The Potential for a Catholic Community to Be a Saving Grace

Weekly, The Washington Post Magazine presents a small piece entitled "First Person Singular" in which the subject of the piece shares select reflections written in the first person. This week, the reflections of U.S. Treasurer, Rosie Rios, were densely filled with food for thought for MOJ readers and legal educators.

Ms. Rios confesses that, as a younger person, she thought she would become a lawyer. More important, however, is her reason for considering the profession. After describing some of the challenges of growing up in poverty and the strong work ethic instilled in her, she states:

I always thought I'd be an attorney…. I had it in my mind — and probably not unlike many of my friends who are raised in disadvantaged neighborhoods who focus on areas of social injustice, whether it's neighborhood crime or other issues that come from being from a disadvantaged background — I always thought that I'd go into law. We tend to want to fix things.

This insight serves as an important reminder of the role of the attorney in its most basic sense: one who fixes social injustice.

However, even more intriguing were her comments on the importance of her Catholic upbringing. A highly successful person, Ms. Rios shares with refreshing candor some of the positive influences on her life while growing up in some trying circumstances. Here is an excerpt:

We obviously relied very heavily on our Catholic community and upbringing. I actually saw a very interesting picture of the world. I was very comforted in this village concept.

Our Catholic community is what helped us. It saved us financially. It helped us with access to education. Literally, our Catholic community was our saving grace.

The entire piece is worth a read.