When in a prison, you came to my cell Israeli troops invade Bethlehem Conflict in Oaxaca, Mexico New Resources Delegation Opportunity

J/P Alert is the newsletter of the Justice and Peace office of CMSM. It is intended to inform and stimulate discussion and involvement among the members. Its contents do not necessarily represent official positions of CMSM.

When in a prison, you came to my cell

The Catholic Bishops, in their pastoral letter of 2000, Responsibility, Rehabilitation, and Restoration: A Catholic Perspective on Crime and Criminal Justice asked "how can
we as Catholics restore a respect for law and life, protect and rebuild communities, and confront crime without vengeance and defend life without taking life?" Supporting the women and children of Women's Re-Entry Network (WREN) in Cleveland, one of the poorest cities of our country, is an effective response to this query.

Having spent over twenty-five years in Catholic education as teacher and administrator, my response to this pastoral began with six years of volunteer work through the Catholic Chaplain's Office with the women at the Cuyahoga County Jail, an experience that introduced me to the reality of the need the Bishops were discussing. As I searched for agencies to assist these women, I was introduced to the Women's Re-Entry Network (WREN) on Cleveland's west side, the only agency in the county whose sole mission is to formerly incarcerated women, a population of women who have very few, if any, advocates.

One of my first experiences with incarcerated women occurred when the Chaplain invited me to do a Scripture sharing with them. When I began the Scripture sharing, I faced two groups of women sitting on folding chairs with an aisle in between. I told them my name and asked them if they would be willing to tell me theirs.

One woman immediately responded with a sweep of her hand: "Oh, sure, we're the misdemeanors and they're the felons." When I heard her statement, my shocked inner response was that not only were these women an invisible population to most of Cleveland, they were invisible to themselves as persons loved by God. They had been so damaged by a life marked by lack of education, lack of opportunity, and in most cases physical and sexual abuse, they were devoid of self-worth.

I used this response to speak briefly about our identity as children of God and asked again if they would be willing to share their names. This was one of my first lessons in the invisibility of a woman to herself as well as her invisibility as an incarcerated person.

This population of women are members of an Invisible Church who made the mandate of Matt. 25: "When I was in prison you visited me," a Word of God I could finally hear. Acting upon this Word, I came to understand a bit better why Jesus selected the incarcerated for his special attention.

Another Scripture that comes to mind when I think about these women is from Jeremiah- "Rachel weeping for her children because they were no more." I had seldom, if ever, related this Scripture to an incarcerated mother who had lost custody of her children. Custody is easily lost because incarcerated women cannot afford drug rehabilitation or secure housing or employment. When I consider their plight and see their tears, I feel as though I am treading water in an ocean of sorrow with women who have paid their price in jail and prison time. However, they continue to suffer punishment from a society that bars felons from government subsidized housing and from a job that pays well enough to cover rent, utilities, and food.

To better understand quality of life for these women, research at Cleveland State University shows that while over 90% of formerly incarcerated males have a wife or girlfriend to put money on their commissary, visit them, and give them shelter when they are released, less than 10% of women have the same benefits from their husbands or boyfriends. Thus, women leaving jail/prison have a very good chance of being poor and homeless.

The client profile of women served at WREN is that of a minority woman who is a non-violent drug-related offender living below the poverty level, with a history of chronic unemployment and on average a tenth grade education. Over 80% of these women have endured sexual and physical abuse; 66% have significant mental health issues, and over 80% of WREN clients have struggled with substance abuse.

WREN's program is successful, with a rate of recidivism of 12% as compared to the State of Ohio rate of recidivism of 62%. In the words of a WREN client: "Without this program, I'd be back in jail for sure. I had an evil personality; I didn't like people because all they did was hurt me. The more I came here, the better it was for me. I softened up when I realized that WREN was here to help me and not hurt me. I got no help out of the prison system. WREN is a caring place where I could use a phone, make copies, get help getting the ID's I needed…WREN got me involved with my children, helped me with parenting, writers club. This is family to me."

In the current social climate, WREN's holistic service program, despite its proven success, rate is more and more difficult to fund. WREN is seeking to partner with congregations who provide ministry grants so that we can continue to serve women and their children who are in urgent need. If your congregation has a question and/or would be interested in partnering with WREN, please send a ministry grant application and guidelines to:

Sr. Beverly Anne LoGrasso, OSU
WREN
1468 West 25th St./Cleveland, Ohio 44113-3102
216-696-7535, ext. 215

blograsso@communityreentry.org

[The following article was provided by Bro. Jack Curran, FSC, Vice President for Development of Bethlehem University. More information can be found at www.maannews.net/en/index.php?opr=ShowDetails&ID=17336 and www.bethlehem.edu/news_events/bu_in_news/list.php].

20 November 2006

After the noon Mass in the University Chapel today, at about 1 o'clock this afternoon, I called Shamiran, our evening cook. I noticed that we didn't have enough chicken for dinner this evening, so I called to ask her to buy some chicken on her way to our house to cook the evening meal tonight. "Oh, OK Brother, no problem. I will buy chicken for tonight," she readily responded to my request. I closed the phone and went back to the office for some afternoon work.

Nothing unusual happened during the afternoon in the office. I came home just before our 6pm Evening Prayer in the Brothers House. But, before I went to the Chapel, I stopped in the kitchen to say hello to Shamiran and to see if everything was OK for the evening dinner.

" Hey, Brother!," shouted Ramzi, Shamiran's 11 year old son, with a little smile on his face as I walked into the kitchen. Ramzi often comes to the Brothers House and does his school homework in the kitchen as his Mom prepares the evening meal for the Brothers Community. "Hey, Ramzi, keif halik," I respond in my feeble English-Arabic. As we greet each other, Shamiran assures me that everything is OK for the evening's dinner. "I got the chicken just in time," she said. "What's that mean?" I said with a puzzled look on my face. "You didn't know?" she replied. "The Israelis invaded Bethlehem this afternoon, just after you called me to pick up the chicken, and they were shooting and firing tear gas. I got the children and we went to other side of town, where the butcher is, and I got the chicken and we came here right away," she continued. "Everything is OK now, they left. But they injured a few people, no one killed this time," she concluded as she glanced over to her son who was squirming a little in his chair while doing his homework in the kitchen. Shamiran went back preparing the evening meal for the Brothers, and I went up to the Chapel for our evening prayer.

At 6 pm the Brothers gathered in the Chapel as we normally do, and prayed the Prayer of Christians for Week One … that was more than 7 hours ago and here it is a little after 1 o'clock in the morning and I find myself going back to pray parts of the evening prayer … "save your people, Lord …. Show your love to those who are suffering …the Lord tests the just and the wicked … the lover of violence he hates … the upright shall see the face of the Lord…"I'm still praying for Shamiran and her son Ramzi, for his innocence and their well-being as Mother and Son. That as they and the rest of the people living in Bethlehem and throughout the Occupied West Bank and Gaza keep on trying to live each day as "normally" as possible, that they be strengthened … protected … in short, that they be "saved" … that they "see the face of the Lord."

Pray for the victims of war and violence here and throughout the world. Pray for those "regular Moms and kids" who find themselves "in the crossfire" of long-standing politically sanctioned war and killings.

Let us hope that tomorrow is indeed a better day— one without a military incursion, without gun fights and tear gas.

May the Lord save us all … and show us his face.

By the way, the chicken was tasty. Shamiran, whose 15 year old daughter, Leila, died from a brain tumor about two weeks ago, will be with us tomorrow night preparing meat loaf for dinner. Tomorrow, may we have a "normal" day. Amen.

[Since last summer, the situation in Oaxaca has escalated into a serious confrontation between popular organizations and the Mexican government. Updated information is available on the web at www.sipaz.org/ofini_eng.htm.

The following letter was published by the Mexican Conference of Religious (CIRM) in response to the crisis in Oaxaca. Following the letter there is a summary provided by CIRM of some of the "facts on the ground."]

A fraternal word from the National Executive Board of the Mexican Conference of Religious, to the People of Mexico and especially the People of Oaxaca:

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice;
They shall have their fill,
Blessed are they who show mercy;
Mercy shall be theirs.
Blessed too are the peacemakers;
They shall be called children of God".
Matt. 5, 6-9.

Brothers and Sisters of Oaxaca:
As National Executive Board of CIRM we enter into solidarity with the suffering, struggle and crisis that you endure in the present moment. It is in all of you that we contemplate Christ Crucified as we realize that it is necessary to pass from the Cross to the Resurrection, from Death to Life.

We know that this situation is the result of accumulated history, where authoritarianism, injustice, impunity, corruption, marginalization of peoples, poverty, lack of equality, unemployment and migration have been present along with a lack of efficient institutions that truly work in favor of citizens, especially indigenous peoples.

We know that in this present moment the systematic violation of human rights has become acute. There are serious obstacles to the correct administration of justice and lack of governance is the present reality.

We support and encourage the national and international organizations that with their presence, organization and participation give support to the struggle for living conditions that include justice and dignity. With this in mind, we recognize as very significant the proposal put forward by the Initiative for Dialogue for Peace, Democracy and Justice in Oaxaca. This proposal aims at changes in the formal and informal structures in Oaxaca by democratic and institutional means in order to accomplish a new social pact. We trust in the efforts of the many participants that are searching for a peaceful solution and that these efforts will benefit especially those most in need.

We are thankful for these efforts and encourage persevering and courageous citizen participation.

We declare without doubt that: God wants everyone to live. This is why we are told: "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice; they shall have their fill." (Matt. 5,6) This is the beatitude that belongs to those who know that in God's plan there is fullness of life for all brothers and sisters; whoever lives in accord with this beatitude does not tire of demanding justice for the dispossessed. God wants a fraternal society where there is equality, justice and freedom. Blessed be those whose struggle for justice is an expression of their fidelity to God, because God himself will give them their fill.

It is so difficult and yet so important at this time to hear our Lord who tells us: "Blessed are they who show mercy; mercy shall be theirs". (Mat. 5,7) In a society that favors divisions and confrontation there will not be any positive movement if quarrels or personal resentments among individuals or groups become the spring board for their action. (Cfr. Social Action Pastoral Directory for Mexico, nos. 184 and 185). Our Lord tells us: "Blessed too are the peacemakers; they shall be called children of God". Finding a way out of this conflict must be with dignity for all those involved. May the violence, that these situations provoke, not win over the possibility of finding a way out of these conflicts.

To Our Brothers and Sisters of Mexico:

Making our own the word from the Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, we declare: "A firm determination to respect the dignity of other persons and other peoples along with the deliberate practice of fraternal love are absolutely necessary for the achievement of peace." We must reject "political systems which hinder civil and religious liberty or victimize their citizens through avarice and political crimes, or distort the use of authority from being at the service of the common good to benefiting the convenience of political parties or of the governing classes." (Gaudium et Spes, 73 and 78).

To Our Religious Brothers and Sisters:

The serious commitment of many of our members at this point in time fills us with hope and empowers us so as not to remain indifferent and so we encourage you strongly to promote, by whatever means are within your reach: Truth, true communication and dialogue, communion, justice and peace. May our radical following of the Lord Jesus become in our country a true offering of our lives for the construction of the Reign of God.

On Behalf of the National Executive Board of CIRM
Hna. Ma. Dolores Palencia Gómez, hsj
President

Present Reality In Oaxaca, Mexico, 2006

Genesis of the present situation

The present social and political movement in Oaxaca, did not begin on June 14, 2006, the day of government repression. Rather, its roots are found in the political system that is vertical in its authoritarianism and has reigned supreme for more than 70 years. The exercise of political power is authoritarian. For example, Oaxaca is the only State where the Chamber of Deputies certifies elections, where the membership of the Human Rights State Commission is named by the executive (this organism is decentralized but does not have autonomy). With this authoritarian exercise of power many offenses have been committed against individuals, society and the Indigenous. There is a need for profound political reform.

The magnitude of poverty and political exclusion is well known by everyone that lives in Oaxaca. Economic power is in the hands of a small political class that simply adjusts and changes to suit terms of government.

It is also evident that the State of Oaxaca maintains a high level of social action in defense of human rights and of the Indigenous.

Most Immediate Background

The electoral process of 2004 took place in the context of a very close election and a high level of citizen participation. The election encountered the vertical reality of the PRI and an opposition with ample possibility of bringing about a change. In the minds of many what remained is an awareness of electoral fraud, an investment of an enormous amount of resources geared for the election of Ulises Ruiz and a divided society.

The struggle for the cultural and political symbols. Culturally speaking, in Oaxaca symbols have a determining value. The State Government Building was abandoned by the Governor and transformed into a museum and a site for luxurious banquets. The hall where the Chamber of Deputies held its sessions was transformed into a theatre. Both government agencies are now located outside of the city, close to the police department. The city's cultural landscape, valued by its citizens (Zocalo, the Llano, the fountain of the Seven Regions, the Guelaguetza auditorium), were changed without consultation or fiscal accountability. Trees have fallen because the earth has been shaken, and now the roots are exposed without sufficient soil to nurture life. Most believe that all of these expenses took place in order to justify the funds spent by Ulises in the political campaign of Madrazo, the PRI's presidential candidate.

The Teachers' Movement. An annual event for the past 26 years, this past May witnessed its traditional mobilization. In its demands was a recurring demand for increase in salary— Oaxaca is a tourist site with a high cost of living. In contrast to previous years, this year the government did not enter into dialogue. It did not establish a negotiations board and on the 14th of July the government attempted to disperse the protest organization by dropping tear and pepper gas from a helicopter, but was not successful with the exception of fully igniting the Oaxaca protest movement. All the social pressures that had been building up exploded, including the most recent abuses such as the persecution of the newspaper Noticias, which did not allow itself to be manipulated by the government. These many groups became united under one single demand: that Ulises Ruiz Ortiz (URO) [governor of Oaxaca] leave the State and resign. That is how a new political actor arose, the the Popular Assembly of the People of Oaxaca, later known as the Assembly of the Peoples/entities of Oaxaca or APPO. Five mega-protest marches were organized against a governor who had pledged to eliminate them. Women organized a march on August 1st that was called the "pots and pans" march because pots and pans were carried and used as a clanging statement. They managed to reach the Channel 9 TV station, asking for an hour of transmission. That request was denied, so they decided to take over the installation. This act was acclaimed by the citizenship as "August 1st, Woman's Day of Oaxaca" and the organization, Coordination of the Women of Oaxaca (COMO) was established. From that day on, programs began to be transmitted that encouraged a popular uprising. Many organized themselves to protect the television antenna. On the 21st of August, at dawn, a large number of plain-clothes police officers and paramilitary elements, numbering about 40, attacked the Channel 9 TV station and damaged the transmission equipment. In this incident, Sergio Vale Jiménez a 58 year old teacher, was seriously injured, as well as a woman. That brought the transmissions to an end. However, the APPO quickly took control of all the local radio stations. Injuries to women also resulted here as they protect the radio stations with barricades during the night and sit-ins during the day by persons from every age group.

Recent Action

Political Power— violence and repression, with rumors of eviction— has created a great confusion in society along with acts of provocation, executions and kidnappings. All of this has been taking place most recently. On Saturday, September 30 at 5:30 pm, military helicopters began to fly over the city. The newspapers announced that they were taking photos of the camp sites. The fear and tension has been increasing. Many families with the means to do so have left Oaxaca. The university spokesperson has been kidnapped and a student leader has been wounded. Tensions run high, and the persons who have established a camp at the Zocalo live each day with insecurity.

On October 27, the APPO called for a work stoppage in Oaxaca. This is the third day of the ultimatum asking the Federal Government to remove Ulises Ruiz. There were several confrontations, one of them, in Santa Lucia del Camino, resulted in the death of the American reporter from Indymedia and another three persons, among them a teacher. These acts were determinative in the orders given by President Fox that the PFP intervene in Oaxaca. Early on Sunday, October 29, the invasion of Oaxaca began: three columns leading to the Zocalo totaling, 4536 men, 120 agents of the PGR, six helicopters, 14 police barricades. The townspeople emptied into the streets to protest and block the movement of the PFP. There were 13 hours of battle that left 2 dead, 10 wounded, 50 arrested; 15 buses and 4 vehicles burned. Two days after the invasion the city was still not under control. The APPO will have its center of operations, not at the Zocalo, but in the atrium of the church of Santo Domingo. The PFP, according to the presidential spokesperson, will remain in Oaxaca until order is re-established. Solidarity with the APPO has been felt from different parts of the Mexican Republic, especially from Mexico City.

The Civilian Observation Mission September 4-8, 2006

The Civilian Observation Mission representing 16 local, national and international organizations, visited several sites in the City of Oaxaca and some municipalities. Their objective was to witness the reality that is experienced in the State of Oaxaca and document Human Rights violations as well as economic, cultural and ecological rights.

The observation identified the following violations to Human Rights: violation of fundamental liberties— in the case of Professor Germán Mendoza Nube, lack of medical attention and measures required by his physical handicap are serious violations of his human dignity. There has been inhuman and degrading treatment, and freedom of expression has been denied. The rights of freedom and personal safety have been violated, as has due process. The right to inform family immediately when someone is detained has been violated and the granting of reasonable means to communicate with family has been denied. Freedom of expression has been denied by repression of the newspaper Noticias by kidnapping the employees of this daily for 31 days. There is a lack of access to the news of decisions that the government is making. There is harassment of the leadership. Every person has the right to life and security. Mr. Lorenzo Pablo Cervantes and Mr. José Colmenares were assassinated in front of the radio station la Ley 711 in the course of a protest march. There have been death threats, harassment of popular movement leaders, during public events and at their home addresses. Police force has been used to bring fear to the community through irregular action in plain clothes. Militarization has been undertaken, with the pretext of combating the guerilla that appeared on August 30 in the Juárez mountains.

Of the 570 municipalities of Oaxaca, 80.3% live at the margins of basic services such as drainage, public lighting, drinking water, and pavement. In some of these municipalities the Indigenous population face a double discrimination because of their ethnic origin. The situation in the rural areas is serious: 656 conflicts have been registered due to competing claims on the land. Defense of property rights have become an important issue among farmers and Indigenous. The great projects such as the Puebla Panama Plan (PPP) or the program for the certification of public land and granting of deeds to irregular parcels represent a risk to security and nutrition. The use and enjoyment of communal lands is threatened by the exploitation of natural resources by multinational corporations. Annually, between 200 and 250 thousand persons from Oaxaca migrate to the United States or to the northern part of Mexico. All of this is an institutionalized violation of Human Rights by the State.

The tearing of the very fabric of society is made evident by the climate of tension, lack of trust and insecurity among the citizenship. The week of the 21st to the 25th of August, attacks and harassment became more intensive against the protest participants. The Observation Mission was able to verify and affirm that lack of trust and psychosis has penetrated all parts of the community, generating a rupture that has sharply polarized society.

The Civil Observers reached the following conclusions:

1. That force be absolutely discarded as a way of solving the conflict.
2. That full respect be accorded to the persons that have been detained.
3. That investigation of Human Rights violations take place.
4. That the army immediately leave the Sierra Norte of Oaxaca and
   publicly report their activity there.
5. Transform the police force in such a way that the security of citizens is
   guaranteed and not that of the government who happens to be in power.
6. Begin a public debate regarding a complete reform of the justice system.
7. Given the damage to the social fabric, establish, with the participation of
   society, a cultural process that will restructure the social identity with
   the patrimony of the city and state, as well as consider the need to
   implement a mental health program for the community.
8. That all those involved in bringing about a solution to the conflict take into consideration the benefits that are possible by bringing into play social
   participation and that this be the foundation piece for the transformation
   of the State of Oaxaca.

(Taken from the preliminary report "Violation of human rights in Oaxaca. From the teacher's work stoppage to popular mobilization," Oaxaca, 4-8 September 2006)

Living God's Justice : Reflections and Prayers
The Roundtable Association of Diocesan Social Action Directors

For Christians, prayer is never entirely a personal matter. Jesus taught us to pray in such a way that we are always mindful of the concerns of others, and of our relationships with others. Living God's Justice is a sourcebook of just such prayers—words that help us to orient ourselves toward others in a way that leads to right relationship with God and effective prayer.

Drawing on the wisdom of the ages—from Saint Francis of Assisi to Pope John Paul II, Thomas á Kempis to Mother Teresa, Saint Augustine to Thea Bowman—this collection reminds us that we are all members of one body, one church and others depend upon our prayers as much as we depend upon theirs.

Available from the National Pastoral Life Center, $14.95. Bulk discounts are 15% for 50+ copies and 25% for 100+ copies.

Education for Justice

Education for Justice (EfJ) is an online library of resources to promote Catholic Social Teaching (CST) and Justice Issues. EfJ members have access to thousands of pages of resources on more than 50 justice topics. In addition, members receive bi-weekly e-mail notification of the new materials posted since the last report.

Just some of the resource types EfJ offers include:

• articles
• reflection/discussion guides
• fact sheets/bulletin inserts
• interactive activities for groups
• lectionary reflections
• much more

In order to extend these great resources to even more people, EfJ is currently offering free, 30-day trial memberships to the website (www.educationforjustice.org) to anyone who mentions the offer when emailing efj@coc.org. We hope that you will explore this valuable website and then spread the good news about 30-day offer to anyone who can benefit from such resources.

The SHARE Foundation: Building a New El Salvador Today invites you on a delegation for the 30th Commemoration of the Martyrdom of Father Rutilio Grande, SJ (1928 – 1977), March 9 –16, 2007.

Approximate cost: $950 plus airfare

We hope that you will consider joining us as we walk in the footsteps of the martyrs and accompany those that still struggle for peace with justice in El Salvador.

For more information, please contact: angela@share-elsalvador.org.

Your comments and suggestions are always welcome.
How can the Justice and Peace Office help you get involved?

T. Michael McNulty, SJ, editor
mmcnulty@cmsm.org

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