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Quik-Click Guide
4:16 -- April 13, 2009
4:15 - March 12, 2009
4:14 - March 3, 2009
4:13 - February 2, 2009
4:12 - January 2, 2009
The Cedar
Valley Catholic Social Justice e-Network is sponsored by The
Catholic Parishes in Waterloo/Adult Faith Formation.
The inclusion
of information, opinions or organizations in this newsletter
does not constitute agreement or endorsement by the pastors or
staff of the Catholic Parishes or the Archdiocese of Dubuque.
If you have
comments, concerns or questions or wish to receive an email
notice when the next e-News is posted, contact Dave Cushing at
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Cedar Valley Catholic Social Justice e-Network
Vol. 4 - No. 16
April 13, 2009
Social Justice News, Opportunities, Resources and Observations
Local Opportunities
Postville Anniversary -- The Cedar Valley Catholic Social
Justice Network will sponsor a prayer service and vigil to mark
the first anniversary of the immigration raid in Postville on
Monday, May 11, 6:30-7:30pm, at Blessed Sacrament Church,
Waterloo. The prayer service will be followed by a walk to the
National Cattle Congress grounds, where detainees were held and
interrogated after the raid. The prayer service and vigil are
open to the public.
The Network will also sponsor a bus from Waterloo to the
prayer service and vigil in Postville on Tuesday, May 12. The
bus will leave Waterloo at 1:00pm and return following the
evening vigil in Postville. Cost is $25.00/person. Contributions
are being accepted to subsidize bus rides for immigrants who
cannot afford the cost of the trip. Reserve seats at
319-234-9912 or online at:
www.waterloocatholics.org/registration.htm
Regional Opportunities
Torture Talk at Mt. Mercy -- Catholic peace and human rights
advocate Fr. Louie Vitale OFM will speak on April 20 at 7:00pm
in the Chapel at Mount Mercy College in Cedar Rapids. The talk
is free and open to the public. He will discuss the use of
torture as a tactic to protect national security in the face of
terrorism and his experience with the Fellowship of
Reconciliation's Iran Civilian Diplomacy Delegation. Fr. Vitale
is a member of Religious Witness with the Homeless and
co-founder of Nevada Desert Experience and Pace e Bene
Nonviolence Service. For information contact Mt. Mercy at
319-368-6475 or email maltorfer@mtmercy.edu.
Returning Prisoner Simulation -- Churches United in Cedar Rapids
will sponsor a simulation experience, "Walk in the Shoes of a
Returning Prisoner" on Saturday, April 18, 1:00-5:00pm at St.
Pius Church in Cedar Rapids. The experience will simulate what
people returning to society from prison encounter and explore
ways the community can make their return more successful. $10.00
donation from adults; $5.00 from lhigh school/college students.
Pre-registration is requested. Contact Churches United at
319-366-7163 or email churchesunited@yahoo.com
CW Resistance Retreat -- Annual Midwest Catholic Worker
Resistance Retreat will be held April 24-27 at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Stockton, Illiniois. This year's retreat
is being held in conjunction with Clearwater Citizens' Group to
Stop Blackwater's "Close Down Blackwater in Illinois
Conference." Kenote speakers will be Jeremy Scahill and Kathy
Kelly.
http://www.desmoinescatholicworker.org/midwestresistranceretreat.html
Health Care Campaign --The Des Moines Catholic Worker Community,
the Iowa Peace Network and the Catholic Peace Ministry have
launched a Health Care Campaign. The "Insurance Profits Make Us
Sick" campaign focuses on the abuses of health insurance
corporations and will encompass a wide range of strategies and
tactics including weekly vigils, educational programs, speakers,
movies, public prayer services, legislative advocacy for
single-payer health insurance, direct actions,demonstrations,
and nonviolent civil disobedience. Contact: Catholic Peace
Ministry at 515-255-8114 or go to:
http://www.desmoinescatholicworker.org/healthcare.html
Issues
Gay Marriage in Iowa
On April 3 the Iowa Supreme Court released a ruling which struck
down Iowa's law which said that only a marriage between a man
and a woman was valid. The Court held that the marriage law was
not consistent with the Iowa Constitution's equal protection
clause, which requires that all persons "similarly situated"
should be treated alike. The court noted that "Equal protection
can only be defined by the standards of each generation ... We
are firmly convinced the exclusion of gay and lesbian people
from the institution of civil marriage does not substantially
further any important governmental objective."
In response to the Court's decision, the Catholic bishops of
Iowa suggest that an amendment to Iowa's constitution defining
marriage between a man and a woman would be the best course of
action. According to Tom Chapman, directorf of the Iowa Catholic
Conference, adding an amendment to Iowa Constitution is a
difficult but not impossible process. It requires both chambers
of the legislature to pass the amendment in two successive
sessions before it goes to the people for a vote. The earliest
public vote would be 2012.
Iowa Supreme Court's decision:
www.iowacourts.gov
Iowa Catholic Bishops' statement:
www.iowacatholicconference.org
U.S. Catholic bishops' statement Between Man and
Woman--Questions and Answers About Marriage and Same-Sex Unions:
www.usccb.org/laity/manandwoman.shtml
Iowa Legislature
The Iowa Catholic Conference reports that a decrease in state
revenues has meant proposed budget reductions for many programs,
including a $65,000 cut in funding for textbooks for nonpublic
school students and a $100,000 cut in funding for pregnancy
counseling and support services. Work continues on Senate File
389, the "Iowa Health Care Partnership" and the ICC is
advocating for the inclusion of a study of the best way to
expand the availability of affordable, quality health care
coverage for adults and the restoration of a provision which
would allow all children in Iowa, including undocumented
children, to be eligible for hawk-i and Medicaid health
insurance.
U.S. Budget
Network, the national Catholic social justice lobby, reports
that the U.S. House and Senate have each passed a version of the
FY2010 Federal Budget, but the vote was as divided as were the
negotiations. Network is asking voters to contact their
representatives during the two-week Easter recess and urge them
to ask House and Senate conferees to produce a joint budget
which uses the House Budget number for non-defense discretionary
(annually approved) spending.
Send an e-mail to U.S. representatives and Senators at:
http://capwiz.com/networklobby/issues/alert/?alertid=13090311&type=CO
http://capwiz.com/networklobby/issues/alert/?alertid=13090436&type=CO
Find more about the federal budget for FY2010 here:
http://www.networklobby.org/issues/2009%20Issue%20Agenda/FY2010Budget4-2-09.htm
Check resources on the federal budget from Catholic Charities
USA:
https://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=1578
See how human needs programs have suffered years of
under-funding
http://chn.org/pdf/2009/BudgetFY0508vOmnibus09.pdf
See the impact of tax cuts and increases in defense and
security spending in recent years:
http://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view&id=692
Global Food System
In a research paper prepared for Oxfam America, researchers have
documented eight critical issue areas where power is
accumulating in the global food system: a) in the shift from
public to private governance; b) the closing off of access to
markets; c) the rise of intellectual property regimes; d) the
changes in access to capital; e) the control over necessary
logistics; f) the informalization of labor in the global system;
g) the rise of marketing and branding; and h) the shift from
public to private decision-making about food. Read more about
the implications for farmers, consumers and communities by
downloading the paper at:
http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1337273
Immigration
Amnesty International last month released a new report "Jailed
without Justice" that exposes the immigration detention system
in the United States as broken and unnecessarily costly.
According to the report, "Jailed Without Justice," over 30,000
immigrants are detained every day--triple the number detained
ten years ago and can be detained for months or years without
any meaningful judicial review inspite international human
rights standards requiring judicial review.
http://www.amnestyusa.org/immigrant-detention/page.do?id=1641031
Why immigration reform is needed
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20090310/OPINION01/903100364/1036/Opinion/
Fandel++Family+s+tragedy+shows+why+immigration+reform+needed
War in Iraq
March 19 marked the sixth anniversary of the opening of the war
in Iraq. Col. Dan Smith (ret), "The Quaker's Colonel", examines
what we have accomplished and what remains to be done in Iraq:
http://quakerscolonel.blogspot.com/2009/03/iraq-sixth-anniversary-approaches.html
An American soldier, reconstruction expert, and peace activistreflect on how Iraq has changed - and what more needs to
be done.
http://www.elabs5.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=o1l,4n7w,er,fihr,4kfq,c2mh,6vg
Michele Naar-Obed, a Catholic Worker resident from Duluth,
Minnesota, presents a unique perspective of life in Iraq, six
years after the war began:
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/03/23-4
Race Relations
Pax Christi USA, the national Catholic peace movement, has
endorsed U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder's call for a new
dialogue on race. It called rooting out racism "an inextricable
part of our commitment to the nonviolence of Jesus." In a
statement, "Walking Together as Brothers and Sisters: A Pax
Christi USA Statement on the need for a new dialogue on race,"
Pax Christi called members "and all people of faith to honesty,
especially about passive acceptance of white privilege in a
society that has failed to end the oppression of people of
color. We must continue to work to dismantle the systems that
thwart people of color from access to and achievement in health,
education, wealth, jobs, social and civic participation,
friendship, and justice."
http://www.paxchristiusa.org/news_statements_more.asp?id=1538
Social Action
...for a community garden. Working Families Win, the Waterloo
Catholic Worker House and the Iowa State Extension office are
sponsoring a new community garden in downtown Waterloo. This
garden will be located at the intersection of E 8th St and
Lafayette in the heart of the Cedar River neighborhood. In
addition to providing fresh vegetables to those who currently
have no access to gardening, this garden will also create more
solid connections in the community that will help revive the
Cedar River Neighborhood Association and get the dialogue going
amongst neighbors on how to address issues ranging from
violence, to housing, health care, and job opportunities. Items
needed for Community Garden include a 500-1,000 Gallon enclosed
water tank (top priority); used or new shovels, rakes, and
garden hoes; 100 feet of garden hose (can use multiple smaller
hoses); tomato cages, poles for beans; seeds and vegetable
plants; organic compost; monetary donations to help purchase
tools, plants, and seeds; and volunteers to help maintain the
plot. Contact Chris Schwartz at 319-429-0133
...for international aid. Catholics Confront Global Poverty, a
joint effort of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and
Catholic Relief Services, are urging Iowans to contact Senator
Charles Grassley and urge him to support President Obama's
budget request for international affairs which includes a $3
billion increase in funding for poverty-focused international
assistance programs.
https://secure.crs.org/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=518&autologin=true&AddInterest=
1881&JServSessionIdr008=jn4ihtknr1.app44b
...for change in Afghanistan. PaxChristiUSA is soliciting
signatures for a petition urging a new policy in Afghanistan.
http://www.paxchristiusa.org/AfghanistanStatement2009.asp
Read PaxChristiUSA's statement, ""It is Time to End the Trail
of Resentment and Hatred."
http://www.paxchristiusa.org/AfghanistanStatement2009.asp
The Friends Committee on National Legislation, a Quaker lobby,
is organizing email messages to Congress urging members to
oppose an increase in U.S. troops in Afghanistan:
http://capwiz.com/fconl/issues/alert/?alertid=12848716
OneWorld.net and New America Media have created a new blog,
Afghan Watch, which offers insights and analysis on the policy,
politics, and life in Afghanistan.
http://afghanwatch.newamericamedia.org/
...for economic justice. Public Citizen is organizing a campaign
to enact a "Bonus Tax" which would provide a 100 percent tax on
bonuses received by any executive of a company receiving federal
bail-out funds.
http://action.citizen.org/t/6693/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=26889
...for farm workers. LaborStart is organizing an email campaign
to executives of Del Monti, urging them to support efforts by
Costa Rican pineapple workers to organize a union.
http://www.labourstart.org/cgi-bin/solidarityforever/show_campaign.cgi?c=478
Resources
Economic Stimulus
Network, the Catholic social justice lobby, is tracking the
benefits of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (the
"economic stimulus package") that passed Congress and became law
in February. Read how an increase in SNAP food stamp allotments
is affecting families in Los Angeles:
http://www.networklobby.org/issues/2009%20Issue%20Agenda/StimulusFundingExample3-09.pdf
Fair Trade Fundraising
Equal Exchange has joined with Catholic Relief Services' "Raise
Money Right" program to high quality, fair- trade chocolate and
cocoa for fundraising campaigns in Catholic schools. Equal
Exchange's farmer-partners have organized into co-operatives --
sometimes with the help of the Catholic Church -- to obtain
land, market their crops and develop their communities.
www.equalexchange.coop/raise-money-right
Economic Inequity
The Southern Poverty Law Center's Teaching Tolerance offers a
lesson plan for students in grades 7-12 on how economic
inequities affect everyone, not just the poor...
http://www.tolerance.org/teach/activities/activity.jsp?ar=972&ttnewsletter=ttnewsgen-031009
...and how labor unions work
http://www.tolerance.org/teach/activities/activity.jsp?ar=1054&ttnewsletter=ttnewsgen-031009
Peace and Justice Videos
The Institute for Peace and Justice offers a comprehensive list
of videos about peace and justice issues throughout the world
from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe.
http://www.ipj-ppj.org/PrayingforPeace/Videos%20&Films.pdf
Carbon Tax Analysis
The Friends Committee on National Legislation provides a
analysis of the carbon tax, a market-based solution to global
warming
http://www.fcnl.org/now/now_item.php?item_id=611
A Global Perspectives
OneWorld provides a monthly summary of issues facing the human
family around the globe. This might be the one best thing to
read if you want to maintain a "global perspective" on life in
our times.
http://us.oneworld.net/places/iraq/-/article/360990-global-trends-march-2009
The Big Picture
The Spring issue of the Center of Concern's Center Focus
examines what must be done to undo the interlocking economic,
climate, energy and food systems that have caused the current
international meltdown.
http://www.coc.org/system/files/COC+Spring+09+Final.pdf
Nuclear Disarmament
Find out more about PaxChristiUSA's new campaign for nuclear
disarmament
http://www.paxchristiusa.org/news_Events_more.asp?id=1496
Water and Sanitation
Catholic Relief Services has created a guide to Catholic social
principles and documents applying to water and sanitation:
http://crscollege.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/catholic-social-principles-towards-water-and-sanitation-_revised-209.pdf
Perspectives
...on using drones. Read Brian Terrell and Kathy Kelly's
critical assessment of drone-warfare
http://airamerica.com/blog/2009/apr/03/kathy-kelly-and-brian-terrell-drone-war-closer-look
...on economic choices. As we contemplate how to work our way
out of the economic mess, Douglas Kmiec says, we should
recognize that economic choices are anything but morally
neutral.
http://www.the-tidings.com/2009/030609/kmiec.htm
The president of Catholic Charities USA says the economic
crash is an opportunity to fix some of the shortcomings in our
economic system
http://ncronline.org/news/justice/charities-head-sees-chance-remake-system
David Kay Johnson refutes three popular myths about taxes and
the rich
http://taxprof.typepad.com/files/122tn1145.pdf
...on Dorothy Day. Jim Forest reflects on what he learned from
Catholic activist Dorothy Day
http://www.uscatholic.org/culture/social-justice/2009/02/what-i-learned-about-justice-dorothy-day?page=0%2C0
...on foreign aid. Two foreign aid experts say the best way to
improve how we help other countries is to give those countries
an opportunity to decide how the money is spent.
http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0318/p09s02-coop.html
...on political change. Joe Brewer says we can't change the way
politics works until we understand how politics works
http://www.cognitivepolicyworks.com/2009/03/13/a-politics-that-works-in-the-21st-century/
... on health insurance. Amy Goodman argues that President Obama
should put single-payer health insurance back on the table:
http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/20090310_put_single_payer_on_the_table/
Worth Quoting...
"Human beings are not only autonomous and equal but also
interdependent creatures, who regardless of their social status
and stage of life may need care. Focusing on care and sharing
responsibility between women and men in coping with pressing
issues such as prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS,
child-rearing, housework and support for older family members,
leads us to think of the relationship between man and woman in
society as interdependent. The overcoming of the dilemma between
autonomy and dependence also favors a new vision of the work of
care that can no longer be attributed only to certain groups,
such as women and immigrants, but must also be shared between
all women and men, in households as well as in the public
sector." -- Archbishop Celestino Migliore, permanent observer of
the Holy See to the United Nations, in an address to the UN
Economic and Social Council March 9.
Cedar Valley
Catholic Social Justice e-Network
Vol. 4 - No. 15 March 12, 2009
Social Justice News,
Opportunities, Resources and Observations
Local Opportunities
Environmental Bible Study
The Catholic Parishes in Waterloo will sponsor a five-week bible
study, Stewardship of the Earth, which will help participants
reflect on the biblical foundations for environmental
stewardship and action in response to climate change. The group
will meet on Wednesday evenings, 6:30-8:00pm, beginning March
25, in the rectory classroom at Sacred Heart Parish. Register
at 319-234-9912 or online.
www.waterloocatholics.org/adultfaith/earth.htm
Lenten Retreat
-- Joshua Casteel, a native of Cedar Rapids who converted to
Catholicism and became a conscientious objector as a result of
his experience as a military interrogator at Abu Ghraib prison
in Iraq, will be the guest presenter for the Social Justice
Lenten Retreat April 4 in Waterloo. The retreat is is
co-sponsored by the Cedar Valley Catholic Social Justice
Network, Cedar Valley PaxChristi, Waterloo Catholic Worker, and
Cedar Falls Mennonite Church/Cedar Valley Peace and Justice
Center.
www.waterloocatholics.org/casteelretreat.htm
Read Joshua's reflections for the second Sunday in Lent
http://www.paxchristiusa.org/news_Events_more.asp?id=1521
Financial Peace University -- Cedar Falls Mennonite Church will sponsor the Financial Peace
University, a 13-week program created by Dave Ramsey which
teaches families and individuals how to handle their money
through common-sense principles and small group accountability.
Classes will begin on Tuesday, March 24 at 6:30 p.m.
Pre-registration is required. Free review sessions will be held
on March 8 at 11:00am and March 10 at 6:30pm. Contact Kris
Pond-Burtis at 833-9430 or Susan Janzen at 277-5611.
Regional Opportunities
Corporations and Stewardship -- The Linn County Greens are sponsoring a free film and
discussion, "Challenging Corporations" by Thomas Linzey, on
Wednesday, March 18, 7:30pm in the meeting room at Hiawatha
Public Library. For information contact Bob Schultes at
dr_pac-man@mchsi.com
Peace Conference
-- The Iowa Chapter of Methodist Federation for Social Action,
Iowa Annual Conference Boards of Church and Society and Global
Ministries, Osceola United Methodist Church and the Presbytery
of Des Moines will sponsor a Peace Conference April 17 -18, at
Wesley Woods Camp and Retreat Center in Indianola, Iowa. The
conference will examine what people can do as individuals and
faith communities to promote peace in the world. Registration
is $50.00. Information at 641-414-4876 or
www.mfsaiowa.org
Returning Prisoner Simulation -- Churches United in Cedar Rapids will sponsor a simulation
experience, "Walk in the Shoes of a Returning Prisoner" on
Saturday, April 18, 1:00-5:00pm at St. Pius Church in Cedar
Rapids. The experience will simulate what people returning to
society from prison encounter and explore ways the community can
make their return more successful. $10.00 donation from adults;
$5.00 from lhigh school/college students. Pre-registration is
requested. Contact Churches United at 319-366-7163 or email
churchesunited@yahoo.com
Issues
Immigration Reform
How the economic crisis is changing the immigration debate
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/02/18/ED6I15VDES.DTL
How religious leaders are shaping the new campaign for
immigration reform:
http://news.newamericamedia.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=43a1748ff2e224bfed49487e1244c4bb
http://blogs.jta.org/politics/article/2009/02/11/1002951/will-immigration-get-on-the-agenda
Is the Obama administration making a clean break with Bush
policies on immigration? The New York Times wonders:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/04/opinion/04wed2.html?_r=3
The
President's Budget
Analysis of the administration's proposed federal budget from
Network, the Catholic social justice lobby:
http://capwiz.com/networklobby/issues/alert/?alertid=12835931&type=CO
Jim Wallis' "Moral Audit"of the budget:
http://blog.sojo.net/2009/03/02/our-moral-audit-of-the-budget/#disqus_thread
Environmental Responsibility
In
a February audience with Australia's new ambassador to the Holy
See Pope Benedict said the Church's engagement in civil society
"is anchored in her conviction that human progress -- whether as
individuals or communities -- is dependent upon the recognition
of the supernatural vocation proper to every person." The Pope
added that "the fundamental relationship between Creator,
creation and creature needs to be pondered and respected" in
order to address social issues, including the danger to creation
from climate change. "From this recognition we can discover a
common code of ethics, consisting of norms rooted in the natural
law inscribed by the Creator on the heart of every human being."
http://www.zenit.org/article-25081?l=english
Lenten Reflection
Provided by Catholic Relief Services' Operation Ricebowl.
"On
rare occasions, in brief glimpses, we get to see the face of
Christ. Not that Jesus isn't with us the rest of the time; it's
just that he's usually too familiar to get a good look at. The
people we love, the people we serve, the people who reach out to
us in our time of need all regard us through the eyes of Christ.
But sometimes we get the whole picture in one overwhelming
moment when the person before us suddenly reveals God's presence
in an undeniable way. This is what happened to Peter, James and
John when Jesus took them away to the mountain, even as the
promise that he would suffer and be killed still rang in their
ears. They got a glimpse of the glory that God had in mind for
his beloved. As you go through this week, prayerfully seek out
the face of Jesus in those you encounter, especially in the ones
that society overlooks. Ask God to prepare you for the
transfiguration of the daily into the divine."
Social Action
...on the environment.
Sky1, an environmental lobby, is organizing an electronic
campaign to thank Congress and the Administration for the $87
million in investment for green technology included in the
economic stimulus package passed in February
http://action.1sky.org/t/4531/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=317
The Episcopal Church's Public Policy Network is reminding folks
that we can do something about climate change. A recent
newsletter urged consumers that replacing one regular light bulb
with a fluorescent compact light bulb saves up to 300lbs of
carbon per year; turning off electronic devices when not using
them saves up to 1,000lbs of carbon per year; using reusable
shopping bags and containers when shopping saves up to 1,200lbs
of carbon per year.
Read Molly
Taibor's Lenten "carbon-fast" journal at:
http://www.iowaipl.org/sr_lenten_blog.html
...on the war in Afghanistan.
PaxChristUSA says a shift in U.S. policy in Afghanistan based on
a diplomatic and development surge, not an increase in U.S.
troops, has greater potential for long term stability and is
urging its members and others to contact the White House to
affirm the President's order for a full review of U.S. policy on
Afghanistan, and oppose sending 17,000 more troops.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
...on immigration reform. Catholic Relief Services is asking the public to contact members
of Congress and urge them to support comprehensive reform of the
nation's immigration policy...
https://secure2.convio.net/crs/site/Advocacy?JServSessionIdr008=pu1nctx5x1.app45b&pagename=homepage&id=476
...and the Administration's efforts to establish a just and
lasting peace in the Middle East:
https://secure2.convio.net/crs/site/Advocacy?JServSessionIdr008=pu1nctx5x1.app45b&pagename=homepage&id=479
...for health insurance.
"Cover the Uninsured Week" March 22-28 is an opportunity for
individuals and socially-conscious groups to pray, learn and
advocate for health care reform. Find background information
useful for writing letters to the editor and informal
discussions at:
http://covertheuninsured.org/
...for the rabbits.
Rabbitwise is waging an uphill battle to convince
people to think twice before buying a real live "Easter Bunny,"
most of whom die, are killed, or fed alive to pet snakes.
http://www.rabbitwisememphis.org/index.htm
...for development aid.
Witness for Peace is organizing public response to a proposal
to terminate Nicaragua's Millenium Challenge Account. WFP
argues that "freezing development aid is an unacceptable
political tactic."
http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5436/t/2467/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=1183
...for the needs of the poor.
JubileeUSA is organizing a nationwide campaign of letters to the
editor urging the Obama administration to support efforts to
address the needs of the poor around the world during the
current economic crisis; Jubilee will collect and deliver
published letters to the White House.
http://www.jubileeusa.org/de/truth-about-debt/debt-related-issues/g20.html
Resources
Environmental
Education
The Marianist Environmental Education Center's Lenten
reflection guide includes a weekly commentary, prayer and
reflection questions on climate justice, suggestions for an
Energy Fast, and inspiring stories of faith-based environmental
initiatives.
http://meec.udayton.edu/EnergyFast.asp
Catholic Peace Fellowship
View a segment of the television documentary Witness: The
Path of Most Resistance featuring representatives of the Catholic Peace Fellowship at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0YCxG828-A
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjxMjtuQIko
Justice in Palestine
Read the recommendations endorsed by Palestinian Civil Society
to restore human and civil rights in Palestine...
http://www.bdsmovement.net/?q=node/52
...and commentary from two Arab observers who say the U.S.
undermined efforts to establish Palestinian unity
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/03/06-12
Immigration Reform
Witness for Peace will sponsor a "Migrant Trail Walk" May 20-31
in Mexico. Participants will examine the economic factors
behind migration in Oaxaca and how migration impacts those who
stay behind, then trace the migrant journey north to the U.S.
border and Arizona.
http://witnessforpeace.org/userdata_display.php?modin=51&uid=22
Watch interviews with Sister Eileen Campbell RSM and Bishop
Minerva Carcano, members of
the Interfaith Immigration Coalition.
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/episodes/by-topic/human-rights/immigration-reform-religious-leaders-on-faith-and-fixing-the-system/2369/
Examine immigration resources from PaxChristiUSA...
http://www.paxchristiusa.org/news_Events_more.asp?id=1520
...and the Episcopal Church's Public Policy Network provides a variety
of resources and updates on migration and immigration policy at:
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/3654_100726_ENG_HTM.htm
Perspectives
...on justice for detainees. Brandon Neeley, a former guard at Guantanamo, reveals the inside
story of what happened there:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/confessions-of-a-guantanamo-guard-1624749.html
Matt Vogel, writing in the New York Catholic Worker, says the
270 prisoners held at Guantanamo are only the tip of the
iceberg.
http://ww4report.com/node/6934
...on one man's example.
Read Fr. John Deer's tribute to Peter DeMott, whose life
"reminds us how important it is to spend our days working for a
just, peaceful world on behalf of suffering humanity."
http://ncronline.org/blogs/road-peace/committed-life-peter-demott
...on Catholicism and capitalism.
Canadian economist Richard Bastien says the Catholic Church today
stands almost alone in defending the notion of an objective
moral law binding conscience, he said. Thats why capitalism
needs Catholicism more than ever.
http://www.wcr.ab.ca/news/2009/0216/economy021609.shtml
...on justice for immigrants. "Those of us in the immigrant rights community must insist on the
creation of lawful avenues of entry that will allow people who
wish to work in the U.S. to do so legally," writes Helene
Slessarev-Jamir.
http://blog.sojo.net/2009/02/06/an-education-in-border-injustice/
...on living at the Catholic Worker. Read and watch a report about Iowa State Representative Chuck
Isenhart who is living in the Des Moines Catholic Worker during
the current legislative session
http://www.kwwl.com/global/story.asp?s=9966928
Worth Quoting...
"It
is necessary to reemphasize that every discrimination exercised
by any power in regard to persons, peoples or ethnic groups on
the basis of differences that stem from real or presumed genetic
factors is an act of violence against all of humanity. What must
be forcefully reemphasized is the equal dignity of every human
being according to th e fact itself of having life. Biological,
psychological or cultural development or state of health can
never become an element of discrimination. It is necessary, on
the contrary, to consolidate a culture of hospitality and love
that concretely testifies to solidarity with those who suffer,
razing the barriers that society often erects, discriminating
against those who are disabled and affected by pathologies, or
worse - selecting and rejecting in the name of an abstract ideal
of health and physical perfection. If man is reduced to an
object of experimental manipulation from the first stage of
development, that would mean that biotechnologies would
surrender to the will of the stronger. Confidence in science
cannot forget the primacy of ethics when human life is at
stake." -- Pope Benedict XVI in an address February 21 to the
Pontifical Academy for Life's conference on "New Frontiers of
Genetics and the Danger of Eugenics."
http://www.zenit.org/article-25171?l=english
Cedar Valley Catholic Social Justice e-Network
Vol. 4
- No. 14 March 3, 2009
Social Justice News, Opportunities, Resources and Observations
Local Opportunities
Canterbury Forum -- Cedar Falls native Stephen J. Rapp, Prosecutor for the United
Nations Tribunal for Sierra Leone, will discuss "When Peace and
Justice Appear in Conflict: Hard Choices in the Prosecution of
Genocide, Crimes Against Humanity, and War Crimes" at the
Canterbury Forum on Sunday, March 8, 7:00pm in Will Hall at St.
Luke Episcopal Church, Cedar Falls.
www.canterburyforum.net
Lenten Retreat -- Joshua Casteel, a native of Cedar Rapids who converted to
Catholicism and became a conscientious objector as a result of
his experience as a military interrogator at Abu Ghraib prison
in Iraq, will be the guest presenter for the Social Justice
Lenten Retreat April 4 in Waterloo. The retreat is is
co-sponsored by the Cedar Valley Catholic Social Justice
Network, Cedar Valley PaxChristi, Waterloo Catholic Worker, and
Cedar Falls Mennonite Church/Cedar Valley Peace and Justice
Center.
www.waterloocatholics.org/casteelretreat.htm
Green Flood Recovery -- Americorps volunteers have recently arrived in the Cedar Valley
as a result of the grant written by the Center for Energy and
Environmental Education at UNI and are looking for ways to
assist in green building flood recovery. If you know of someone
who would benefit from their assistance, contact Sarah Webb at
sarahwebb@cfu.net
Regional Opportunities
Dorothy Day Drama -- The Simpson College Women's Studies Department will sponsor
"Haunted by God: The Life of Dorothy Day" a one women play
produced by the Still Point Theatre Collective on March 5, 2009
at 7:00p in Lekberg Hall at Simpson College, Indianola, Iowa
The program is free and open to the public.
Contact: Jacob Kaufman 515-371-5837 (email:
jacob.kaufman@simpson.edu)
Worker Writing Workshop -- The Catholic Worker School near Dubuque reports that there are
still a couple of spots available in the Writing Workshop which
will take place on March 7-8. The focus of the weekend will be
on the non-fiction essay. Participants are welcome to bring
something that they would like to share and work on. Contact:
Catholic Worker School at 563.556.0987
Anti-War Bus Trip -- The University of Iowa Antiwar Committee is sponsoring a bus to
the national antiwar demonstration in Washington DC March 21 and
seeking donors for financial contributions to support those who
cannot afford the cost of the trip on their own. Cost is
$125.00. Contact Liz Mick at 319-594-0569 (email uiantiwar@riseup.net).
Donate a trip for a student who cannot afford to pay his/her own
way:
http://www.uiantiwar.org/
Returning Prisoner Simulation -- Churches United in Cedar Rapids will sponsor a simulation
experience, "Walk in the Shoes of a Returning Prisoner" on
Saturday, April 18, 1:00-5:00pm at St. Pius Church in Cedar
Rapids. The experience will simulate what people returning to
society from prison encounter and explore ways the community can
make their return more successful. $10.00 donation from adults;
$5.00 from lhigh school/college students. Pre-registration is
requested. Contact Churches United at 319-366-7163 or email
churchesunited@yahoo.com
CW Resistance Retreat -- Annual Midwest Catholic Worker Resistance Retreat will be held
April 24-27 at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Stockton,
Illiniois. This year's retreat is being held in conjunction
with Clearwater Citizens' Group to Stop Blackwater's "Close Down
Blackwater in Illinois Conference." Kenote speakers will be
Jeremy Scahill and Kathy Kelly.
http://www.desmoinescatholicworker.org/midwestresistranceretreat.html
Issues
Iowa Legislature
The
Iowa Catholic Conference reports that the pace is picking up in
the Iowa legislature. The Conference is advocating support for
legislation which would eliminate life sentences without parole
for minors, strengthen penalties for violation of child labor
laws, require abortion providers to document complications women
suffer after an abortion, and limit the interest on "payday"
loans to 36 percent. The Conference's Legislative Day of Prayer
is March 5 at St. Ambrose Cathedral in Des Moines. You can
express your opinion to legislators by using the Conference's
Action Center at
www.capwiz.com/iowanasccd.
Economic Recovery
The
U.S. Congress adopted a $787 billion economic stimulus package
February 13.
Read
an analysis of the stimulus package from Network, the Catholic
social justice lobby at:
http://www.networklobby.org/issues/2009%20Issue%20Agenda/1-27-09_EconomicStimulus.htm
Read
analysis of economic stimulus legislation from the American
Friends Service Committee, a Quaker lobby, at:
http://www.fcnl.org/pdfs/budget/economic_recovery_package_summary.pdf
An
update on economic recovery::
http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0213/p01s01-usgn.html
Continuing resources and analysis of the nation's economic
recovery efforts from Catholic Charities USA:
https://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=1578&srctid=1&erid=425916
Pope
Benedict XVI told Italian workers recently that the current
economic crisis requires a new relationship between labor and
capital and between the common good and the market. "The great
challenge and opportunity that the worrying economic crisis of
the moment invites [us] to know how to take advantage of,
consists in finding a new synthesis between the common good and
the market, between capital and labor," according to the Pope.
He said work is the "essential key" to every social question,
"because it conditions not only the economic development but
also the cultural and moral development of persons, families,
communities and all of humanity." He said the today's crisis
requires "a free and responsible effort from everyone, that is,
it is necessary to overcome particular interests or [those of] a
sector, to confront difficulties together and united."
http://www.zenit.org/article-24986?l=english
Immigration Reform
A
coalition of national faith leaders announced a national
campaign to engage religious groups and congregations on behalf
of immigration reform. The campaign sponsored more than one
hundred prayer vigils throughout the country during the February
Congressional recess and will release a "faith platform"
highlighting the moral foundation and principles for a new
immigration reform.
http://interfaithimmigration.org/
According to a report issued by the Migration Policy Institute,
"There is much that can be done by the executive branch to
improve the Department of Homeland Securitys performance with
respect to immigration even in the absence of new reform
legislation.
http://www.migrationpolicy.org/pubs/DHS_Feb09.pdf
The
Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Migrants and Travelers,
Archbishop Agostino Marchetto, told a symposium on human rights
that migration "constitutes one of the most complex challenges
of our globalized world." He said governments should "provide
clear and viable measures for regular entrance into the country,
...prevent the exploitation of migrant workers, enact measures
for regular integration, combat xenophobic behavior, and promote
the social, cultural and religious coexistence that every
pluralistic society demands." He said governments have a right
to punish criminal behavior but only"with respect for human
dignity, human rights and international agreements."
http://www.zenit.org/article-25100?l=english
Global Warming
New
research published in Science magazine reveals the
potentially devastating impact which global warming could have
on agricultural production. "Whether you believe global warming
is part of a 'natural cycle' or a man-made phenomenon is
irrelevant," writes Meredith Niles in a response to the report.
"The bottom line is that our earth is rapidly warming, and this
is going to drastically affect our food supply."
http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2009/1/14/23742/0777
Land
use and land-use changes account for about 31 percent of
human-induced greenhouse gas emissions, but some types of land
use can have just the opposite effect, according to Sara J.
Scherr and Sajal Sthapit, writing in the Worldwatch Institute's
State of the World 2009
http://www.worldwatch.org/node/5984?emc=el&m=200994&l=8&v=6b7824a686
World Hunger
"I
would like to assure each and every one of you that when it
comes to hunger, you can make a difference," the Director of the
World Food Program said during a press conference at the Vatican
Feb. 3. During ceremonies to introduce Pope Benedict's Lenten
Message Josette Sheeran said: "Feeding the hungry is a profound
act of love, and restores dignity to a mother or father who
cannot provide for their starving child. Mahatma Ghandi said
that to a hungry man, a piece of bread is the face of God. Let
us believe in the miracle of a world without hunger. Does not
the heart of Christ encompass such a noble vision among the
faithful?"
http://www.zenit.org/article-24988?l=english
The
world food crisis is a "ticking time bomb"
http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0900904.htm
Lenten Reflection
Provided by Catholic Relief Services' Operation Ricebowl.
This
first week of Lent takes us to Egypt, a land that appears
throughout our biblical stories of salvation.Today, it is a
country that struggles to provide for its growing population
with limited farmland and overdependence on the Nile. More than
three times the size of New Mexico, Egypt is home to more than
73 million people, 16 percent of whom live below the poverty
line. But it is also a place of hope.... In Egypt, Catholic
Relief Services' microfinance projects allow women to rise from
poverty by giving them the capital they need to start small
businesses. Amal, a mother of six from West Aswan, has used her
loan to start a bakery that has in turn allowed her to feed her
children and send them to school. Such programs reflect the
Church's social teaching on the dignity of work and the rights
of workers, which draws from the writings of Pope Leo XIII. In
Rerum Nevarum, he taught that with human dignity comes the right
to work and to earn enough to provide for oneself and one's
family.
http://orb.crs.org/features/egypt/index.cfm
Social Action
...in defense of life.
The Committee on
Pro-Life Activities of the U.S. Conference of Catholic
Bishops is conducting a national pro-life postcard
campaign asking members of Congress to "unite to serve
the good of all, born and unborn" and to oppose passage
of the Freedom of Choice Act.
http://www.usccb.org/prolife/issues/FOCA/postcard.shtml
...for immigration reform. The American Friends
Service Committee is organizing an email campaign urging the
Obama administration to end workplace raids
http://afscimmigration.blogspot.com/2009/02/act-now-bellingham-raid-raises.html
The
Interfaith Immigration Coalition will sponsor a national
conference call on the first Monday of each month to discuss
ways to make the issue of immigration visible to Congress, the
media, and the public.
www.interfaithimmigration.org/index.php
...for arms reductions.
The Nuclear Age Peace Foundation is urging messages to President
Obama, encouraging the administration to launch talks with
Russia on a reduction in nuclear arms.
http://capwiz.com/wagingpeace/issues/alert/?alertid=12590706
...for energy efficiency. Members of Interfaith
Power & Light, which includes the Catholic parishes in Cedar
Falls and Waterloo, may purchase some Sears energy efficient
appliances at a reduced price. IPL's guide lists the appliances
you may purchase through Sears at a special price. In order to
get pricing, you must call the Sears support number listed on
the first page of the pdf or call your state IPL office. Find
the list at:
http://www.energyfederation.org/ipl/default.php
...for executive accountability.
Public Citizen
is campaigning for effective cap on executive pay and the
restructuring of executive compensation; find out more about the
Accountability Project or send a message to the Treasury
Department at:
http://action.citizen.org/t/6693/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=1845
...for public health.
Catholic Relief Services "Nets for Nets" project combines the
enthusiasm of sports fans with a practical effort to purchase
nets which protect the poor from malaria-bearing mosquitoes.
http://crscollege.org/feature-cabrini-college/nets-for-nets
Resources
Lenten Resources
PaxChristi USA provides a variety of Lenten resources for
individuals who wish to join its members in its sixth annual
Lenten prayer campaign for an end to the war in Iraq.
http://www.paxchristiusa.org/news_Events_more.asp?id=1507
Response to HIV/AIDs
A video
report prepared by Catholic Relief Services, "Faith, Hope and
Treatment," examines the Catholic Church's effort to provide a wholistic response to the HIV/AIDs epidemic.
http://crscollege.org/academic-resources-for-faculty/human-immunodeficiency-virus-hiv/hiv-aids-video-series
The Cost of War
The
American Friends Service Committee offers an organizing kit for
college groups who want to plan a "Eyes Wide Open" display about
the costs of war.
http://www.afsc.org/eyes/
From Aid to Impact
CARE
presents its 2009 advocacy agenda, designed to move from
providing aid to having an impact on international climate,
hunger and health issues.
http://www.care.org/getinvolved/advocacy/index.asp
Carbon Fast for Lent
Iowan
Molly Taibor is on a "carbon fast" for Lent; read a weekly
account of how her family is trying to reduce its carbon
footprint at:
http://www.iowaipl.org/sr_lenten_blog.html
Iowa
Power and Light, the organization which sponsors Cool
Congregations, provides a resource page just for Lenten
Carbon Fasts at
http://iowaipl.org/sr_lenten_resources.html
Environmental Stewardship
The
National Religious Partnership for the Environment is an
association of faith groups including the U.S. Conference of
Catholic Bishops, National Council of Churches U.S.A., Coalition
on the Environment and Jewish Life, and the Evangelical
Environmental Network. The groups seek to offer resources of
religious life and moral vision to a universal effort to protect
humankind's common home and well-being on Earth.
http://www.nrpe.org/
The
January issue of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious's
Resolutions to Action provides an analysis and reflection
on climate change, a call to action and a list of additional
web-based resources.
http://www.lcwr.org/lcwrpublications/resolutionstoaction/RTA1-09.pdf
The
Sierra Club and Worldwatch Institute have published a new
report, Smart Choices for Biofuels, which offers specific
policy recommendations for developing sustainability standards,
advancing biofuels production and new technologies, creating
green jobs through biofuels, and promoting policy coherence
across energy sectors.
http://www.worldwatch.org/smartchoicesforbiofuels?emc=el&m=203168&l=4&v=6b7824a686
CST Prayer Service
The
Commission for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation of the
Union of Superiors General has created a prayer service based on
Catholic Social principles. It's available in various languages
at:
http://jpicformation.wikispaces.com/EN_prayer
Watch on Wealth
Two Much
is a website and weekly newsletter which chronicles the growing
divide between "haves" and "have-nots" in our society, and the
impact of excessive wealth on the rest of the society.
http://www.toomuchonline.org/
From Maryknoll
"While
we support serious efforts to rescue the U.S. middle class and
to invest in a greener economy, we are deeply concerned about
the well-being of factory workers in Phnom Penh and hundreds of
millions of others who are even more vulnerable." Read the
latest issue of the newsletter from the Maryknoll Office for
Global Concerns:
http://campaign-archive.com/?u=6eb379bed1d769d3f0142d581&id=ab4fcb41e8&e=[UNIQID]
Read
the monthly Briefing from Catholic Relief Services:
http://donate.crs.org/site/MessageViewer?em_id=12681.0&printer_friendly=1
Perspectives
...on the Middle East.
SandyTolan says a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict is no longer possible.
http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0204/p09s01-coop.html
...on economic justice. The rich aren't paying their fair share, say Chuck Collins and
Sam Pizzigati:
http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0224/p09s02-coop.html
Thad
Williamson says "the time is ripe to reconsider the
institutional structure and moral assumptions of American
capitalism, from the bottom
up."
http://www.tikkun.org/article.php?story=mar09_williamson
...on competition. After a 100-0 highschool basketball game, a Texas newspaper
wonders: how should believers reconcile the obligation to be
morally excellent with the aspiration to excel in competition?
http://religionblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2009/02/texas-faith-please-god-let-me.html
...on health care reform. The window of opportunity
for comprehensive health care reform is open wider than at any
time for decades, says Jacob S. Hacker.
http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0203/p09s01-coop.html
...on foreign affairs. Ideas that recently qualified as smart have suddenly become
passe, writes Andrew Bacevich. "The bubble of American
triumphalism has burst".
http://www.commonwealmagazine.org/article.php3?id_article=2426
...on fixing the world.
In the current Worldwatch
magazine, Thomas Homer Dixon says "panarchy theory" illustrates
the way catastrophes caused by tectonic stresses could produce a
surge of creativity leading to the renewal of global
civilization.
http://www.worldwatch.org/node/6008
...on the environment. Robert Parham says people of faith must become people of doubt --
doubt about claims of clean coal, doubt about the veracity of
the coal industrys environmental commitment.
http://www.ethicsdaily.com/news.php?viewStory=13648
...on race relations. Now is the time for white people to listen, not talk about race,
says John D. Pierce:
http://www.ethicsdaily.com/news.php?viewStory=13743
...on health and food. Tom Buetel examines the connections between health and h0w we
grow and manufacture our food:
http://peace.mennolink.org/cgi-bin/m.pl?a=577
...on military spending. Representative Barney
Frank says anyone who talks about the need for fiscal
responsibility should be challenged to begin with the area where
spending has been the most irresponsible and has produced the
least good for the dollars expended --the military budget.
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20090302/frank
Worth Quoting...
"After more than thirty years with the Catholic Worker in city
and in country, I am convinced that all we do is but a gesture
and a prayer for the better future that we hope for but can only
glimpse from afar. What else is even the largest soup kitchen
in the face of massive hunger and poverty? How can protests,
sit-ins, marches, even our jail sentences begin to meet the
challenges of rampant militarism and nuclear madness? But we do
these things because, insufficient as they are, there is not
much else to do. So here in Maloy we take time from our other
important labors to grow beans, mostly because it is what we are
used to but also, I hope, to take up a tiny piece of the
responsibility that is ours to make a world where each person
lives without fear, where each of us does our fair share of the
work that needs doing, and each enjoys our fair share of the
fruits of our labor." --
Catholic Worker Brian Terrell, explaining why they grow beans at
the Catholic Worker farm in Maloy, Iowa (in the June/July 2008
[New York] Catholic Worker).
Cedar
Valley Catholic Social Justice e-Network
Vol. 4 - No. 13 February 2, 2009
Social Justice News, Opportunities, Resources and Observations
Local Events
Dorothy Day's Legacy
-- Brian Terrell, until recently director of Catholic Peace
Ministry in Des Moines, will discuss the legacy of Catholic
activist Dorothy Day, with whom Terrell worked, on Tuesday, Feb.
3, 7:00-8:30pm at the Cellar Lounge in downtown Waterloo, and
Wednesday, Feb. 4, at the 9:00pm Mass at St. Stephen the Witness
Catholic Student Center in Cedar Falls. Details at:
www.waterloocatholics.org/cellar.htm
Three Cups of Tea Author
-- Greg Mortenson, author of Three Cups of Tea, will
discuss his work as co-founder of the Central Asia Institute in
a free lecture Thursday, Feb. 12, at the Gallagher-Bluedorn
Performing Acts Center in Cedar Falls. The lecture is free and
open to the public. Details at:
http://www.uni.edu/mortenson/
In preparation for Mortenson's lecture University Book & Supply
will host Arif and Zeeni on Thursday, Jan. 29, 6:00-8:00pm. The
Afridis are native Pakistanis and local physicians who grew up
near the area highlighted in Mortenson's books. Reservations
(not required) at 319-266-7581.
Lenten Retreat
-- Joshua Casteel, a native of Cedar Rapids who converted to
Catholicism and became a pacifist as a result of his experience
as a military interrogator at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, will be
the guest presenter for the Social Justice Lenten Retreat April
4 in Waterloo. The retreat is is co-sponsored by the Cedar
Valley Catholic Social Justice Network, Cedar Valley PaxChristi,
and the Waterloo Catholic Worker. Register online at:
www.waterloocatholics.org/registration.htm
Read more about Joshua Casteel in the National Catholic
Reporter:
http://ncronline3.org/drupal/?q=node/2964
Issues
Iowa Legislature
The first session of the 83rd Iowa General Assembly convened on
Jan. 12. According to Tom Chapman, executive director of the
Iowa Catholic Conference, "there are two overriding concerns
that legislators will have to address during the session a
looming budget shortfall of hundreds of millions of dollars, and
flood recovery." The ICC reports that House File 64, a
disaster relief bill approved by the Rebuild Iowa committee in
the House provides $56 million in recovery funds for homeowners,
businesses and nonprofit organizations. The Conference supports
House File 3, a bill that would give counties "local control"
over the placement of large Confinement Animal Feeding
Operations; House File 31, which would make it possible for
nonpublic schools to use textbook funds to purchase computer
hardware for educational purposes; House File 43, which would
give juveniles sentenced to life in prison without parole an
opportunity for parole, and House File 14, a bill to repeal
Iowa's "English-only" law which the bishops opposed when it
passed in 2002. The conference is supportive of House File 8, a
bill which would add clergy to the list of mandatory reporters
of abuse in Iowa, but is working for amendments which would
protect communications in the confessional.
> Read Chapman's analysis of issues of concern to the Catholic
Conference at:
http://www.iowacatholicconference.org/bins/site/templates/default.asp?area_2=pages%2FICC+Web+Site%2FE%2DNews%2FNews+Full+Page&norelay_place=page&objectid=16DB0C220&articletitle=ICC+
Newsletter&norelay_ai=3E922D5DACE148F1A1EECD1A78E7F087&norelay_gn=ICC+
News&norelay_reset=false&NC=6065X
Economic Recovery
The U.S. House of Representatives last week passed a $819
billion economic stimulus package. Provisions of the House
legislation include $13 billion in funding for public
transportation, increased access to the Child Tax Credit, and
health care assistance for low-income families.
> Read an analysis of the House legislation by the Friends
Committee on National Legislation, a Quaker lobby:
http://www.fcnl.org/pdfs/budget/economic_recovery_package_summary.pdf
> Summary of legislation pending in the U.S. Senate:
http://appropriations.senate.gov/News/2009_01_27_Senate_Appropriations_Committee_
Approves_American_Recovery_and_Reinvestment_Plan.pdf
The Middle East
Put the recent events in Gaza into historical and political
perspective with the following resources:
Analysis by United Methodist Pastor Adam Hamilton, author of
Seeing Gray in a World of Black and White: Thoughts on
Religion, Morality and Politics.
http://ethicsdaily.com/article_detail.cfm?AID=11551
Analysis from the International Crisis Group
http://www.fmep.org/analysis/analysis/ending-the-war-in-gaza
References prepared by Churches for Middle East Peace,
including links to statements by various religious organizations
http://www.cmep.org/Alerts/GazaBackgrounder.htm
Fact sheet prepared by the American Friends Service Committee
http://www.afsc.org/israel-palestine/ht/d/ContentDetails/i/3636
Read a Catholic News Service story on the debate over the
proportionality of the Israeli response
http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0900239.htm
Read a provocative discussion about Gaza between a Catholic
columnist and Jewish rabbi:
http://www.beliefnet.com/News/Hot-Topics/Gaza.aspx
Read a rabbi's suggestions for "weaving an Abrahamic peace"
http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/arthur_waskow/2009/01/
weaving_an_abrahamic_peace.html
Listen or watch Bill Moyer's reflections on the recent
violence in Gaza. [Note: this material includes explicit images
which may be disturbing to some viewers.}
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/01092009/watch3.html
Read the American Friends Service Committee's "Principles for
a Just and Lasting Peace Between Palestinians and Israelis"
http://www.afsc.org/israel-palestine/ht/d/ContentDetails/i/3689/pid/13382
Pray "A Jew's Prayer for the Children of Gaza"
http://peace.mennolink.org/cgi-bin/m.pl?a=563
Immigration
The New York Times reported recently that the federal
government's concentration on immigration violations "has
siphoned resources from other crimes, eroded morale among
federal lawyers and overloaded the federal court system."
According to the Times, while prosecutions for immigration
violations have risen, federal prosecutions for white-collar
crimes, weapons violations, organized crime, public corruption
and drugs have all fallen.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/12/us/12prosecute.html?ref=us
Environmental Stewardship
The U.S. Climate Action Partnership, a coalition of 26
corporations and five environmental groups, released A Blueprint
for Legislative Action, a detailed set of integrated policy
recommendations for developing legislation that would create an
environmentally effective and economically sustainable national
climate protection program.
http://www.us-cap.org/
The Worldwatch Institute reports that climate change is
occuring more rapidly than reports can be published. Since the
release of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report
14 months ago, studies suggest that sea-ice melt, glacier
retreat, and food insecurity are all more dire than predicted.
http://www.worldwatch.org/node/5990?emc=el&m=188242&l=8&v=6b7824a686
The Worldwatch Institute provides a Climate Change
Reference Guide and Glossary at
http://www.worldwatch.org/files/pdf/SOW09_Climate%20Guide-Glossary.pdf?emc=el&m=194497&l=8&v=6b7824a686
World Food Crisis
Food prices have eased on global markets, but rice volatility,
the credit crunch, and shrinking coffers (both private and
government) are making it harder for farmers to get loans to
invest and plant.
http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0129/p08s01-comv.html
Perspectives on the world food crisis from Catholic Relief
Services ... just in time for Lent's Operation Rice Bowl.
http://crs.org/emergency/global-food-crisis/index.cfm
The U.S. Working Group on the Food Crisis provides a
background paper on the world food crisis and a list of actions
people can take at a local and national level to address the
problem.
http://www.usfoodcrisisgroup.org/
A new report from the Rodale Institute calls for an
"Organic Green Revolution" which would "fundamentally change the
way we grow our food to maximize yield while mitigating climate
change, restoring clean water, building soil, and protecting
agricultural production during times of drought."
http://www.rodaleinstitute.org/files/GreenRevUP.pdf
Social Action
...for economic stimulus.
Catholic Charities USA has issued an Action Alert, on
behalf of provisions in an economic stimulus package which would
temporarily increase supplemental nutrition assistance program
(SNAP) benefits, temporarily increase the Federal Medical
Assistance Percentages payments, restore funding to the Social
Services Block Grant (SSBG), protect homeowners at risk of
losing their homes, provide short-term bridge funding for
nonprofit organizations facing immediate cash flow constraints
due to delayed government reimbursement payments and provide
additional funding for the Emergency Food Shelter Program
(EFSP).
http://capwiz.com/catholiccharitiesusa/issues/alert/?alertid=12540556&type=CO
...for immigration reform.
The U.S. Catholic bishops' Justice for Immigrants
campaign is organizing a letter-writing campaign to the new
Congress in support of comprehensive immigration reform.
http://www.justiceforimmigrants.org/action.html
...for closing Gitmo.
A number of organizations, including Network and
PaxChristiUSA have joined the 100 Days coalition to lobby
for closing the U.S. detention center at Guantanamo Bay.
Details at:
http://100dayscampaign.org/
...against nuclear weapons.
The Friends Committee on National Legislation, a Quaker
lobby, is renewing efforts to have the United States sign the
Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. Read the Committee's
report, "Still in the Shadow of Nuclear Weapons":
http://fcnl.org/pdfs/shadow_nucs_bklt.pdf
And take action at:
http://capwiz.com/fconl/issues/alert/?alertid=12318051
...for economic justice.
Inspired by the gospel, "Where your treasure is, there your
heart will be also," JubileeUSA is organizing a "What's
On Your Heart" campaign to welcome the new Treasury Secretary
and urge him to make global economic justice a guiding priority
of his tenure at the Treasury Department.
http://www.jubileeusa.org/heartcampaign/aboutheartcampaign.html
...for rural issues.
The National Catholic Rural Life Conference is conducting
a Rural Issues Survey to identify the issues most important to
people of faith living in rural areas. In appreciation for
responses to the online survey, NCRLC will make a $2.50 donation
to a charity of the respondent's choice.
http://www.informationsurveys.com/ncrl/ncrllogn.htm
Resources
Catholic Social Agenda
A panel of experts modered by William Barbieri, associate dean
of the Catholic University of America's School of Theology and
Religious Studies explores "The Obama Administration and the
Catholic Social Agenda," in video provided by the University's
Digital Media Services
http://digitalmedia.cua.edu//calendar/event_dsp.cfm?event=4587
Poverty Action
Catholic Charities USA
provides a list of "20 Things You Can Do to Address Poverty" at:
https://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/NetCommunity/Document.Doc?id=571
Environmental Racism
Environmental Racism: An Ecumenical Study Guide,
is a new resource from the United Church of Christ's Eco-Justice
Program designed to help participants examine the effects of
environmental racism.
http://www.nccecojustice.org/resources.html#environmentaljusticeresources
Sustainable Agriculture
The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) is
a new coalition of grassroots organizations engaged in
supporting family farms and ecologically-based food and farming
systems.
http://sustainableagriculturecoalition.org/
"The 30-Year Challenge," a new report from the Farm
Foundation examines the issues which agriculture must
address in order to meet the world's growing need for more food.
http://www.farmfoundation.org/news/templates/template.aspx?articleid=1694&zoneid=85
The Refugee Experience
Watch testimonies about the refugee experience from Bantu
refugees from Somalia now living in Baltimore:
http://www.afsc.org/midatlantic/ht/display/ContentDetails/i/71842
Racism Initiative
The Church of the Brethren's On Earth Peace initiative
announces a new webpage dedicated to confronting racism in our
midst.
http://www.onearthpeace.org/eliminatingracism/index.html
Common Good Blog
Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good
introduces a revamped blog, "Just Words," which will feature
news and commentary from theologians, scholars, social justice
leaders, and the Alliance staff on public policy issues.
http://www.catholicsinalliance.org/common-good-blog
Teaching About the Downturn
The Southern Poverty Law Center's Teaching Tolerance
provides teachers and parents with experts' opinions on the
current economic crisis and how to help students cope...
http://www.tolerance.org/teach/magazine/features.jsp?p=0&is=44&ar=1011&ttnewsletter=ttnewsgen-012209
...and lesson plans that put poverty into perspective.
http://www.tolerance.org/teach/activities/activity.jsp?ar=875&ttnewsletter=ttnewsgen-012209
Transitional Justice
Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights
provides a curriculum on transitional justice, The Road to
Peace, appropriate for adults and young adults.
http://discoverhumanrights.org/3e4d356b-9922-4a97-afa7-918957e53e86.html?NodeId=
Perspectives
...on Israel and the Palestinians.
"Our rejection of 'the other' will undo us," writes Sara Roy.
"We must question our own narrative...rather than continue to
cherish beliefs and sentiments that betray the Jewish ethical
tradition."
http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0102/p09s01-coop.html
"If Israel sincerely wants peace, there is only one
road open," writes Fr. John Dear. "They must hear the
grievances of the Palestinians, honor their human
rights, and give them justice."
http://ncrcafe.org/node/2363
...on the new world order.
"Welcome to the networked world," writes Helena Cobban. She
observes "the shift from the US-dominated world we have lived in
since 1989 to one in which global power has become significantly
more diffuse, more networked, and more Asian."
http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/1215/p09s02-coop.htm
...on the power of nonviolence.
Read the transcript of a discussion between Jonathan Schell and
Taylor Branch on "Gandhi, King and the Power of Nonviolence:
Alternatives to Force in the 21st Century."
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20090126/nonviolence?rel=hpbox
...on military spending.
James Quinn says the United States currently spends more on
military than the next 45 highest spending countries in the
world combined and accounts for 48 percent of the worlds total
military spending.
http://seekingalpha.com/article/90742-the-economic-cost-of-the-military-industrial-complex?source=d_email
...on ending torture.
David Gushee says the next challenge concerning the use of
torture is "coming to grips [with] the fact that not only did
our government torture people, but that many Christians fully
supported it."
http://www.abpnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3801&Itemid=9
Worth Quoting...
"One of the most important ways of building peace is through a
form of globalization directed towards the interests of the
whole human family. In order to govern globalization, however,
there needs to be a strong sense of global solidarity between
rich and poor countries, as well as within individual countries,
including affluent ones. A "common code of ethics" is also
needed, consisting of norms based not upon mere consensus, but
rooted in the natural law inscribed by the Creator on the
conscience of every human being (cf. Rom 2:14-15). Does not
every one of us sense deep within his or her conscience a call
to make a personal contribution to the common good and to peace
in society? Globalization eliminates certain barriers, but is
still able to build new ones; it brings peoples together, but
spatial and temporal proximity does not of itself create the
conditions for true communion and authentic peace. Effective
means to redress the marginalization of the world's poor through
globalization will only be found if people everywhere feel
personally outraged by the injustices in the world and by the
concomitant violations of human rights
."
-- Pope Benedict XVI, World Day of Peace Message, January 1,
2009.
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/messages/peace/documents/hf_ben-xvi_mes_20081208_xlii-world-day-peace_en.html
Cedar Valley Catholic Social Justice e-Network
Vol. 4 - No. 12 January 2, 2008
Social Justice News, Opportunities, Resources and Observations
Local Events
Social Services Meeting -- The Catholic Parishes in Waterloo have invited representatives
of local social service agencies to attend a joint meeting to
discuss current and future needs created by the economic
downturn. The meeting will be held on Jan. 8 at Queen of Peace
Church. Members of parish Social Concerns Committees will meet
at 7:00pm to discuss reports from the agencies.
JustFaith
Study Group -- The Waterloo Catholic Worker and the Waterloo parishes will
sponsor a JustFaith study group this spring. JustFaith
is a formation program for adults and young adults who want to
better understand and practice principles of Catholic social
teaching. The group will begin meeting in January. Contact
Dave Cushing at 319-234-9912 (email
DBQ208s3@arch.pvt.k12.ia.us).
>
Read more information about JustFaith:
http://www.justfaith.org/JF1211.html
>
Watch a testimonial from Rodger Routh, a Des Moines JustFaith
graduate:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgQGdycZH-w
Special Announcement
Lenten Retreat -- The Cedar Valley Catholic Social Justice e-Network is
making arrangements to sponsor a Lenten Social Justice retreat
led by Joshua Casteel. Casteel is a native of Cedar Rapids who
converted to Catholicism and became a pacifist as a result of
his experience as a military interrogator at Abu Ghraib prison
in Iraq. The cost of this retreat is considerably more than we
are accustomed to and we are seeking co-sponsors and private
donors who can help underwrite the cost of the retreat. For
information contact Dave Cushing at 319-234-9912 (email:
DBQ208s3@arch.pvt.k12.ia.us).
>
Read more about Joshua Casteel in the National Catholic
Reporter:
http://ncronline3.org/drupal/?q=node/2964
Regional Events
Peace Vigil for Gaza -- People for Justice in Palestine and the University of Iowa
Antiwar Committee will sponsor Peace Vigil for Gaza will be held
on Saturday, January 3, at 1 pm at the fountain on the
Pedestrian Mall in downtown Iowa City. For information,
contact Pat Minor at 319-530-0255 (email:
pat-minor-nidey@uiowa.edu).
Social Action Institute -- Antonio B. Cube, Jr., national director of the U.S. Catholic
bishops' Justice for Immigrants Campaign, will be the keynote
speaker for the 2009 Iowa Institute for Social Action January
18-19 at St. Francis of Assisi Church in West Des Moines. The
annual two-day Institute, sponsored by the Iowa Catholic
Conference and the four Catholic dioceses in Iowa, is designed
for individuals who are or wish to become involved in the
church's social ministry. In addition to the keynote
presentations, there will be a variety of workshops dealing with
various social action issues. Information and registration at:
http://www.iowasocialaction.org/
Worker Craft Retreat -- The Catholic Worker School will hold a Craft Retreat Jan. 20-25
at the Mustard Seed Catholic Worker Community Farm near Ames.
There will be instruction in wheel-thrown and handbuilt pottery,
knitting, candle-making, spinning and other crafts as well as
time for rest, prayer, reflection and fellowship. Housing and
food provided. Registration required. Contact Alice McGary at
515-460-1467 (email mcgarya@yahoo.com).
Issues
Violence in the Middle East
Israeli defense forces began an aerial bombardment of the Gaza
Strip Dec. 27 in retaliation for rocket and mortar attacks on
Israel's Negev district from Gaza. According to news reports at
least 400 Palestinians have been killed and more than 2,000
wounded since hostilities resumed following the breakdown of a
truce between Israel and Hamas in Gaza Dec. 19.
In Rome, the Director of the Vatican Press Office, Fr. Federicco
Lombardi, expressed alarm at the proportions of the Israeli
offensive and serious concern over the number of victims.
Speaking on Vatican Radio Dec. 27, he described the Israeli
offensive as a "very serious blow" to the Islamic militant group
Hamas but also said it may cause "many innocent victims and
damage peace prospects in the Holy Land". Fr. Lombardi observed
that "Hamas is prisoner of the logic of hate, while Israel
prisoner of the belief that the use of force is the only answer
to hate".
http://www.oecumene.radiovaticana.org/EN1/Articolo.asp?c=255115
In his Angeles remarks Dec. 28, Pope Benedict said he was
"deeply saddened" by the events in Gaza and what he called "this
tragic chain of attacks and retaliations." The Pope said, "the
native land of Jesus cannot continue to be witness to so much
bloodshed, repeating itself without end." He said the violence
"must be condemned in all its forms" and urged restoration of a
truce in the Gaza Strip. "I call for a jolt of humanity and
wisdom in all those who have a responsibility in this
situation," the Pope said. "I call on the international
community not to leave any stone unturned to help Israelis and
Palestinians out of this blind alley, and not to give in to the
perverse logic of confrontation and violence...."
http://www.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=14091&size=A
Albany, NY Bishop Howard Hubbard, Chair of the U.S. Catholic
Bishops Committee on International Justice and Peace, said
President Bush should "take immediate action to help end the
escalation of violence between Hamas and Israel. In a December
30 letter to Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, Bishop Hubbard
said rocket attacks on Israel must be stopped, and Israel's
military attacks on Gaza halted
.The toll in human deaths and
suffering, the negative effects on progress in negotiations for
peace and the risks of wider war caused by this escalation of
violence cannot be allowed to continue. Bishop Hubbard added,
it is tragic that innocent civilians are once again the victims
of armed conflict and a humanitarian crisis. A ceasefire and
humanitarian relief are indispensable initial steps on the road
to a two-state solution
.
http://www.usccb.org/comm/archives/2008/08-207.shtml
More on the Middle East:
Read a statement of concern and dismay from leaders of churches in
Jerusalem:
http://www.ncccusa.org/news/081230patriarchsongaza.html
Background provided by United for Peace and Action:
http://www.unitedforpeace.org/
Action steps suggested by U.S. Campaign to End the Israeli
Occupation:
http://www.endtheoccupation.org/article.php?id=1775
Send an electronic letter to President Bush, sponsored by
Catholic Relief Services:
https://secure2.convio.net/crs/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=447&autologin=true&AddInterest=
1101&JServSessionIdr006=tei86shuq4.app44b
Make a contribution to the Middle East Children's Alliance's
next shipment of medicine and food to Gaza:
https://secure.groundspring.org/dn/index.php?aid=1171
Read a review of Iowa-native David Shulman's book, Dark
Hope--Working for Peace in Israel and Palestine:
http://peace.mennolink.org/cgi-bin/m.pl?a=553
Financial Crisis
In
a document addressed to the current international financial
crisis, the Pontifical Council for Peace and Justice said the
crisis is an opportunity "to ask oneself questions that, if
things had gone well, would have been put aside or forgotten."
Among the questions: "How have we arrived at this disastrous
situation...? Why was enough weight not given to the
verification of incidents that should have led to reflection?"
The answers, the Council wrote, suggest that "the ethical
dimension of the economy and finance is not something that is
accessory, but essential...if there is a desire to carry out
correct, long-term economic and financial dynamics fruitful in
progress." It said "the Social Doctrine of the Church, with the
rich variety of its moral principles, can and must make a
contribution of realism and hope both to the questions discussed
today" and "questions that, though being of vital importance for
a large part of the world, do not receive the attention they
deserve."
http://www.zenit.org/article-24369?l=english
More on the Financial Crisis:
The Obama administration contemplates a big stimulus plan...
http://features.csmonitor.com/politics/2008/12/22/obama-weighs-a-supersized-stimulus-plan/
...but conservatives argue that you can't spend your way into
prosperity:
http://features.csmonitor.com/politics/2008/12/23/can-america-spend-its-way-to-economic-recovery/
Network's analysis of the current economic crisis:
http://www.networklobby.org/issues/economic_equity/FinancialCrisis10-31-08.htm
World Food Crisis
To
be effective, the fight against hunger must "recognize that
fighting against hunger is conditioned by multiple factors and
by the motives inspiring it," according to Msgr. Renato Volante,
permanent observer of the Holy See at the UN's Food and
Agriculture Organization. Too often, Msgr. Volante said,
"strategies are adopted which pursue particular goals rather
than a holistic vision which ranks the human needs first." A
better approach does not mean being "closed to new and perhaps
better results made possible by scientific and technological
research and new production systems," but it does require "an
ordered balance between those systems and a proper prevention of
the risks for people and the ecosystems." Msgr. Volante said.
He added: "This means that an ordered research aimed at
improving agricultural production so as to meet the growing food
demand, must not forget the reasons of food security which is
the consumers' health, nor crop sustainability, i.e. the
environmental protection."
http://www.zenit.org/article-24398?l=english
Organizing for Climate Change
Catholic Church officials from more than 170 Catholic
organizations and 38 countries have launched a campaign to
persuade the United Nations to meet the "moral obligation" of
tackling climate change. "Climate change is a reality today
affecting the lives and livelihoods of millions," said an appeal
signed by 92 bishops, archbishops and cardinals. "Economically
developed nations have a moral obligation to tackle climate
change because of their disproportionate consumption of natural
resources," it said. The leaders' appeal, titled "A Call for
Climate Justice," said poor communities were affected the worst
by climate change, but had done the least to cause it. The
statement, which coincided with the UN's Climate Change
Conference in Poland, said Catholics worldwide would "stand in
profound solidarity" with those suffering harsh effects.
http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0806142.htm
>
Text of "A Call for Climate Justice":
http://www.cidse.org/uploadedFiles/Areas_of_work/Climate_Change/cidse_
policy_paper_climate_justice_dec08_EN.pdf
>
Summary of activity from the UN Climate Change Conference in
Poland:
http://unfccc.int/2860.php
More on
Environmental Stewardship:
The Vatican won the 2008 Euro Solar Prize for turning the
football field-sized roof of its Paul VI audience hall into a
giant solar-power generator. The 2,400 solar panels on the roof
of the audience hall will produce some 300,000 kilowatt-hours of
power each year. A large electronic tally board in the hall
keeps count of how many kilowatt hours are being produced and
how much oil and carbon dioxide is being saved.
http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0805996.htm
Clean energy technologies could eliminate one-third of all
carbon emissions and create millions of new jobs by 2030,
according to a new report from the Worldwatch Institute.
http://www.worldwatch.org/node/5945?emc=el&m=175597&l=5&v=6b7824a686
Social Action
...for pregnant women. Democrats for Life is organizing public support for the
Pregnant Women Support Act (S. 2407/H.R. 3192) which would
provide services such as ultrasounds and increased awareness of
existing resources; extend state health insurance to unborn
children; establish programs for pregnant and parenting
students; prevent health insurance issuers from classifying
pregnancy as a pre-existing condition; and increase Food Stamp
allowances and tax credits for adoption.
...for environmental justice. The Catholic social
justice thinktank Center of Concern's "Cultivate a
Climate for Justice" is part of a international campaign for a
fair and equitable international agreement that addresses both
the causes and effects of climate change.
http://coc.org/ed/cultivate-climate-justice
Sky1, an environmental action organization, is organizing
a national network of "Climate Precinct Captains" in 300,000
electoral precincts. Find out more, and volunteer as a captain:
http://action.1sky.org/t/1984/signUp.jsp?key=136
...for a better Africa. The Mocha Club is launching a new campaign to raise
awareness of the joy and hope that exist in Africa. The goal is
to recast an image of the continent which elicits pity over
partnership and convince people in the west that "I need Africa
more than Africa needs me."
https://www.mochaclub.org/mochaclub/i_need_africa
More on Africa:
Read or listen to Kenyan writer Binyavanga Wainaina's concerns
about the effects of prolonged, multi-directional aid on the
people it is aiming to help.
http://speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/programs/2008/ethics_of_aid-kenya/
Pope Benedict proposes 2009 as the "Year For Africa":
http://ncrcafe.org/node/2351
...against Columbian violence. Witness for
Peace continues to advocate for an immediate end to U.S.
military aid to Columbia, where 1,1,122 civilians were murdered
by the Colombian Armed Forces between July 2002 and June 2007, a
68% increase over the previous five year period. Human rights
organizations report that 535 civilians were killed by the
Colombian military between January 2007 and June 2008. Watch
testimony the daughter of one victim of "extra-judicial" killing
at:
http://witnessforpeace.org/article.php?id=625
...for toy safety standards.
Global Trade
Watch campaigns for stricter safety standards on toy
imports, which now account for 90 percent of toys sold in the
U.S.
http://action.citizen.org/t/6413/content.jsp?content_KEY=5058
Resources
Iowa Legislative Priorities
A
list of 2009 legislative concerns and priorities approved by the
Iowa Catholic Conference, the public policy arm of the
Catholic bishops in Iowa, is available at the ICC's website:
http://www.iowacatholicconference.org/bins/site/templates/default.asp?objectid=B15DAF2D0%2D3&area_2=pages%2FICC+Web+Site%2FIssues+Priorities%2FIssues&area_3=pages%2FICC+Web+Site%2FBlank&NC=2246X
Confronting Consumerism
"Through the Eye of A Needle" is a study resource prepared by
PaxChristiUSA to help individuals or small groups focus on
affluenza, overconsumption, sweatshops, the environment, and
simple living.
http://paxchristiusa.3dcartstores.com/Consumerism-Packet-Through-the-Eye-of-a-Needle_p_7-11.html
A Sustainable Food System
Grassroots International and the National Family Farm Coalition offer a free online
resource called "Food for Thought and Action: A Food Sovereignty
Curriculum." This collection of exercises and factsheets helps
participants understand how the food system works (or doesn't)
and proposes alternatives.
http://www.grassrootsonline.org/what-you-can-do/education-for-action/food-thought-action-a-food-sovereignty-curriculum
Racial Responses
Teaching Tolerance provides a variety of resources for administrators, teachers and
parents who want to address racially-motivated reactions to the
election of Mr. Obama.
http://www.tolerance.org/teach/activities/activity.jsp?ar=987&ttnewsletter=ttnewsgen-120408
Perspectives
...on the poor among us. "Society at large
may harbor negative attitudes toward the poor in our midst, but
followers of Jesus do not have the luxury of such feelings,"
writes James Evans.
http://ethicsdaily.com/article_detail.cfm?AID=11417
...on 'conscientious consumption.' Tom
Beaudoin envisions six ways in which to be a "concientious
consumer":
http://www.uscatholic.org/life/2008/07/6-ways-be-a-conscientious-catholic-consumer
...on bridging differences. Jim Wallis says the
faith community can help bridge the divide on moral issues which
have rent American politics:
http://www.sojo.net/index.cfm?action=magazine.article&issue=soj0901&article=a-new-faith-coalition
...on agricultural reforms. Christopher Cook
says the time has come to reform agricultural policies which
subsize large corporate farms and destructive industrial
agriculture, and rob the countryside of economic diversity and
environmental resources such as water and topsoil.
http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/1226/p09s02-coop.html
21st century may
grossly underestimate the effect of climate
change on the flow of Antarctica's ice sheets.
http://www.worldwatch.org/node/5958?emc=el&m=181324&l=4&v=6b7824a686
...on the American Empire.
Gary Dorrien wrote recently, most of the world
has no doubt that the U.S. is an empire, but now
it has plenty of doubt about the kind of empire
that the U.S. wants to be. An overview of the
discussion provided by Religion and Ethics
Newsweekly:
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/episodes/november-21-2008/god-and-empire/1216/#hide
Prayer
A Prayer for All Who Live with Violence
This year as we sing Silent Night
with its echoes of calm and heavenly peace,
we say a prayer for all who live in homes
where peace is absent.
We pray for children who live in fear,
whose homes are not a place of safety,
but a place of physical and verbal beatings.
We pray for seniors and other vulnerable people
whose caregivers do not care
as they are neglected or degraded.
We pray for all who are emotionally abused,
and who are not loved, honored and cherished.
We pray for women who have had to flee their homes
or are afraid to flee their homes.
We pray for all who have been sexually violated,
and who are haunted by fear of violation.
May love's pure light this season empower us
to come to the aid of your hurting people.
We join together to sing Alleluia and thank you
for your grace that transforms our world.
In the name of the Holy Infant,
Jesus our Savior, Amen.
-- Written by Carol Penner of Vineland, Ontario, online in the
Dec. 16 issue of
PeaceSigns:
http://peace.mennolink.org/cgi-bin/m.pl?a=556
Read Fr. John Dear's "Christmas Prayer for Peace" from his
National Catholic Reporter blog at:
http://ncrcafe.org/node/2343
Worth Quoting...
"By now we have all heard about the Wal-Mart employee in Long
Island who was trampled to death
. Mr. Damour's death is a
single, shocking glance at the incalcuable cost of always low
price. Incalcuable because we don't really know how many more
Jdimytai Damours have been trampled by the force of a
disconnected trade system
.
"[T]he truth is most of us don't know who milked the cows today
that we will drink from tomorrow. Nor do we know who cuts the
cane for our sugar or picks the bananas for our lunchboxes or
sews the shoes for our feet. We have no idea whether they are
making a fair wage or--like Mr. Damour--being left exposed to
the cruel forces of consumption.
"So, in reality, we're a lot like the folks at the back of that
Wal-Mart line. We have no idea who's up there ahead of us. We
can't see who's being crushed by the weight of our wants. All we
know is that there's a sale and the doors are now open
."
--
Ryon Price, pastor of United Church of Colchester (Vt.) in a
commentary on EthicsDaily.com at
http://ethicsdaily.com/article_detail.cfm?AID=11415
Posted 05.02.08
Last Update
04.13.09
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