The Moral Vision of César Chavez

Seminary: Santa Clara University

Location: 500 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, CA 95053, United States

Course number:

Instructor:  Dr. Keith Douglass Warner OFM

Website: https://www.scu.edu/

Course Description

This course presents the vocation of César Chavez to investigates the dramatic changes have taken place in our modern agrofood system over the past century. Chavez was profoundly influenced by a Catholic vision of society, and this played a key role in inspiring him to organize Mexican farm workers to fight for their dignity. He addressed human rights, racism, labor organizing, farm workers’ conditions, environmental protection, food safety, and food access; through his moral vision and agency he challenged people around the world to do the same. This course will provide an overview of Catholic perspectives on agriculture, food and the environment, but also labor organizing and immigration, to examine how Chavez went about achieving this vision using a spirituality of nonviolence. Class assignments will probe his spiritual and moral vision, and explore how it is — or could be — carried forward today.