that this kinship of Catholicism aids her in approaching every problem, whether spiritual or physical. Yet this very kinship offers another and dangerous aspect, in that an American well instructed in her faith may think she finds cause for scandal among Italian Catholics. She would bo astounded to be told that it was Parisaical scandal—but, before she condemns her clients as bad Catholics, she must consider what are and are not the essentials of religion—and she must not forget the circumstances of her clients' lives. For example, it is a commandment of the Church that Catholics hear Mass on Sundays, but an Italian woman who has a number of very small children near the same age—and no one with whom she may leave them if her husband's work as barber or waiter or laborer takes him away in the early morning— a great temptation not to leave the home, would perhaps do wrong did she leave. Instead of being scandalised by this very prevalent phase of life, the social worker will recognise that the mother must be aided in this difficulty. Day nurseries are established for the care of children whose mothers work, and perhaps some such temporary Sunday morning care may be given to children whose mothers are at Mass!