Saturday, February 7, 2009
Justice for Immigrants
The Justice for ImmigrantsCampaign of the USCCB encourages letters to the new Congress in supportof Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CIR). See http://www.justiceforimmigrants.org/ and click Take Action on right side of the page for sending letters via capwiz. President Obama stated his support for CIR during his campaign, and although the economy has to be front and center now, we need to keep the issue before our congressional representatives.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Praise the Lord and Green the Roof
On January 30, The New York Times published an article by Joseph Huff-Hannon, "Praise the Lord and Green the Roof."
An excerpt: "In setting out to construct an environmentally advanced building to replace the trio of connected brownstones that they now call home, the Episcopal sisters of the Community of the Holy Spirit were taking a giant step in their decade-long journey to weave ecological concerns into their daily ministry. While they have long tried to reduce their carbon footprint at 113th Street, the new convent, for which construction will begin in March, will help them be green from the ground up."
Click here to read the entire article.
An excerpt: "In setting out to construct an environmentally advanced building to replace the trio of connected brownstones that they now call home, the Episcopal sisters of the Community of the Holy Spirit were taking a giant step in their decade-long journey to weave ecological concerns into their daily ministry. While they have long tried to reduce their carbon footprint at 113th Street, the new convent, for which construction will begin in March, will help them be green from the ground up."
Click here to read the entire article.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Ursuline Sister Sentened to 60 Days in Prison
Press release from the Ursuline Sisters of Cleveland (dated January 26, 2009):
Ursuline Sister of Cleveland Diane Therese Pinchot was sentenced to 60 days in prison for misdemeanor trespassing onto the grounds of Fort Benning in Georgia Nov. 23, 2008. She did not receive a fine. She says she trespassed and risked arrest and a prison sentence “to raise awareness of the need to close the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHINSEC),” formerly known as the U.S. Army School of the Americas (SOA), a military training school for Latin American security personnel located at Fort Benning.
Sister Diane Therese’s action—like her religious order’s corporate stance calling for the closure of SOA/WHINSEC—is grounded in the December 1980 rape and murder of fellow Ursuline and friend Sister Dorothy Kazel and her companions, lay missioner Jean Donovan and Maryknoll Sisters Maura Clarke and Ita Ford in El Salvador. Three of the five Salvadoran National Guardsmen convicted of the crimes were trained at the SOA. The two officers who ordered the killings have yet to be charged for their involvement.
“Dorothy’s death and the thousands of other deaths and disappearances taught us nothing if today the same U.S. government is still training Latin American soldiers the skills of torture and war,” says Sister Diane Therese.
On weekend of her arrest Sister Diane Therese joined more than 20,000 people at the gates of Fort Benning to participate in an annual vigil to call for an examination of U.S. foreign policy as it relates to Latin America and closing SOA/WHINSEC. The vigil takes place each year in conjunction with the anniversary of the 1989 massacre of six Jesuit priests, their housekeeper and the housekeeper’s daughter at the hands of a Salvadoran Army patrol. Nineteen of the military officers cited for the murders received training at the U.S. Army School of the Americas.
Former students and graduates of SOA/WHINSEC consistently make the news for committing violent crimes against the people of their home countries, including massacres of entire villages. Recently former students and graduates have been increasingly associated with committing violent crimes on behalf of drug cartels.
Since protests against the SOA/WHINSEC began 19 years ago, more than 225 “prisoners of conscience” have served sentences of up to two years for nonviolent civil disobedience.
Ursuline Sister of Cleveland Diane Therese Pinchot was sentenced to 60 days in prison for misdemeanor trespassing onto the grounds of Fort Benning in Georgia Nov. 23, 2008. She did not receive a fine. She says she trespassed and risked arrest and a prison sentence “to raise awareness of the need to close the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHINSEC),” formerly known as the U.S. Army School of the Americas (SOA), a military training school for Latin American security personnel located at Fort Benning.
Sister Diane Therese’s action—like her religious order’s corporate stance calling for the closure of SOA/WHINSEC—is grounded in the December 1980 rape and murder of fellow Ursuline and friend Sister Dorothy Kazel and her companions, lay missioner Jean Donovan and Maryknoll Sisters Maura Clarke and Ita Ford in El Salvador. Three of the five Salvadoran National Guardsmen convicted of the crimes were trained at the SOA. The two officers who ordered the killings have yet to be charged for their involvement.
“Dorothy’s death and the thousands of other deaths and disappearances taught us nothing if today the same U.S. government is still training Latin American soldiers the skills of torture and war,” says Sister Diane Therese.
On weekend of her arrest Sister Diane Therese joined more than 20,000 people at the gates of Fort Benning to participate in an annual vigil to call for an examination of U.S. foreign policy as it relates to Latin America and closing SOA/WHINSEC. The vigil takes place each year in conjunction with the anniversary of the 1989 massacre of six Jesuit priests, their housekeeper and the housekeeper’s daughter at the hands of a Salvadoran Army patrol. Nineteen of the military officers cited for the murders received training at the U.S. Army School of the Americas.
Former students and graduates of SOA/WHINSEC consistently make the news for committing violent crimes against the people of their home countries, including massacres of entire villages. Recently former students and graduates have been increasingly associated with committing violent crimes on behalf of drug cartels.
Since protests against the SOA/WHINSEC began 19 years ago, more than 225 “prisoners of conscience” have served sentences of up to two years for nonviolent civil disobedience.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
TroyDavis Video
Amnesty International USA has posted this video in support of Troy Davis, who still awaits his fate in Georgia. You will recall that Troy Davis faces execution for the murder of Police Officer Mark MacPhail in Georgia, despite a strong claim of innocence. 7 out of 9 witnesses have recanted or contradicted their testimony, no murder weapon was found and no physical evidence links Davis to the crime. The Georgia Board of Pardon and Paroles has voted to deny clemency, yet Governor Perdue can still exercise leadership to ensure that his death sentence is commuted. Please urge him to demonstrate respect for fairness and justice by supporting clemency for Troy Davis. Click on the video below for more information. E-mail subscribers must go to the blog http://sccjpic.blogspot.com/ in order to see the post containing the video.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
A message from the Partnership for Global Justice:
Commission on Social Development Begins February 4, 2009
The Commission for Social Development will be meeting at UN Headquarters in New York , February 4-13. The Commission is a functional commission of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations, consisting of 46 members (nation-states) who are elected by ECOSOC. Each year the Commission takes up key social development themes and produces statements on what would enhance the situation of peoples throughout the world.
Social Integration is the priority theme for the 2009-2010 review and policy cycle. The discussion will take into account the interrelation of social integration with poverty eradication, full employment and decent work for all. This year’s theme, Social Integration, will also include a review of UN plans and programs of action regarding disabled persons, youth, aging and the family. The themes that have emerged for follow-up for the Commission for Social Development were the issues raised at the World Summit for Social Development in Copenhagen in 1995. The Commission for Social Development is in charge of the follow-up and implementation of the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action.
For more information regarding this commission go to:www.un.org/esa/socdev/csd. For information regarding NGO statements for the Commission, go to: www.un.org/esa/socdev/cd/2009_ngostats.html.
Commission on Social Development Begins February 4, 2009
The Commission for Social Development will be meeting at UN Headquarters in New York , February 4-13. The Commission is a functional commission of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations, consisting of 46 members (nation-states) who are elected by ECOSOC. Each year the Commission takes up key social development themes and produces statements on what would enhance the situation of peoples throughout the world.
Social Integration is the priority theme for the 2009-2010 review and policy cycle. The discussion will take into account the interrelation of social integration with poverty eradication, full employment and decent work for all. This year’s theme, Social Integration, will also include a review of UN plans and programs of action regarding disabled persons, youth, aging and the family. The themes that have emerged for follow-up for the Commission for Social Development were the issues raised at the World Summit for Social Development in Copenhagen in 1995. The Commission for Social Development is in charge of the follow-up and implementation of the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action.
For more information regarding this commission go to:www.un.org/esa/socdev/csd. For information regarding NGO statements for the Commission, go to: www.un.org/esa/socdev/cd/2009_ngostats.html.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Correcting misleading information on FOCA
Those of us who were encouraged to pray the FOCA novena are asked to be aware of several misleading statements contained therein. Click here to read the Catholic News Agency article detailing the efforts of the USCCB to correct misleading information contained in the novena (which, incidentally, did not originate with and had no connection to the USCCB). While it is very important that we be diligent ambassadors of pro-life issues, it's equally as important to be consistent and correct in that message.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
What's on Your Heart?
From Jubilee USA:
President Obama and his new economic team, including Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, have a huge job ahead of them. They will be facing down a growing economic crisis and recession in the United States from day one.
But while we must work for economic justice at home, we must also not forget our brothers and sisters across the globe in this time of need. That’s why Jubilee USA has launched a new campaign – the What’s On Your Heart? Campaign.
As the Gospel of Matthew tells us, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also…” As the Torah reminds us, "Do not close your heart or shut your hand from your poor brother".
In this new campaign we will welcome new Treasury Secretary Geithner to his position by telling him what’s on our hearts as Jubilee people in these difficult times.
From now until February 9th, we will be collecting hand-written notes on hearts, postcards, and online letters from you to Treasury Secretary Geithner telling him which Jubilee issues are on your heart in this time of crisis. We will deliver all of these messages to him when we welcome him to his new position sometime just before Valentine's Day.
Learn more about this campaign and take action with your congregation or community today!
VISIT What's on Your Heart Main Page
TAKE ACTION Order postcards to use in your communities
TAKE ACTION Sign the online postcard
DOWNLOAD What's on Your Heart Campaign One Pager (Click HERE for Jewish Version)
President Obama and his new economic team, including Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, have a huge job ahead of them. They will be facing down a growing economic crisis and recession in the United States from day one.
But while we must work for economic justice at home, we must also not forget our brothers and sisters across the globe in this time of need. That’s why Jubilee USA has launched a new campaign – the What’s On Your Heart? Campaign.
As the Gospel of Matthew tells us, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also…” As the Torah reminds us, "Do not close your heart or shut your hand from your poor brother".
In this new campaign we will welcome new Treasury Secretary Geithner to his position by telling him what’s on our hearts as Jubilee people in these difficult times.
From now until February 9th, we will be collecting hand-written notes on hearts, postcards, and online letters from you to Treasury Secretary Geithner telling him which Jubilee issues are on your heart in this time of crisis. We will deliver all of these messages to him when we welcome him to his new position sometime just before Valentine's Day.
Learn more about this campaign and take action with your congregation or community today!
VISIT What's on Your Heart Main Page
TAKE ACTION Order postcards to use in your communities
TAKE ACTION Sign the online postcard
DOWNLOAD What's on Your Heart Campaign One Pager (Click HERE for Jewish Version)
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