Human Trafficking Story on CNNs "Situation Room"

Click here to view the video of CNNs Barbara Starr reporting on sex slaves living only blocks from the White House.

Test Your Refugee Knowledge

How much do you know about the world's most vulnerable people -- refugees and displaced people? Click here to be directed to the Refugees International web site to take a quiz aimed at increasing your knowledge. It's only 15 questions; it won't take long. A little more knowledge can't hurt!

South Kordofan, Sudan

According to the Sudan Tribune: "Intense fighting in South Kordofan has displaced over 60,000 people, with more than 35,000 believed to be heading to El Obeid in North Kordofan, the UN office for the coordination of humanitarian affairs declared on 15 June. On 5 June, fighting broke out in the key northern border state of South Kordofan between the northern army – Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the Sudan Peoples Liberation Army(SPLA), raising fears of a possible return to war, just weeks before South Sudan becomes independent on the 9 July. The clash followed an ultimatum issued by the northern army ordering their southern counterparts to vacate the states of South Kordofan and Blue Nile; two of the regions which border South Sudan. Insecurity in Kaduguli, the South Kordofan capital has reportedly limited humanitarian organisations from either re-allocating their staff from the town or blocked re-supply of stocks in the region."

Click here to read more from the Sudan Tribune, and here to follow the situation on Sudan Catholic Radio Network.

June 5 - World Environment Day

World Environment Day (WED) was established by the U.N. General Assembly in 1972 and has been commemorated each year since then. The purpose of the day is to stimulate worldwide interest in the awareness of environmental issues and to encourage political attention and action. Click here for more information about WED from the United Nation Environment Programme website.

The USG/UISG Commission for Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation in Rome developed a prayer to commemorate World Environment Day. Click here to access the prayer, which focuses on celebration, lamentation, and response.

Remembering

Icon of Franz Jägerstätter by William Hart McNichols:

On this Memorial Day, we pause to remember so many who gave their lives in so many ways. Pax Christi USA asks us to reflect on Franz Jägerstätter, the Austrian Catholic who was martyred on August 9, 1943 for refusing to serve in the armies of the Third Reich. From Pax Christi USA: "As we approach Memorial Day and to commemorate Franz's life, let us pray for the day that no soldier will die in battle for their country, and that in the interim, those soldiers of faith who are opposed to any or all wars, can act on their individual conscience without needing to accept the ultimate verdict bestowed on Franz Jägerstätter."

PCUSA Prayer for Memorial Day: God of peace and love, throughout this Memorial Day weekend, let us remember those who have died in war or who have suffered Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and moral injury, sometimes ending in their taking their own life through suicide. Let us pray and act with the cry "War No More", and until we reach that day, empower us to work to avoid war. Let us help U.S. soldiers whose consciences are awakened to the moral depravity of war to be able to act on their individual conscience without having to suffer the price that Blessed Franz paid. We ask all this through Jesus, who gave us his peace so that we may be people of peace. Amen.

Technical Difficulties

I'm not sure why our e-mail subscribers got a post from Advent 2010, but it happened! Apologies . . .

Immigration Reform

Click here to read the text of President Obama's speech in El Paso, TX on May 10 and click here to read the response from the USCCB, delivered by Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles.