Last summer when a small group of members of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVDP) in Milwaukee were trying to prevent the borrowing of 3.2 million to purchase and renovate a St. Vincent Store in suburb of Greenfield (when one, at much less cost, was needed in North Central Milwaukee) the US President of St. Vincent de Paul wrote a memo to a regional director about a suggestion made by another regional representative (both not part of Milwaukee SVDP) saying how they (US central office of SVDP) was “moving towards suspension or removal from the Society” of those of us objecting to use of money donated to poor to serve the middle class in a suburb, already filled with thrift and discount stores. She also states that “responding to these attacks will only bring further comment from those not satisfied with the decision.” This memo only came to light when I received 82 pages of documentation used against me for my suspension but not shared with me before my hearing.

This email or memo captures the policy of the local central office and the small group of leaders and staff of SVDP in Milwaukee and nationwide. I understand it does not represent the vast number of SVDP members who trust leaders and staff to make wise decision based on Rule of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and Manuel for the USA.

The policy, used by many private and public organizations is one I call “Marginalize and Ignore.” It is also the policy used on racial minorities, poor and people with certain illnesses. When practiced over time the policy can be very discouraging and despairing on the person who is stigmatized and ignored. I woke up this morning feeling very much like poor people must feel at times: What can I do to make a difference? I just as well give up the struggle for justice and peace, watch my sport teams on TV, eat, drink and die. Why am I struggling to stop the military from teaching war and killing at the Catholic Jesuit School of Marquette? Why struggling to stop the local SVDP Society from spending millions given to the poor to fund a store in the suburbs that is draining resource away from the mission of the Society. I have been marginalized (suspended) by staff and leaders of the Society and banned from Marquette at times. Our numbers of resistance are dwindling as we get marginalized and ignore.

I had to call on one of my friends who is poor, ignored and marginalized, for words of encouragement. She had been active in foster care system and now her heart breaks when she sees young children being taken from mothers and put into ‘adoptive foster care homes’, losing bonding and relationship of child and the family.

At one of the last public meetings of SVDP that I attended she stood up and said to group there “What are you trying to do, put us back in slavery”? I did not understand her message right away but after some thought I understand why she was saying about present day poverty, incarceration and racism. The new whip of present day slavery is “Marginalize and Ignore.”

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