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Justice Jottings December 2008 |
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New
on our Website
Reflect on immigrant
We've added a new
category, titled
Consistent Life Ethic, on the Links
page of our website to include organizations who are
working to protect life on several fronts. Click
here to view the page.
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Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Bro. John M. Samaha, SM
Sixty years ago, on Dec. 10, the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Click here to read Bro. John Samaha's review of the history of this extraordinary event.
And also on Dec. 10, Sr. Dorothy Stang, SNDdeN, a Dayton, Ohio native, will receive one of seven Human Rights Prizes, awarded posthumously, at the plenary meeting of the General Assembly at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. Sr. Dorothy was murdered in Brazil for her work to secure the land rights of the indigenous peoples and to save the rain forest.
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Death Penalty
Maryland Commission Recommends Abolition
In November the Maryland Commission on Capital Punishment voted to recommend the abolition of the state's death penalty. Observers are uncertain how the state legislature will react, but Governor Martin O'Malley has already said that he will sign repeal legislation if it reaches his desk. Click here to read more.
Newspapers in Two States Editorialize against the Death Penalty
The Journal-Star in Lincoln, Nebraska and The Virginian-Pilot in Hampton Roads, Virginia, have recently published editorials opposing their respective state's use of the death penalty. Serious prosecutorial misconduct was the precipitating issue in Nebraska, while the seeming arbitrariness of the decision to pursue the death penalty as opposed to life without parole was what drew the response in Virginia. |
| Racial
and Immigrant Justice
Hot Button Issue #9
Assertion: Given the undocumented legal status of immigrants, offering amnesty rewards lawlessness. It violates the rule of law upon which this country was built.
Immigration Reform Meeting
Click here to read Ted Gorczyca's summary of a recent meeting on immigration reform. Ted is a member of the re-named Issue Team.
"I Was a Stranger and You Welcomed Me" - Advent Study Guide
An excellent three session Advent Study Guide for small group discussion on the immigration issue is available from the Diocese of Little Rock. Click here to get a copy of the guide and click here to get a copy of the pastoral letter. Available in Spanish also. |
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Alternatives to Nonviolence
Nonviolence - Is it Possible? 
Is your community, ministry, or group interested in exploring how to make nonviolence a practical alternative in our violent culture? The Alternatives to Violence Team is promoting the use of
Click here to learn about five more ways (#26-30) - Respect, Generosity, Listening, Forgiveness, Amends - to practice non-violence in December. |
| Adele
Social Justice Project
 ASJP Core Team meets in Dayton
The Core Team for the Adele Social Justice Project met in Dayton recently to do planning for 2009-10. The next immersion weekend for young adults will be in Cleveland in June, with Chicago , Dayton , New Jersey /NYC, and St. Louis as possible future locations. Pictured (left to right): Lisa McCracken, Cynthia Sias, Laura Libertore, Leanne Jablonski FMI, Jim Vogt, Amy Elliott, and Steve Hemphill. |
| GLBT Initiative
A Place at the Marianist Table
Matt Dunn and Beth Garascia presented the GLBT's
pilot "A Place at the Marianist Table" to the Marianist
sisters of the Sawmill Road Community in Dayton, OH on
October 26. Tony Garascia also participated.
Several of the sisters had done quite a bit of thinking
about the GLBT issue before the pilot but others hadn't
had any input about it. Most found the personal
stories of the presenters most helpful or powerful.
In general, the sisters said they benefited by leaving
with a deeper understanding of the issue.
From left to right: Srs. Nicole Trahan, Laura Leming, Audrey Buttner, Marie Abmayr, Leanne Jablonski, and Mary Louise Foley (not shown), with presenters Matt Dunn and Beth Garascia. |
| MSJC Steering Committee
Help for Community Leaders and Educators in Using "How Do Marianists Do Social Justice?"
MSJC has created two new resources to help Marianist Family members use the article, "How Do Marianists Do Social Justice?" For communities we have developed discussion questions and a community prayer format that will make it very easy for Marianist communities to use the article as the focus of one community gathering. For educators we have a lesson plan that could be used in high school classes, with LIFE groups, etc. We also offer a half day or whole day retreat based on the article. Contact Jim Vogt - jimvogt2@yahoo.com - for more information. |
| Resources
Alternative Christmas Possibilities
Millennium Development Goals (MDG)
The Marianist Family is encouraged to pray the Magnificat on Fridays as a sign of our commitment to justice in the world. Goal 8 helps us focus on a Global Partnership for Development. Click here to pray with Marianists worldwide.
Marianist Online Courses Starting in January
Five new Marianist online courses - on Community, Prayer, Education, Charism, and Leadership - will be offered in winter 2009. For more information or to register, click here. |
| Actions
for Advocates
What's Your Vision for Our Country?
Now that the election is over and the real work begins, do you have a vision for what America can be, where President-Elect Obama should lead this country? Click here to go to Change.gov and share your vision with the new administration.
A Campaign to Shut Down Guantanamo
Witness Against Torture announces a new campaign to close Guantanamo and end torture by the U.S during the first 100 days of the new administration. The campaign will consist of a presence across from the White House and a weekly schedule of Executive and Congressional education, public teach-ins and film screenings, prayer and vigiling, direct action and public pressure. Click here for more information. |
 A Thought to Ponder
Charm with your stainlessness these nights in Advent, holy spheres,
While minds, as meek as beasts, stay close at home in the sweet hay;
And intellects are quieter than the flocks that feed by starlight.
A selection from the poem "Advent" by Thomas Merton | |
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