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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.
Cardinal Mahony Urges Candidates to Develop Positive Vision on Immigration
In letters to all Presidential candidates December 12, Cardinal Roger Mahony urged all the candidates to "show leadership on the issue of immigration" and to "work with your fellow candidates and the American people to find a humane and comprehensive solution to our broken immigration system."
Expressing disappointment at the tone of the debate on immigration, Cardinal Mahony urged the candidates to abandon attacks on immigrants and to focus upon policy solutions. "I am deeply disturbed that, to date, the discussion on immigration has failed to significantly focus upon policy solutions to illegal immigration," he wrote. "Rather, the debate has been characterized by verbal assaults on undocumented immigrants, assaults which have had the effect of alienating immigrants to our country -- not only the undocumented but also legal immigrants and newly naturalized citizens."
Cardinal Mahony reminded the Presidential candidates that they have a responsibility to outline a vision for the future of the nation and that, on immigration, a positive vision has not been forthcoming.
"The vision emerging from the Presidential campaign paints an America that is no longer open to the vitality of newcomers and to the contributions they make to our communities. It is my belief that this emerging vision is incompatible with the views of the majority of the American people, who understand the importance of embracing our heritage as a nation of immigrants."
Tod Tamberg, spokesman for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, stated that the letter was a "collective message" to all the candidates, but acknowledged that their positions on immigration reform are varied. "The Cardinal understands that some of the candidates have addressed the issue responsibly and courageously, while others have used attacks against immigrants as a campaign tactic," said Tamberg. "The latter group knows who they are," he said.
Shortly after noon, on Sunday, December 9, Catholic scholar and author Gordon Zahn passed away. In 1972, Zahn, along with Eileen Egan and a small group of progressive, committed Catholics, founded Pax Christi USA, the national Catholic peace movement.
"Gordon was my friend and mentor for my first ten years at Pax Christi USA," stated Dave Robinson, Executive Director of Pax Christi USA. "He is actually the reason that I am here today. It was at his insistence that PCUSA hired someone to do work on conscientious objection during the First Gulf War and to do outreach on Catholic social teaching to college students. I was that person that was hired. I will always be thankful for everything that Gordon did for me and for everything he did for our movement."
After exploring many options for offering
an organizational structure for the Catholic peace movement in the United
States, Zahn and Eileen
Egan were largely responsible for forming the U.S. section of Pax Christi
International, started after World War II in Germany and France as a
reconciliation movement between French and German Catholics. Zahn's
research, experience and scholarly work on conscientious objection had
an immense impact on the direction and vision of Pax Christi USA during
its formational years.
Zahn was a conscientious objector in World War II and authored several books dealing with conscientious objectors: German Catholics and Hitler's Wars; In Solitary Witness: The Life and Death of Franz Jaegerstaetter; and Another Part of the War: The Camp Simon Story, which is an account of his own conscientious objection experience.
"It is fitting that Gordon waited to pass until after the recent beatification of Franz Jaegerstaetter," stated Johnny Zokovitch, Pax Christi USA Director of Communications. "No one was more responsible for that taking place than Gordon, who uncovered and popularized the story of Franz within the Catholic Church."
He was a man who humbly embodied the very values that he wanted Pax Christi USA to witness to. While mourning Gordon's passing, I'd like us all to also celebrate his life. He meant so much to all of us and to this great organization."
Pax Christi USA is planning several special events associated with Zahn's passing, including collecting some of the stories of those who knew Zahn best.
"Gordon was a man who humbly embodied the very values that he wanted Pax Christi USA to witness to. While mourning Gordon's passing, I'd like us all to also celebrate his life," said Robinson. "He meant so much to all of us and to this great organization."
Zahn was 84 years old. An obituary for Zahn was published in the on Dec. 9, 2007, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, his home-town newspaper.
LCWR Participates
in Middle East Delegation
LCWR associate director for social mission, Marie Lucey, OSF, will represent LCWR on a delegation with seven other women religious on a trip of solidarity with Iraqi refugees in the Middle East. Hosted by Catholic Relief Services, the women religious will travel from January 11 to 20 to Lebanon and Syria to assess the plight of refugees and witness the efforts of CRS and other Catholic organizations to assist them. The delegation will meet Iraqis at migrant centers and in their temporary homes, learning more about their needs for shelter, health services, and education – and their desire to return to their homes in Iraq in safety and security.
"This is really about solidarity," says Sister Arlene Flaherty, the CRS Northeast Peace and Justice Liaison who organized the delegation. "We want the Iraqi refugees to know that we are aware of their suffering. They have not been forgotten and we will pledge to make their plight more visible in the United States. When we return, we will educate people and urge them to take action. Our hope is to advance human rights, well being, and hope for Iraqi refugees."
While in the Middle East, the sisters will meet with humanitarian aid groups and others who are assisting Iraqi refugees, as well as with Christian and Muslim leaders.
"This is the first time CRS has hosted a group of American women religious at our programs overseas," says Maureen McCullough, CRS Northeast Regional Director. "We hope this is the first of many collaborations to help those who are suffering in our world."
Other members of the delegation are:
- Clare Nolan of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, which has Syrian sisters working with Iraqi refugees in Syria. She is based in New York City and is the UN NGO representative for the Sisters of the Good Shepherd.
- Anne Curtis of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas Leadership Team. She is based in Silver Spring, Maryland.
- Durstyne Farnan of the Adrian Dominicans, which host Iraqi sisters in Michigan and support their ministries in Iraq. She is based near Detroit.
- Simone Campbell, executive director of Network, a Catholic social justice lobby in Washington, D.C.
- Toni Harris, an American Sinsinawa Dominican sister, International Co-Promoter of Justice and Peace for the Dominican Order now based in Rome.
- Carmen Villegas, member of Las Hermanas, a network of Hispanic Catholic women. She is based in New York City.
- Arlene Flaherty, a Blauvelt Dominican sister and CRS Northeast's Peace and Justice Liaison to Colleges/Universities and Religious Institutes. She is based in Philadelphia.
Catholic Relief Services is the official international relief and development agency of the U.S. Catholic community. It serves the poor in over 100 countries overseas through programs in emergency relief, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peace building.
Catholic
Social Ministries Gathering, Feb. 24-27, 2008
Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill, 400 New Jersey Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20001
A great Catholic Social Ministry Gathering is planned, with speakers such as Dr. Norman Francis of Xavier University in New Orleans, Lesley-Anne Knight, Secretary General of Caritas Internationalis, and Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez of Honduras (invited) - to name a few. The outstanding political analysis team of Mark Shields and David Brooks from The Newshour on PBS will once again share insights on the latest political developments. Msgr. Ray East will serve as the master of ceremonies, and the multicultural choir from St. Camillus Church will enliven our prayers and liturgies.
The highlight of the gathering will be the opportunities you will have to meet with members of Congress and their staffs to make the case that the vulnerable and the poor should be priorities in policy-making. The more who participate, the more effective we will be.
You can register on-line here. This site will also allow you to register for wrap-around sessions, such as the Roundtable Association of Catholic Social Action Directors and the National Catholic Rural Life Conference workshop on Climate Change.
CMSM Justice and Peace directors who attend the CSMG will have a gathering in the meeting hotel 2:30-4:15 pm on Sunday, Feb. 24 (room to be announced).
Ecumenical Advocacy Days, March 7-10, 2008
In 2008, March 7-10, we will gather for the sixth annual Ecumenical Advocacy Days conference. Our theme, '2008: Claiming A Vision of True Security' promises to inspire an expected gathering of over 1,000 religious advocates from a wide array of Christian communions. Experts will train participants how to do advocacy and inform them of U.S. domestic and international policies that focus on a movement toward a new vision of true human security - one which seeks not only the absence of tension, but the presence of justice (Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.). The 2008 Ecumenical Advocacy Days will culminate with lobby visits on Monday calling upon our government to conceive new visions of security in our homes, our neighborhoods and our world.
Registration Information
Conference fee: $160 including two lunches and Sunday
dinner.
Registration after February 15th will be $175. Register early!
You can register on-line here. Visit the schedule page for up-to-date schedule and program information.
Moral Statement 2008: Claiming a Vision of True Security
"Some trust in chariots, and some in horses, but our trust in the name of our God." - Psalm 20:7 (New King James Bible)
"Some take pride in chariots, and some in horses, but our pride is in the name of the Lord our God." - Psalm 20:7 (NRSV)
In the language of today, Psalm 20:7 might read: Some trust in violence and take pride in technologies of war, and some in military power, but our trust is in the unfailing love and faithfulness of our saving God.
It is time to move beyond the misdirected strategies of the past few years and envision a new pathway to true human security - one which seeks not only the absence of tension, but the presence of justice (Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.). The 2008 Ecumenical Advocacy Days assembly will explore new visions of security in our homes, our neighborhoods and our world.
Ignatian Family Teach-In on Immigration
March 7-9, 2008, Loyola High School, Los Angeles
This March the Ignatian family will move the "Big Tent" from Georgia to Los Angeles where we will gather in response to the prophetic call of the U.S. Catholic Bishops in their Justice for Immigrants Campaign in which they state:
We stand in solidarity with you, our migrant brothers and sisters, and we will continue to advocate on your behalf for just and fair migration policies. We commit ourselves to animate communities of Christ's disciples on both sides of the border to accompany you and your journey so that yours will truly be a journey of hope, not of despair, and so that, at the point of arrival, you will experience that you are strangers no longer and instead members of God's household.
The ISN staff and board encourage you, your parish, and/or your school to attend this important gathering. To Register: click here.
INVITED GUESTS AND SPEAKERS
- Ruben Garcia, Executive Director of Annunciation House
- Amalia Molina, author of the Power of Love, a personal
account
of her incarceration in a federal immigration detention facility. - Edward J.W. Park, Ph.D. Director and Associate Professor
of the
Asian Pacific American Studies Program at Loyola Marymount University - Mark McGregor, S.J., Posada Project, Santa Clara University
- Bishop Gabino Zavala, Auxiliary Bishop for Los Angeles
and current
Bishop President of PAX Christi USA - William Rickle, S.J.,
Latino Migration and Ministry Consultant for
the Maryland Province - High school and college student representatives from
the Jesuit
sponsored, Universidad Iberoamericana in Tijuana, Mexico
Registration Fee: $50.00
- Payments due by March 3rd 2008. You may pay by check or online at www.ignatiansolidarity.net/fundraising/donate.html
- Fees include meals and snacks throughout the weekend
- ISN will offer a sliding scale as needed.
Please contact the ISN if you need to discuss a reduced fee.
Housing Options:
1. Loyola High School - free classroom floor space
2. Hotels - ISN has a group reservation in two nearby hotels. Prices
range from $85 to $90 for a room with two double beds. Both hotels
are within 2 miles of Loyola High School
For all hotel information please click here.
For more information visit our website at www.ignatiansolidarity.net or contact the ISN office at 415-422-2408 or info@ignatiansolidarity.net.
Save the Dates: The 22nd Annual Social Action Summer Institute
Oglethorpe University, Atlanta, Georgia
Sponsored by:
Roundtable Association of Diocesan Social Action Directors (NPLC)
USCCB/ Justice, Peace, and Human Development
Catholic Campaign for Human Development
Catholic Charities USA
Catholic Relief Services
Justfaith Ministries
Track I: "The Mission
of Justice in Scripture and Social Teaching"
Biblical Roots of Justice with Sr. Barbara Reid, OP;
Professor of New Testament Studies at Catholic Theological Union
Foundations of Catholic Social Teaching with Rev. Thomas Massaro, SJ;
Professor of Moral Theology at Weston Jesuit School of Theology
Track
II: "Advanced Symposium on Racism"
The Color-Blind Ideology
The Current Racial Order in the U.S.
Dr. Eduardo Bonilla-Silva, Duke University
History and Development of Catholic Social Teaching on Racism
Rev. Bryan Massingale, Marquette University
Interrupting White Privilege
Dr. Alex Mikulich, St. Joseph College, and Dr. Laurie Cassidy, Marywood
University
Promising Global Responses to Racism
Ms. Nathalie Piraino, Catholic Relief Services
Developing a Pastoral Diocesan Response to Racism
Rev. Clarence Williams, CPPS, Catholic Charities, USA
"Women and Islam": Ms. Tayyibah Taylor, Editor, Azizah Magazine
"Building Interreligious Coalitions": Ms. Sherry Frank, American Jewish Committee
"What Today's Movements for Social Justice Can Learn from the Civil
Rights Movement"
Rev. Dr. Gerald Durley, Providence Missionary Baptist Church; Atlanta,
GA
Workshops on the Skills of Public Action, including a special track for parish participants.
Tours of Successful Community Organizing and Economic Development Projects
Costs:
Tuition: $375.00
Room & Board: single: $495.00, double: $395.00
Full program and Registration Information will be available in April.
Online information will be available at www.nplc.org/roundtable.htm.
For more information, call: The Roundtable Association of Diocesan Social Action Directors (212) 431-7825.
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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Tel: 301-588-4030
• Fax: 301-587-4575 • www.cmsm.org
