FAQ

Hate Crimes Prevention Act - An Update

The Matthew Shepard Act, officially entitled "The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act", passed on October 22, 2009 and President Obama signed it into law on October 28. The law expands the 1969 U.S. federal hate crime law to include crimes motivated by a victim's perceived or actual gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability.
 
It is named after two victims of prejudiced based violence. Matthew Shepard was murdered in 1998, at age 21, in Wyoming because he was perceived to be gay. James Byrd was an African American who was tied to a truck by two known white supremacists and dragged to his death in Texas, also in 1998. In both cases, the killers were not charged with hate crimes since neither state had one at the time.
 
The law provides increased funding to state and local authorities to prosecute a wide range of hate crimes, such as those motivated by race, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability. It also authorizes the federal government to prosecute those crimes when states do not. More than 16% of hate crimes reported by the FBI in 2007 were against gays. The act is a welcome, important step toward protecting all minorities from violence and hate-based crimes.
 

 
Save the Date & Spread the Word

Indianapolis Social Justice Immersion
September 17-19, 2010
All young adults (22-40) in the Indy region are invited to participate. To sponsor a participant or meal or to provide any type of support for the Indy immersion, please contact Ruth Pera.
*More details and registration for the immersion will be coming soon

Find us in Hawaii!
If you're attending the Lay Continental Assembly in July, check out what ASJP will be bringing:

      ASJP - Finding Our Voice as Advocates - Get a taste of what the Adele Social Justice Project (ASJP) is all about as we explore how to be "voices with the voiceless." Take part in a prayer and reflection session typical of an ASJP young adult immersion weekend and, through service, join your voice with Mary and Adele to advocate for the "voiceless" in our communities.  

      To Whom Much is Given...Being Good Stewards -  Explore this topic with

us through prayer and reflection typical of an ASJP young adult immersion weekend. In the spirit of stewardship, participate in a round-table discussion about the ways we, as Marianist Family members, can foster and encourage zeal for the mission, passion for social justice, and hunger for building community carried by so many young adults. 

"Awakening the Dreamer" - Exploring the Possibilities

Seventeen people gathered on March 19-21 with three leaders from the Pachamama Alliance. Under the joint leadership of MEEC (Marianist Environmental Education Center) and MSJC, they discerned how the excellent video symposium created by Pachamama called "Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream" could be used most effectively with Marianist and Catholic audiences. For a taste of this program, click here to view a short overview. Weekend participants will be adapting the symposium and offering it to Marianist groups on a trial basis in the coming months. If your group or community would be interested in experiencing the symposium, contact Jim Vogt or Leanne Jablonski .

Bro. Bill Farrell, who lives in Guatemala, visited the place where the four American church women were killed in 1980. He says, "After extensive search I finally located the place where they killed the church women. A simple white monument marks the place where they unearthed the bodies. The chapel stands as a silent witness to these martyred women." 

Click here to view some of his photos.