| Global Economic Justice
Socially Responsible Investing - Is It Possible?
Come and see at a Socially Responsible Investing Seminar on Sat. April 18, 9:00-1:30 at the Marianist Community in Rockaway Park, NY. Steve O'Neil SM, director of Marianists International, will be the resource person. For more information, click here. |
| Death
Penalty
Lay Catholics Take Up Challenge to End the Death Penalty The Catholic Mobilizing Network to End the Use of the Death Penalty was launched on January 25, 2009. It is working in collaboration with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Its goal: to put the Church's teaching about the death penalty into action. "The Catholic Mobilizing Network to End the Use of the Death Penalty is not just another initiative of the bishops but instead represents lay Catholics at the grass-roots level "taking up the challenge" put forth in bishops' documents, statements and actions over the past three decades," said John Carr, executive director of the Department of Justice, Peace and Human Development of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Visit this website to learn more.
Death Penalty Is Repealed in New Mexico!!
On March 18 New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson signed legislation repealing that state's death penalty, replacing it with life in prison without parole. New Mexico joins New Jersey as the only states to ban executions since the death penalty was reinstated by the US Supreme Court in 1976. 35 states still have capital punishment. New Mexico's bishops lobbied hard for the repeal. Read more by clicking here.
It's Time for Ohio to End the Death Penalty
Click here to read this strong editorial from the Dayton Daily News.
Death Penalty Issue Team Meets in San Antonio
The Death Penalty Issue Team met recently in San Antonio. They evaluated their efforts during the past year and did planning for the coming year. A highlight of the weekend was a Saturday evening gathering that brought together two authors (Joan Cheever, who wrote "Back from the Dead" and David Atwood, who wrote "Detour to Death Row") with people involved in death penalty issues in San Antonio.
Seated - Grace Walle FMI and Andria Brannon, holding the team mascot, Ace;
Standing - Brian Halderman SM, Frank O'Donnell SM, Dick Olsen SM, Jim Vogt, Bob Stoughton, and Phil Aaron SM.
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| Racial
and Immigrant Justice
Welcoming the Stranger: Justice, Compassion and Truth in the Immigration Debate
This book by Matthew Soerens and Jenny Hwang addresses concerns about immigration. It debunks myths, and provides a Biblical perspective on the issue. Click here for information on how to purchase the book.
Act Now! Visit Your Members of Congress
Easter Break for Congress means that your legislators will be at their home office from April 6-17. It's a good time to visit your Congressional members to encourage legislators to promote comprehensive immigration and migration reform. Here are three tips for good meetings.
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 Adele
Social Justice Project
Registration is now open for the ASJP Cleveland weekend June 12-14!
Whether you are from the Cleveland area or interested in seeing what ASJP is about, join the ASJP community in Cleveland for a social justice immersion weekend June 12-14. Find out more and download the registration form now. Weekend highlights include:
* RTA bus tour of east Cleveland
* Small group service projects around the city with varying social
justice themes
* Guest advocacy speakers
* Spanish Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes parish |
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GLBT Initiative
Foundation for Support
There are many ways that individuals and institutions can be supportive of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons. Here are four basic steps to help lay a foundation:
- Awareness: Explore how you are both different from and similar to GLBT people. Gain this awareness through talking with GLBT people about their experiences, attending workshops and self-examination.
- Knowledge/Education: Begin to understand policies, laws and practices and how they affect GLBT people. Educate yourself on the many communities and cultures of GLBT people.
- Skills: This is an area which is difficult for many people. You must learn to take your awareness and knowledge and communicate it to others. You can acquire these skills by attending workshops, role-playing with friends or peers, and developing support connections.
- Action: This is the most important and frightening step. Despite the fear, action is the only way to effect change in society as a whole. Be supportive if someone comes out to you and stand up for GLBT people when they are the subject of ridicule, jokes, and injustices.
To learn more or to have members of our team do a presentation for your community please contact Beth Garascia at bgarascia@sbcglobal.net. |
| Ecology & Environment
Earth Day, April 22 
Disneynature's film Earth, narrated by James Earl Jones, will be in theatres starting on Earth Day. This film "tells the remarkable story of three animal families - polar bears, elephants, and whales - as they make their amazing journeys across the planet we call home." Buy a ticket for opening week and Disney will plant a tree in the purchaser's honor. To find where the film is being shown in your area, go to www.disney.com/earth and enter your city and state. There is a downloadable Earth Educator's Guide. |
| Resources
Education for Justice - Free Trial Offer
Education for Justice is one of the best places online to find resources on social justice. They are offering a FREE trial subscription. Click here for more information.
The Eucharist and Social Justice
This new book explores some of the many different aspects of the inseparable relationship between Eucharist and social justice. It also rediscovers the dimension that God intended for the Eucharist: the life of the world. Click here to read more.
Prayer in a Time of Economic Distress
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| Actions
for Advocates
"A New Moment for Nuclear Disarmament"
Join Pax Christi's campaign that seeks to take advantage of the current political climate to advocate for dramatic and fundamental changes in U.S. nuclear weapons policies. Click here for more information.
Catholics Confront Global Poverty The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and Catholic Relief Services call on one million Catholics in the United States to confront global poverty and advocate for an end to hunger, disease, conflict, and other issues that affect the lives of our brothers and sisters worldwide. Click here for details about how to get involved. |
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A Thought to Ponder
Biologist Dr. Elizabet Sahtouris is credited with developing the idea of "imaginal cells" in the "Awakening The Dreamer, Changing the Dream" program.
When a caterpillar reaches a certain point in its own evolution, it becomes over-consumptive, a voracious eater and it eats everything in sight.
At that same time, in the molecular structure of the caterpillar, the "imaginal cells" become active. While all this gorging is going on, those imaginal cells wake up, and they look for each other inside of the caterpillar's body. When enough of them connect (they don't need to be in the majority) they become the genetic directors of the future of the caterpillar.
At that point the other cells begin to putrefy and become what's called the nutritive soup - out of which the imaginal cells create the absolute unpredictable miracle of the butterfly.
What's possible is that we're the imaginal cells on the planet right now. | |